The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets would like to remind all state farm operations that the 23rd annual winter manure spreading ban is underway.   As required by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets’ (VAAFM) Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), between December 15 and April 1, no manure or other agricultural wastes (including: compost and…

The Agency of Natural Resources announced Tuesday, Dec. 26 that Rowley Fuels of Milton, was fined $18,600 for illegally cutting open fuel oil storage tanks and lighting the fuel on fire. These actions violated multiple Vermont Hazardous Waste Management and Air Quality Regulations. Rowley Fuels distributes heating fuel, propane and other petroleum products, and provides…

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is pleased to announce the availability of up to $60,000 of funding for Local Food Market Development (LFMD) Grants to assist eligible Vermont farmers, businesses, and value-chain facilitators to reach new markets. VAAFM works to support market opportunities with an institutional or other wholesale focus in…

By Julia Purdy “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year!” With these words Scrooge appeals to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come to help him escape the dreadful vision of a bleak and lonely ending to his life. The spirit offers no sympathy, forcing Scrooge to…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger The executive director of the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce is facing DUI charges even though tests showed her blood alcohol level was below the legal limit for driving, newly released court records show. Prosecutors are pressing their case against Mary S. Cohen on two fronts: that a chemist can show…

Governor Phil Scott joined local, state and federal partners Wednesday, Dec. 20 to announce over $3.5 million in community development grants to eight communities. Brownfield clean-up in Rockingham, downtown redevelopment in Springfield and funding for home repair programs statewide are among the projects receiving more than $3.5 million in grants from the Vermont Community Development…

The Bowse Health Trust Committee is pleased to announce that it has approved funding for three new programs. The projects will receive up to three years of funding starting in 2018. In twenty years the Bowse Health Trust has funded a total of 60 programs, which target residents of all ages in a variety of Rutland County…

Killington Police busy with traffic, alarm activations According to the media log from the Killington Police, officers responded to a total of 26 calls between Dec. 2 and 8. On Dec. 2, police completed three traffic stops in the areas of Bigelow Drive and Anthony Way. Police also responded to a welfare request on Brad…

The Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) 2017 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year, the Robo-Rattlers, won their second State Championship Title. The team’s win secures its invitation to the World Finals. The Rutland Robo-Rattlers, a FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics team featuring area students from ages 9 to 14, competed in the Vermont State FLL Championships…

RUTLAND—Through a combination of state grants and federal loans, Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) has secured $500,000 this year to be made available to Rutland County businesses. REDC is a non-profit, community-based organization whose mission is to encourage and enhance business success in Rutland County. By means of a nationally competitive application process, USDA Rural…

The recent arrival of cold temperature has formed early-season ice on Vermont ponds, lakes and rivers. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds winter enthusiasts that ice should never be considered safe and ice conditions vary. “We are urging all outdoor enthusiasts – people going ice fishing, cross-country skiers, hikers, and snowmobilers -- to be extremely…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger A judge has struck down an ordinance in Rutland that limited where convicted sex offenders can live in the community. “The case hinges on the question whether the City of Rutland has the power to declare people nuisances,” Rutland Superior Court Judge Samuel Hoar wrote recently in the strongly worded 13-page…

By Evan Johnson KILLINGTON—Killington’s various town departments have been busy creating drafts of their budgets for the coming fiscal year. At a Select Board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 5, draft budgets were presented for the town clerk/treasurer, lister, highways, Killington Fire and Rescue, and capital budget. Lucrecia Wonser, Killington’s treasurer and clerk, presented a budget that…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger A dozen people are facing a host of drug-related charges following a two-county police investigation that spanned four months. The Southern Vermont Drug Task Force announced Friday the arrests of the suspects stemming from investigations in Rutland and Bennington counties. Police said the investigations started in September and continued through this…

By John Flowers, Addison Independent Debate in Montpelier surrounding efforts to clean up the state’s waterways has been surging like the Otter Creek in April, but legislative action on funding for those efforts has been moving at a glacial pace. With that in mind, Sen. Chris Bray, D-New Haven, is suggesting Vermont adopt a per-parcel…