By Robin Alberti Fourth grade students at Proctor Elementary show their “up-cycled” brown bags. PROCTOR — On Earth Day last Wednesday, Proctor Elementary School teacher Danielle Fagan took the opportunity to put her fourth grade students’ knowledge to practical use. Mrs. Fagan presented the students with this challenge: how could they do something good for…

By Robin Alberti A basket of balls sits inside the newly renovated Mitchell Therapy Pool at the VAC. By Robin Alberti RUTLAND — On Saturday, April 25, Mitchell Therapy Pool at the Vermont Achievement Center held an open house to celebrate its re-opening, after having completed some much-needed structural repairs. Pool director, Ann Hunt explained,…

RUTLAND—The Rutland City Board of Aldermen approved a request from College of St. Joseph (CSJ) to waive a substantial initial water allocation fee and to stabilize the college’s water and sewer bill over the first five years of the college’s expanded usage. CSJ is anticipating a need for a new dorm and dining hall, as…

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org The Senate Education Committee unanimously passed H.361, the education reform bill, after taking testimony Wednesday, April 22, from 48 people. Of those, 25 supported the legislation and 23 opposed it, according to Rep. Bernie Juskiewicz, vice chair of the House Education Committee. The Senate version of H.361 contains generous incentives…

River Road residents express concern over safety By Polly Lynn Editor’s note: The names of the residents on River Road have been removed by request as some fear retribution. KILLINGTON — Nearly a dozen residents showed up at the Select Board meeting on Tuesday, April 21 to discuss the significant increase in recreational gun use…

By Emerson Lynn There are few things less understood and less intuitive than the EB-5 program that continues to add the growth essential to the prosperity of Jay Peak and the surrounding environs of Franklin and Orleans counties, as well as projects in Addison County and throughout rural Vermont. It’s given Vermont the expansion we…

By Jack Hoffman Thousands of Vermonters work at jobs that don’t pay enough to meet their families’ basic needs. That leaves Vermont taxpayers paying tens of millions of dollars to pick up the slack left by employers who pay so little that hard working men and women have to turn to public assistance. So, before…

Dear Editor, On May 6, we recognize our school nurses by celebrating National School Nurse Day as a way to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. This year’s theme is: School Nurses: Caring for Others. Caring for Ourselves. Parents should be able to send their children to…

Dear Editor, On April 2, 2015 at 11 p.m., after a five hour drive, I was pulled over for “speeding” in Rutland. I wasn’t the only victim. There seemed to be at least two other out of state vehicles getting tickets by other officers. So, the Vermont State Police have nothing better to do than…

Dear Editor, After several decades in business and more than 20 years in retail bookselling, it’s fair to say I have never been more surprised than I have been by the City of Rutland. I’ve been familiar with Rutland for years, having married in Middletown Springs more than two decades ago. As an independent bookstore…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org The Senate approved legislation Wednesday, April 22, that would repeal Vermont’s philosophical exemption from immunization requirements to enter kindergarten. The bill does not remove the religious or medical exemptions from those immunizations. On an 18-11 vote, the Senate tacked on an amendment repealing the exemption to a House bill, H.98, which…

H.187 passes 76-66 on second reading By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger.org The Vermont House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to the bill that would require employers to offer three days of paid time off to permanent employees starting in 2016. Workers would accrue paid time off at a rate of one hour per 40 hours worked,…

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Police Department and Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit announce the capture of Gregory Allen Smith in Londonderry, Vt. Thursday, April 23.  Smith, wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Wesley Wing on April 18 in Springfield, was taken into custody without incident this morning along with Wendy Morris, age…

Distracted driving remains top priority As part of the National Distracted Driving Month awareness campaign, and in conjunction with the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance (VHSA), the Vermont State Police is making public the results of a survey performed last month. Vermonters were asked for their opinions on traffic safety in their communities, and were invited to…

BETHEL — On April 26, at approximately 9:32 p.m., troopers from the Royalton barracks responded to 686 Vermont Route 14 in the town of Bethel for a reported shooting. Troopers arrived at the residence and discovered Donald Giovanella, age 47, lying outside the residence with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Troopers pulled Giovanella…