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…

By Lani Duke Castleton Float Bridge contract approved, credit union permitting questioned CASTLETON—Blair Enman of Enman Kesselring Consulting Engineering told the Castleton Select Board Nov. 27 that his company has been involved in the Float Bridge rework since about 2014. The east side is finished and Enman Kesselring is working on the proposal to build…

Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger Tatiana Gladkikh is in her first year of studying for her doctorate in natural resources at the University of Vermont. The 27-year-old, a Russian citizen, receives a stipend for her studies and work at the university. But a change to tax law that is under consideration in Congress could significantly increase her…

New Community Challenge will award winner with sweet treats (maple creemees!) and bragging rights RUTLAND—Planners of the 2017 Gift-of-Life Marathon blood drive are appealing to the competitive nature of the greater Rutland area with the addition of a Community Challenge that will help keep the blood supply strong as well as reward the winning team…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger RUTLAND – A Rutland brewpub is looking to grow its beer-making operation. The city’s Board of Aldermen at a meeting Monday night, Nov. 20, approved several business incentives for Dale Patterson, owner of the downtown Hop’n Moose brewpub, to open a separate brewing and canning facility, to be known as Rutland Beer…

By Evan Johnson Gabriella Kolev beams over the awards bouquet given to her by Mikaela Shiffrin. By Evan Johnson For the youngest ski racers, watching the World Cup was an opportunity to see their heroes perform. Speaking at a press conference after winning Sunday’s slalom race, Mikaela Shiffrin said she saw a bit of herself…

By Evan Johnson Pete Davis and KMS athletes lead the parade in a practice of a war chant to be performed in the stadium, Saturday morning. By Evan Johnson While many of the spectators for the day’s Giant Slalom races were busy finding parking, or enjoying their second cup of coffee, a group of approximately…

Courtesy of Killington Resort VIKTORIA REBENSBURG By Evan Johnson Saturday saw temperatures reaching a high in the mid-40s by 2 p.m., meaning soft, bright conditions on the upper portions of Superstar before dropping into the bottom third on Preston’s Pitch, which lay in flat light. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg was third out of the starting gate…