Austin Spain SHARON—On Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2:25 p.m., police witnessed a vehicle, traveling approximately 90 miles per hour, weaving in and out of traffic and driving aggressively on Interstate 89N, in Sharon, Vt., in the area of mile marker 9. The trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop near mile marker 10, but the…

PITTSFORD—On Friday, Sept. 18, at about 5:45 a.m., members of the Vermont State Police, Pittsford Fire Department and Regional Ambulance Service were dispatched to a reported two-vehicle crash on Route 7 in Pittsford, Vt. Vehicles involved were a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero and a 1983 Honda Shadow motorcycle. Initial investigation concluded the vehicles struck each other…

BETHEL—Vermont State Police troopers responded to a report of a flagger struck by a vehicle in a construction zone on Route 12 in the town of Bethel. The flagger was identified as Justin Morse, age 35 of Bethel,and an employee of ADA Traffic Control. Morse was at the north end of the construction zone. The…

Thick fog thought to be a factor RUTLAND—On Friday, Sept. 18, at about 3:30 a.m., the Vermont State Police, the Rutland Town Fire Department and Regional Ambulance Service were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover crash with entrapment at 1253 Route 7 North in Rutland Town. With assistance from first-responders, the operator, identified as Christopher M.…

RUTLAND—On Sept. 21 Green Mountain Power, the first utility to become a B-Corp, and Yeloha, a peer-to-peer solar sharing network, announced a groundbreaking partnership with a mission to unlock the benefits of solar energy for everyone—by sharing it. The partnership marks the first utility-adopted sharing economy platform to offer its customers the opportunity to generate…

Florence  McDonnell Florence L. “Flossie” McDonnell, 86, of Pittsford, Vt. and formerly of Stockbridge, died Tuesday evening, Sept. 15, 2015, at Rutland Regional Medical Center. She was born May 15, 1929 in Gaysville, Vt., the daughter of Royal and Carrie (Garrett) Luce. She attended Stockbridge Common School and graduated from Whitcomb High School in 1948.…

Leon Gonyo WEST HAVEN–Devil’s Bowl Speedway management and staff confirmed the passing of long-time stock car racing competitor Leon Gonyo, age 63 of Chazy, N.Y., Saturday, Sep. 19, 2015. Gonyo won the speedway’s final asphalt NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified race of the season on Saturday evening but succumbed soon after. According to witnesses, Gonyo appeared…

Courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. Warden Randy Hazard rescues a loon chick that became hooked and entangled in fishing line. Ten years after they were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list, two of Vermont’s most cherished bird species continued to expand their populations in 2015. Both loons and peregrine falcons nested in record…

As part of their Meet the Candidates series, the Vermont Republican Party will welcome Governor John Kasich (R-Ohio) to the state on Oct. 9, 2015. Governor Kasich will be the guest speaker at the party’s 2015 fall harvest dinner. “We are very pleased to have Governor Kasich visit and speak to Vermonters,” said Vermont Republican…

Twenty-one Vermont employers join the “Drive the Dream Vermont” initiative On Sept. 16, Gov. Peter Shumlin joined Drive Electric Vermont in celebrating the launch of "Drive the Dream Vermont,” a campaign to increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state. As part of the campaign, a diverse group of leading Vermont employers, including…

On Sept. 18, Executive Director Sarah Carpenter of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) announced that Governor Shumlin has joined leaders from VHFA, the Vermont Legislature and the business community to launch a bold new effort to help the state's first-time homebuyers. Each qualified buyer will receive up to $5,000 for downpayment and closing costs.…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org Some 272 state employees are on track to retire under an incentive program designed to reduce the state’s labor costs, Treasurer Beth Pearce told lawmakers Tuesday, Sept. 15. As part of the budget for fiscal year 2016, the Legislature approved a retirement incentive for up to 300 employees. Under the plan,…

By Gov. Peter Shumlin It is all too easy for those of us who care about protecting our environment, combating climate change, and preserving a sustainable planet for our kids and grandkids to lose hope that we can win the fight. At the national level, powerful fossil fuel interests and their climate-denier allies in Congress…

Dear Editor, I may not wear the cute little shorts and tank tops that the younger women wear, but I am at the Fair Haven Fitness Center working out three mornings a week and I am 78 years old. I am proud to say that I have been working out, with Jamie Matta as my…

Dear Editor, We are all experiencing higher disposal costs at transfer stations because of state law changes.  Black River Good Neighbor Services is not immune. To generate funds necessary to fulfill our mission of providing food and assistance, we need to receive donated goods to sell in our thrift and furniture stores. During summer, yard…