One-way road downtown deemed best solution for downtown pedestrian and business access By Adam Davis The redesign of Center Street in downtown Rutland is taking its first steps towards becoming a reality. Rutland City Mayor Micheal Doenges presented the Center Street Redesign project at a recent Community and Economic Development Committee meeting at city hall. …

By Curt Peterson The May 21 Hartland school budget information session may be the best-attended school board gathering in recent history — an estimated 40 people attended in person at Damon Hall in Hartland, and another 41 tuned in online. Hartland voters had already approved the $11,040,567 budget 320-311 on April 2. But a petition…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Vermont is forecast to hit temperatures in the upper 80s Tuesday and Wednesday, far above normal for this time of year, the Vermont branch of the National Weather Service reported on Monday, May 20. Parts of the state, particularly the Champlain Valley down to Rutland in the west and the Connecticut River Valley regions to…

Staff report On Monday, May 20, World Bee Day, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed legislation meant to protect bees and other pollinators from a widely-used neuorotoxic pesticide. The bill (H.706) would  eliminate most uses of neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) in Vermont, which have been associated with alarming losses of managed and wild bee populations. Neonic insecticides are used on…

By John Flowers Salisbury’s Chip Piper will have run more during the next 10 days than most of us will run in a year. And he’ll be doing it for an important cause. Piper on Thursday, May 16, began running the first of 10 consecutive marathons in 10 days — a staggering 262 miles —…

In response to the results of the last vote on May 9, and valuable community feedback during the school board meeting on May 13, the Slate Valley Unified Union School District will hold its fourth vote in an attempt to pass the budget on May 30. It will be a revote on the third FY25…

U.S. team of five will compete in the Czech Republic May 19-24 By Katy Savage A Stockbridge resident is casting up to test his fishing skills at the 2024 World Masters Fly Fishing Championships. Matt Stedina is one of five people who made the U.S. team. He’s currently in the Czech Republic preparing for the…

Killington Resort is slated to kick off the 2024-25 Audi FIS Ski World Cup races in the U.S., hosting the Stifel Killington Cup for the eighth time over Thanksgiving weekend. Over 40,000 fans are expected to cheer on the fastest female ski racers in the world, including six-time Stifel Killington Cup Slalom champion and winningest…

By Curt Peterson Robert Hecker has been appointed to take Steve Finneron’s seat on the Killington Select Board. The announcement came after an executive session Monday night May 13. The position lasts until next Town Meeting Day vote, when voters will choose the person to fulfill the remaining year of Finneron’s term.  Hecker was one…

Session was shaped by debates over property taxes, housing shortages, flood recovery and public safety By Sarah Mearhoff and Shaun Robinson/VTDigger After a tumultuous day of dealmaking on housing, land use and property tax measures, the Vermont Legislature adjourned its 2024 session in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 11. The Senate gaveled out at 1:18 a.m.…

Killington Resort is charging into summer with a loaded events lineup including golf tournaments, mountain bike competitions, food celebrations, free concerts and more. “When the snow melts, we switch gears at The Beast and celebrate all the great things summer in Vermont has to offer,” said Mike Sutcliffe Killington Resort events manager. “We’ve got a…

Friday, May 10 at 8:45 a.m.—WHITE RIVER JUNCTION—The Vermont Historical Society (VHS) announced this year’s League of Local Historical Societies & Museums (LLHSM) annual conference will take place at Hotel Coolidge, Hotel Coolidge, 39 S Main St., White River Junction. Now in its 70th year, the event is the state’s largest gathering of local history…

By Jerry LeBlond The Peavine Whitewater Race took place Saturday, May 4, on the White River. The annual downriver paddling event benefits the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective. Above: Justin Reich and Doug Pietrzak finished 18 overall in their tandem canoe. 

By Curt Peterson Jordan Dennis tosses plastic bale wraps into the dumpster.

Staff report Last Tuesday, April 30, three of the four school budgets in Rutland County that failed on Town Meeting Day, failed again upon a revote. Voters in Rutland Town School District, Otter Valley Unified Union School District, and Barstow Unified Union School District again voted down school budgets. The fourth Rutland County district that…