By Katy Savage/VTDigger The Mount Ascutney School Board fired Principal Tiffany Riley after she posted a controversial Black Lives Matter comment on her personal Facebook page. In the school board’s 50-page decision, released Friday, Oct. 16, board members said Riley’s post was seen by more than 250 people and created “serious disruption” to the school district.…

POMFRET— This year’s annual Source to Sea Cleanup, organized by the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC), continued the tradition of cleaning up rivers despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. “More and more people turned to their rivers this summer, since social distancing limited other activities,” said Stacey Lennard, CRC’s cleanup coordinator. “Unfortunately, the increased use…

By Anne Galloway/VTDigger A mail processor was recently removed from the White River Junction U.S. Postal Service plant, one of two facilities that sort mail in Vermont. Only one processing machine is now left at the Upper Valley location, and last weekend that device broke down. Postal workers were forced to sort and process pieces…

Police are seeking information about the driver of a box truck who drove through Kingsley covered bridge on East Road in Clarendon on Wednesday, Oct. 14, causing significant damage. A oversized vehicle caused damage to the fascia boards and support braces of the bridge. The bridge was closed while AOT determined if the bridge remained…

On Monday, Oct. 19 at 2:25 p.m., officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Derby Line notified the Vermont State Police that a fugitive had been apprehended at the border by Canadian authorities after attempting to flee the United States on foot. State police learned that the suspect was Corey Ramos, 30, of Bridgeport,…

On Oct. 17 just after midnight, the West Rutland Fire Department responded to 416 Main St. in West Rutland for a reported structure fire. Upon first arriving, fire crews found the structure with heavy smoke and fire coming from the first floor and beginning to extend to the second floor.  Due to the quick response…

On Oct. 15 at about  10 p.m., troopers from the Vermont State Police responded to an armed robbery complaint at the Stewart's Shop located at 116 Main St. in West Rutland. Upon meeting with store employees and reviewing video footage, it was learned that at 9:57 p.m., a lone white male approximately 5 feet, 5…

On Oct. 19, VSP Royalton attempted to stop Robert Blanchard, 50, after he made threats to harm others, including law enforcement.  Blanchard refused to stop when the troopers activated their lights and sirens. The pursuit exceeded the speed limit several times and proceeded through Quechee and West Hartford, onto Route 14 in Sharon. Troopers set…

Castleton University’s spring 2021 semester will feature an adjusted schedule and more options for students to receive their courses. To keep its community as safe as possible throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the upcoming flu season, the university will adjust its academic calendar in the following ways: The spring semester will be delayed,…

Greg Cox, Democrat for state senate By Lee J. Kahrs WEST RUTLAND — Vermont’s farm culture is far from dead, and if Greg Cox has anything to do with it, agriculture will bring young people back to Vermont and grow the economy again. “If we’re going to grow more farms, we need more farmers,” he…

Robert Arnold Buttner, age 68, formerly of Killington, died Feb. 26, 2020, surrounded by family during his last hours in a hospital in his current residence of Venice, Florida. Bob Buttner was born in Flushing, New York on Oct. 22, 1951, and was the son of Arnold and Emilia Buttner. He grew up in Flushing…

By Katy Savage When the pandemic hit, Joe De Sena, the founder of Spartan Race, spent 120 days quarantined in the place where Spartan first began back in 2010. De Sena retreated to his Riverside Farm in Pittsfield, which is called the birthplace of Spartan —the obstacle course race series, which has since expanded to…

RCHS is working with VT-CAN! Spay/Neuter Clinic, a low cost cat spay/neuter clinic in Middlesex, to offer transportation from RCHS to Middlesex and back on Nov. 9. If interested please e-mail info@vt-can.org and schedule for Nov. 9. Please include your name, phone number, complete address (no PO boxes), e-mail address, your cat’s name, sex, age,…

The Thomas W. Huebner Medical Office Building at Rutland Regional Medical Center was officially dedicated on Monday, Oct.19. The new building, which is adjacent to the hospital on Allen Street in Rutland, is the new home for the Vermont Orthopaedic Clinic, Physiatry services and ENT & Audiology. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place outside of…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg Vibrant, energetic and uplifting: Words used to describe Grace Church’s new intentional interim pastor, Rev. Dr. Alberta Wallace. Blessed is the word to describe what the congregation should be feeling now that she’s here. The church is in the process of searching for a new settled minister. Until that happens, they…