The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is asking hunters for help in a statewide initiative to gather more biological data on the state’s deer population.  Hunters who get a deer during the Nov. 14-29 regular deer season are asked to provide an incisor tooth from their deer. Biologists are collecting one middle incisor tooth from…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) announced the winners of the highway safety message contest on Nov. 5. Cheryl Murray, 57, of Benson, submitted the winning entry in the fall round of the contest. Murray's message was:  “Don’t take the bait. That text can wait.” “I thought about writing one of these messages because we…

By Curt Peterson Windsor Central Unified Union School District and Windsor South East Supervisory Union, which includes Windsor High School, have engaged Writing Wrongs, LLC to help develop anti-racism policies. Arielle King, 22, a post graduate student at Vermont Law School and co-founder of Writing Wrongs, told the Mountain Times she and fellow co-founder and…

  The annual Gift-of-Life Marathon Blood Drive, sponsored by Green Mountain Power and WJJR with support from Farrell Distributing and Casella Waste Systems, is coming soon!  This year it will be a four-day event designed to help ensure an adequate blood supply during the critical holiday period in December. Huge precautions, in light of Covid-19,…

Donors asked to give blood to celebrate Ojala’s 100th birthday, ensure holiday supplies What do you get for someone who is turning 100? Longtime American Red Cross volunteer Mary Ojala says donating a pint of blood in her name would be the perfect gift! Organizers of Rutland’s Gift-of-Life Marathon blood drive today announced the 2020…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger As of Tuesday, Nov. 17, 26 residents and 12 staff members have tested positive for Covid-19 at Rutland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, according Richard Feifer, the nursing home’s chief medical officer. At Friday’s regular press conference held by Gov. Phil Scott, state officials said four of the 19 residents have been hospitalized.…

National franchise offers vital service during Covid-19 pandemic The Dog Wizard has announced the opening of a new corporate location in Rutland, providing pet owners throughout the region with its innovative dog training service that has garnered a national reputation for transforming pet and pet owner relationships. "Our philosophy is simple. It takes a balanced…

Staff report Rutland residents will not vote on whether or not to change the Rutland High School’s nickname “Raiders” and arrowhead logo, after a motion to put the question to a non-binding vote at Town Meeting in March failed 5-5 at the Board of Aldermen’s meeting Monday. The measure needed seven votes to get on…

On Nov. 11, at 8:51 p.m., troopers from the Vermont State Police -Rutland Barracks, responded to an armed robbery at the Stewart's Shop located at 116 Main St. in West Rutland. Upon meeting with store employees and reviewing video footage, it was learned that at 8:45 p.m., a lone white male described as approximately 5’9”…

On Nov. 10 at about 5 a.m., troopers from the Vermont State Police were dispatched to a burglary reported at Kamuda’s Country Market in Pittsford. During the investigation, it was determined a female made forced entry into the market, causing damage. During the investigation, a second burglary was discovered across the street at Maclure Library.…

By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — The Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union wants as many kids in the schools as possible, but is poised to turn to all remote learning if necessary. The bigger concern right now is the holiday season. Rumors have been flying that Otter Valley Union High School is planning to send all…

By Anne Wallace Allen/VTDigger The Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Committee has steered an additional $75 million into grants intended to help Vermont’s hospitality businesses survive the winter. The committee, meeting Saturday, Nov. 14, approved many of the items on a proposal the Scott administration issued earlier this month to reallocate some of the state’s $1.25 billion share of the…

By Katy Savage Rep. Charlie Kimbell, D-Woodstock, is campaigning to be the next speaker of the House after Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, lost her bid for reelection on Nov. 3. Kimbell is a ranking member of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee and represents Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth, which make up Winsor-5. He was…

K-12 schools grapple with holiday exposure risks to Covid-19, potential outbreaks, staffing By Curt Peterson An explosive increase in Covid-19 cases across the U.S. and now Vermont are inspiring many reactive decisions — perhaps none more consequential than those regarding education. Education Secretary Dan French said at the Nov. 13 pandemic press conference the state…

Contact tracer keeps advice simple: stay 6 feet apart or keep contact to less than 15 minutes By Polly Mikula The recent surge of Covid-19 case growth in Vermont has led to new mitigation measures to slow the spread. Among those announced Friday, Nov. 13, were a prohibition on multi-family gatherings and the closure of…