The Vermont State Police bomb squad arrived at Rochester Elementary School around noon Thursday, Dec. 5 after a child brought what looked like a hand grenade to class. Explosives technicians later determined the device was an inert training grenade that wouldn’t have exploded. Sgt. Eric Hudson said the device was brought to school by an…

Staff report Barnard voters decided 119-85 to merge with Windsor Central Supervisory Union on Tuesday. Residents had long debated joining Windsor Central prior to the vote. Some in Barnard wanted to turn Barnard Academy into an independent school to avoid the school’s potential closure in the future. About 29% of the 715 registered voters turned…

By Curt Peterson Barnard Town Offices will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 for voters to decide by Australian ballot whether Barnard Academy will merge into the Windsor Central Modified Unified Union School District. Pam Fraser, Barnard WCUSD board representative for the middle and high school and Carin Park, Barnard…

‘I just love racing in front of the crowd’ By Katy Savage Mikaela Shiffrin is clearly the superstar of Superstar. She won her fourth straight Slalom at the HomeLight Killington World Cup on Sunday, Dec. 1. The races were held on a trail called Superstar. Shiffrin’s lead was sizable, too, at 2.29 seconds combined —…

After a mural of 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg was defaced on the Vermont Farmer Food Center building in Rutland in October, artist Lopi LaRoe repainted another mural of Thunberg in its place.

By Katy Savage A group of University of Vermont students are trying to solve Killington’s bear problem. Five UVM students attended the Killington Select Board meeting Nov. 19 to present a semester-long project they’ve worked on to understand human- bear conflicts throughout the state. From 2016-2018 Killington had 39 bear conflicts—the second highest number of…

Photos by Aliya Schneider The Killington Turkey Trot, held Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 28, raised money for local charities including the Visiting Nurses Assciation & Hospice of the Southwest Region, the Greater Killington Women’s Club and the Killington-Pico Rotary.

With an open hand beckoning the viewer on one side and a remarkable likeness of the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous on the other, Rutland’s newest sculpture is designed to celebrate one of the world’s most influential people while inspiring thought and contemplation. The sculpture, honoring William G. Wilson, known as “Bill W.,” was unveiled Nov.…

By Virginia Dean Now that Thanksgiving is over, Ludlow resident Samantha DeCarvalho is breathing a sigh of relief – not because she wanted her favorite holiday to end but because it nearly didn’t happen in the first place. “I love Thanksgiving,” DeCarvalho said in a recent interview. “Dinnertime is so important, such a special time…

Rutland is officially in the holiday spirit following a citywide holiday stroll event on Nov. 30. Residents and visitors were treated to a day of sales, treats and activities, which lead up to the annual Tree Lighting in Depot Park. Other activities included a free showing of “The Grinch” at the Paramount Theatre and Santa…

Newsweek announced its ranking of the top 5,000 STEM high schools for 2019, honoring excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Woodstock Union High School was named No. 1,745 of all schools and N. 974 of all public schools. “Children don’t realize it, but they’re natural STEM students,” said Nancy Cooper, Newsweek global editor in…

By Curt Peterson Although plans for a new high/middle school complex in Woodstock have been growing for some time, many constituents are becoming aware of it for the first time — perhaps most in the six districts towns outside of Woodstock itself — Pomfret, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Killington and Reading (and Barnard, assuming they vote to…

Vermont’s hunters will get one final chance for a deer this year during the muzzleloader deer season and the second part of the archery deer season. The two seasons run at the same time —Dec. 7-15. A muzzleloader hunter may take one legal buck anywhere in the state. In addition, a hunter who received a muzzleloader…

Governor Phil Scott and Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts visited the Werner Tree Farm in Middlebury Nov. 29 to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season with the help of Vermont’s farmers. The trees cut during this visit will decorate the Pavilion Building in Montpelier, which houses the governor’s office. “As we enter the holiday season,…

Vermont snowboard legend birthed a passion that lives on Jake Burton Carpenter died Wednesday, Nov. 20, surrounded by family and friends. On Nov. 9, Jake sent the following email to his employees: “You will not believe this, but my cancer has come back. It’s the same tumor as the first time around. We just never…