By Alan J. Keays BRANDON – With the help of a federal mediator and after a six hours of talks Saturday, Dec. 2, bus drivers and paraeducators of the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union have reached a tentative contract with negotiators for the school boards. The deal comes two days after the union voted to strike unless there was…

RUTLAND—Max Lozier, a senior bassist at Rutland High School, has earned spots in district, state, and regional music festivals during his music career. That talent and dedication found him joining music students from across the United States in a showcase of the “best of the best” during the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2017…

POULTNEY—Madeline Morse, a Stafford Technical Center senior from Poultney High School, has been selected as one of five career technical education students in the state of Vermont as a nominee for the U.S. Department of Education’s Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education. The program was created by executive order of President Lyndon B. Johnson…

By Julia Purdy The fourth of five public forums on water quality in Moon Brook took place at the Rutland High School Thursday, Nov. 30. The meeting was conducted by Roy Schiff and Jessica Louisos of Milone & MacBroom, water quality consultants. Public Works Commissioner Jeff Wennberg and Ethan Swift of the state Department of…

By Evan Johnson Skiers and snowboarders from around the country gathered under the evening lights at Killington Resort for the annual Rails 2 Riches competition. In the men’s snowboard division, California’s Nate Haust took first, followed by Storm Rowe and Max Lyons of Vermont. Lyons also won for best trick. In the women’s snowboard division,…

In 2017, U.S. (CBP) reported 310,531 apprehensions nationwide, 449 of which were Swanton Sector, Vermont. In FY17 overall, CBP recorded the lowest level of illegal cross-border migration on record, as measured by apprehensions along the border and inadmissible encounters at the U.S. ports of entry. Apprehensions of individuals present without admission from Canada were down,…

By Julia Purdy KILLINGTON—Killington-Pico Area Association lit up the night Dec. 1 with its 13th annual Festival of Trees, a raffle of fully decorated Christmas trees and food drive. Kicking off the holiday season, the event continued into Saturday, Dec. 2, and included live music, visits with Santa, ornament-making and horse-drawn wagon rides. Parking outside…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott says he will stand by his commitment to support legislation that would legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in Vermont. “I made that commitment. It’s a libertarian approach,” the governor said Dec. 1 during an interview on Vermont Public Radio’s “Vermont Edition.” However, he said that…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger Financial analysts say the state will spend $31 million over a three-year period on tax incentives to towns for school district mergers. In fiscal year 2019 alone, taxpayers will subsidize $16.1 million in tax breaks for towns that merge school districts. The Joint Fiscal Office says that will be the high…

Pico Mountain is scheduled to kick off its 2017-18 winter season at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. The fifth annual Opening Weekend Food Raiser will take place on Dec. 16-17, when discounted lift tickets will be provided in exchange for food donations for low-income Vermonters. The Food Raiser is a partnership with Pico Mountain and local nonprofit organization BROC Community…

By Michelle Monroe, St. Albans Messenger As the threat of another government shutdown loomed on Thursday, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., spoke with the Messenger about what is transpiring in Washington. “It’s wild,” Welch said, mentioning Jerusalem, impeachment and the House firearms vote, all of which had taken place the day before. On Wednesday, President Donald…

CASTLETON—The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) Board of Trustees announced Friday, Dec. 1, that Castleton University’s Spartan Stadium will be renamed Dave Wolk Stadium in honor of his 16 years of visionary service as University President. Governor Phil Scott was on hand to read the official VSCS resolution, which lauded Wolk’s vision, values, passion, and dedication. The…

CASTLETON—Karen M. Scolforo, Ed.D., has began her tenure as President of Castleton University. Officially, her first day at the helm was Dec. 4. Scolforo is the fourth woman to lead the University since its founding in 1787, and the tenth president of the modern era. She joins the Castleton family after spending four years as…

By Karen D. Lorentz Pico may have just turned 80 years old, but the area is still young at heart. True to its long history, Pico Mountain continues to foster lessons for children that the National Winter Sports Education Foundation (NWSEF) has awarded a $25,000 grant to expand the Pico School Program. The program offers…

By Lani Duke Winter parking warning City winter parking rules went in effect Dec. 1, and will continue in place until April 1. Downtown parking is prohibited between 3 and 6 a.m., and on other city streets between midnight and 6 a.m. Cars interfering with snow removal may be towed and owners fined $75 or…