Hunters gear up for the start of Vermont’s traditionally popular statewide 16-day rifle deer season that begins Saturday, Nov. 15 and ends Sunday, Nov. 30. A hunter may take one buck during this season with at least one antler having two or more points one inch or longer. A point must be one inch or…

By Laura Krantz, VTDigger.org Lawmakers in January will cast secret ballots to choose Vermont’s next governor, according to state officials and a memo prepared for lawmakers by their attorney. The one-page memo, obtained by VTDigger, outlines the procedure that will take place when lawmakers convene in January. The memo cites an 1832 court case and…

Max Landon walks up the Peak Walkway after this first day on the slopes for the season. Last year, 6-year-old Landon rode over 100 days! Photo by Robin Alberti

By Stephen Seitz KILLINGTON – No, there isn’t blood on the snow. Carnagecon, now in its second year at Killington Mountain Resort, brings game enthusiasts together for a weekend of gaming, socializing, and general fun, Nov. 7-9. The annual convention began in 1998 at the Radisson Inn in West Lebanon, N.H., and has grown steadily…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org The Vermont GOP, newly strengthened by an unexpectedly close gubernatorial race and gains in the House and Senate, sent a message to Gov. Peter Shumlin in the aftermath of Election Day upsets: Drop Vermont Health Connect immediately and transfer Vermonters in the program to federal health care exchange. Rep. Don Turner,…

By Lee J. Kahrs PROCTOR — Voters in Proctor approved a ballot question Tuesday that will shift local government to a town manager format by a vote of 307-213. Former Selectwoman Sue Feenick initiated the petition in order to get the question on the November ballot. She said she met many like-minded voters while gathering…

By Laura Krantz, VTDigger.org As Gov. Peter Shumlin scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference on his slim lead over Republican Scott Milne on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Milne left his hotel vigil without speaking to the media. Just after 2 p.m. Wednesday, Milne’s daughter, Elise, came down to the lobby of the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org ​The voters of Vermont sent a message to Gov. Peter Shumlin on Tuesday night, and the governor says he heard it “loud and clear.” Shumlin called a news conference in Burlington on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the Associated Press announced unofficial results in which he beat out Scott Milne, his Republican…

By Hilary Niles, VTDigger.org Almost all school districts in the Chittenden East Supervisory Union will merge next summer, voters decided Tuesday, Nov. 4. In Bolton, Jericho, Richmond and Underhill, poll results showed overwhelming support for a voluntary unification. All schools in the district except Brewster Pierce Elementary School in Huntington will be controlled by one…

By Steve Costello When I was a little boy, one of my favorite stories was the folk tale about stone soup. I remember being inspired by the thought that stones could be the key ingredients in what turns out to be a delicious meal for an entire community. They can’t, of course, but the magic…

Dear Editor, In response to Diane Rosenblum’s letter to the editor last week titled “Oppose the option tax” I just don’t understand why one would write such a letter without facts. Green Mountain National Golf Course does not have $5 million debt. As of Dec. 31, 2013, the debt was $3,850,000. There has been no…

Dear Editor, Local option taxes were authorized by the state legislature to “reduce the dislocations in those municipalities that may be caused by reforms to the method of financing public education under the Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1997.” In other words the option taxes were authorized to mitigate the egregious tax increase caused by…

Dear Editor, I fully support the recent Mountain Times letters endorsing retaining the 1 percent option tax. True the original purpose was for economic development, however, times have changed and Town needs have changed. Just like Green Mountain National Golf Course, which when purchased, was thought to be able to provide sufficient economic income growth…

Dear Editor, I believe that the Killington Resort plan to repeal the 1 percent options tax is a perfect way to galvanize this community. When one takes a moment to look at the effect this could have on our community as a whole, the benefits are overwhelmingly positive. From the residents, to the businesses, to the…

Dear Editor, I’m 72 years “young” and strongly support modification of the Killington Option Tax as suggested by The Resort. The suggested modification of the option tax is NOT the elimination of the option tax, only the elimination of that portion applicable to sales and use tax. Because I shop in Killington, a portion of…