Use of force analyzed under both current Vermont law and new statute The Attorney General’s Office is declining to prosecute Rutland City Police Department Officer Tyler Billings, who was responsible for the non-fatal shooting of Michael Goodnough, 45, of Rutland. Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced Nov. 24 that his office concluded its review of the…

During the current Covid-19 pandemic, many families and individuals are struggling financially. Isolation and fear can increase as well, creating a feeling of worry or even desperation in some people. Such circumstances are highly conducive to criminals trying to take advantage of people in a variety of ways, including financial scams. Efforts to separate people…

Powdr, owner of Killington and Pico Resorts, and Nokian Tyres announced results for the "Buy a Pass. Plant a Tree. Play Forever." program that launched in August and pledged to plant a tree for every season pass sold during the promotional period at Nokian Tyres’ partner resorts. Nokian Tyres, the official tire partner at Copper…

Okemo, Mount Snow, Stowe and Hunter open for the season with a focus on safety A combination of superlative snowmaking technology and a dedicated operations staff allowed for Vail Resorts’ Vermont and New York ski areas to open for the 2020/2021 ski and snowboard season. Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow in Vermont, as well as…

Michael Edward Kenney, 72, of Rutland, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at home with his family after a four-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia. Michael Kenney was born in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1948 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1967-1969 as a damage controlman on the U.S.S. Jonas Ingram. His…

Old friends, new neighbors, huge opportunity For years, the Mettawee Community School (MCS) took advantage of its proximity to the magical Merck Forest & Farmland Center (MFFC). A few days each fall, students in grades 4-6 made the 20-minute pilgrimage by bus to Merck’s 3,200-acre campus for outdoor science classes taught by the inspiring MFFC…

By John Flowers In the fall of 2022 the Slate Valley Unified Union School District (SVUUSD) board is considering a move to send its 7th- and 8th-grade students to Fair Haven Union High School. The plan that’s being considered is part of a major reorganization proposal within the district aimed at saving taxpayer dollars amid…

By Katie Jickling/VTDigger Tom Canavan lived alone in his Rutland home, defiantly independent, until Sept. 24. It was only when Canavan’s memory started faltering and he wandered from the house that his family persuaded the 94-year-old to move into Rutland Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, where his wife Mary spent her final years. His children dropped him off…

Staff report The state will continue to add more testing sites this week. Mike Smith, secretary of the Agency of Human Services, said on-demand testing sites opened last week in Rutland, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, and Waterbury. The Rutland site is located at Rutland Regional Medical Center, 160 Allen St. Additional testing sites are being opened…

As Covid-19 cases rise, what triggers a decision to go to remote learning? By Lola Duffort/VTDigger and Polly Mikula As Vermont struggles to contain a record-breaking surge in Covid-19 cases and officials brace for superspreading holiday get-togethers, one question is on the tip of the tongue for every teacher, parent and principal. “I get asked multiple…

By Polly Mikula Governor Phil Scott said he was "cautiously optimistic" at the regular news conference, Tuesday, Dec. 1. Thus far, the mitigation measures enacted Nov. 13 banning multi-family gatherings among other restrictions, have decreased the rate of Covid-19 spread, he said. But it's too early to tell what the effect of the Thanksgiving holiday…

Do you know what motivates you? By Sandra Dee Owens Through a series of mental growth spurts, I discovered that adventure is highly motivating for me while telling myself I “should” do something—is not. Below is the true story of one of those mental growth spurts. In the days and weeks leading to my 50th…

By Merisa Sherman We arrived at the boat launch with the best on intentions. It was Thanksgiving and we wanted to do all our favorite activities before settling down to eat as much food as humanly possible. The idea was to sneak in a quick lap around the pond on our way up to go…

By Dom Cioffi It was an inexpensive, under-sized, tobacco sunburst acoustic guitar whose brand name is now long lost to memory. In essence, it was an incredibly forgettable conglomeration of wood and wire… but it was the catalyst for a lifelong obsession. The guitar was a hand-me-down from my mother who took a stab at…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg Sahara Moon, 22, released her “Worthy” EP on Nov. 12. I highly recommend getting it. Moon is a singer/songwriter from the Long Beach Island area in New Jersey, but you may have caught her Killington shows last winter when she came up to play with Daniel Brown. You can find her…