RUTLAND—Forest Service officials announced Sept. 10 that the Rutland-based headquarters for the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest (GMFL) is transitioning to a full-time virtual work schedule. Most employees have been working remotely for more than a year now due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this will continue until their new office is completed…

By Shaun Christean Dear Editor, Everyone living in the Northeast has heard the warnings time and time again: always be vigilant for ticks after spending time outdoors. Tick habitat has increased substantially as higher latitudes are unlocked by warming climates, allowing ticks to edge further north every year. Tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, babesiosis, and…

By Jennifer Mayhew Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jennifer Mayhew, executive director of the Turning Point Center of Addison County. September is both Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month. An increase in overdose and suicide deaths across the country is shining the spotlight on how the Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected those already struggling…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger Three Vermont State Police troopers out of the Shaftsbury barracks have resigned and a criminal probe is underway to determine whether they may have violated federal law by making fake Covid-19 vaccination cards. The matter has been referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, as well as…

By Katy Savage A new French-style eatery is coming to Mechanic Street in Woodstock this winter. Zoe Zilian, the former owner and founder of Farmhouse Pottery, is opening her new bistro, called Brasserie, within the next couple months. It will feature cocktails, European tapas, mini-baguettes, local cheeses, and hams imported from Europe, for example. “It…

By Curt Peterson With 78 Covid cases confirmed in Vermont schools this week alone, local schools are scrambling to deal with the highly contagious Delta variant. The Dept. of Health daily dashboard indicates the general population in some local towns has been exposed in large numbers to the variant. In the latest town-by-town data, covering…

Area ski resorts among them By Fred Thys/VTDigger Some large Vermont employers say they’re waiting to learn more about President Joe Biden’s order that all employers with more than 100 workers be vaccinated against Covid-19 or be tested weekly, while others says they already require employees to be vaccinated. Biden’s order will affect about 100…

Successful hunters are required to submit bear teeth The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. is reminding successful bear hunters that a regulation requires them to submit a bear tooth so wildlife managers can collect important information on Vermont’s bear population. The hunter must field dress the bear before taking it to a reporting station. It…

The Vermont court system is not ready to return to business as usual. On Friday, the Vermont Supreme Court extended its order declaring a judicial emergency until Nov. 1, 2021. That means the state’s courts can continue to hold many proceedings remotely, and to limit how many people can be in a courthouse. The order…

By Virginia Dean KILLINGTON—One of the most well-respected specialty ski race shops has recently changed hands (for an undisclosed amount) and will continue to operate with the employees who have helped make it what it is today. Run by Denise and Fred Coriell for over 30 years, Peak Performance in Killington has outfitted high-level FIS,…

Gerald “Jerry” Jagoda died on Oct. 1, 2019 at his home in Stockbridge after losing his battle with kidney disease. His loving and humorous spirit is carried on by his wife of 42 years, Linda; their four children Shane, Chenoa, Tivon, and Devin; as well as their grandchildren Kinsley, Maddox, and Maverick and his sister…

Governor Phil Scott joined town officials from across the state on Sept. 2 to announce $13,258,021 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards that have been made to 25 communities throughout Vermont. The funding, through the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP), supports a broad range of projects that will accelerate pandemic recovery, build more affordable…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger A Rutland City police officer who fatally shot a Florida man in a McDonald’s bathroom after a chase last month told investigators he thought the man was armed. But he wasn’t. Police said 33-year-old Jonathan Mansilla had a cellphone in his hand. Vermont State Police released new details Thursday, Sept. 9,…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger RUTLAND  — Environmental groups say the Agency of Natural Resources’ pending permits for sewage treatment plants in Rutland County don’t go far enough to address pollutant-laden overflows into local waterways. Permits are currently pending for treatment plants in Rutland, Pittsford, Wallingford and Brandon. The public comment period for the permits ended Sept.…

USDA Covid-19 study findings show government programs were crucial The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Sept. 8 report indicated that food insecurity in the United States for the year 2020 remained level, as compared to pre-pandemic 2019 numbers. This result proves that with adequate federal and state government support it’s possible to solve hunger in Vermont…