Flooding was likely the culprit that led to fatality Staff report The Vermont State Police (VSP) located the body of a man believed to be missing Appalachian Trail hiker Robert Kerker, 67, of Rhinebeck, New York on Friday, July 28. Police said search crews located Kerker’s body along Stony Brook in Stockbridge about 1.5…

By Katy Savage The Killington Select Board is barring volunteers who quit or spoke negatively about the town from rejoining the fire department under the newly-hired fire chief. “Anyone who signed the letter (published in the Mountain Times, Rutland Herald and social media) or bad-mouthed the fire department through social media is not currently allowed…

  Staff report On Monday, July 31, nearly 100 friends, family and supporters joined “The Killington Paddle Ladies,” who hosted a sunset paddle on Kent Pond to celebrate the life of Barb Wood. Wood, a long time resident of Pittsfield, well-known photographer and former employee of Killington Resort, passed away last Tuesday, July 25, surrounded…

The Vermont State Police is looking for a missing 67-year-old man who was last seen on July 9 at the Inn at Long Trail in Killington. Robert Kerker was reported overdue by his family to the National Park Service on July 24. The Vermont State Police was contacted on the evening of July 24 to…

  Individuals directed to FEMA, businesses to ACCD; both to SBA By Polly Mikula Many throughout the region have been working hard to clean and rebuild their homes or businesses — and/or help others that have sustained damages.  Now more help is available; some in the form of grants, others as low interest loans. Business…

  Staff report Two South Woodstock residents died and two Stockbridge residents were in critical condition after a head-on crash on Route 4 in Mendon around 1 p.m. Monday, July 24. John Panoushek, 79, and Jean Panoushek, 74, of South Woodstock were pronounced dead at the scene.   Preliminary investigation revealed they were traveling west on…

  By Polly Mikula The town of Killington closed on a 70-acre piece of land off Nanak Way on Friday, July 7, for $700,000. The purchase is part of the town’s ongoing Killington Forward initiative, which, in addition to building a municipal water system and reconstructing Killington Road to be safer and support multimodal transportation…

Declaration provides more resources to help recovery   UPDATE: Administrator Deanne Criswell announced Tuesday evening, July 18, that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Vermont to supplement state, local and tribal recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe flooding beginning on July 7 and continuing. The…

  By Polly Mikula Town officials held a special meeting Tuesday morning where they announced plans for recovery work after two weather events severely damaged town and state roads. The first event, Friday and into Saturday, saw flash floods and mudslides cut off East Mountain Road and Route 4, respectively. The second event, Sunday into…

  Area residents rally in face of storm: Friday's flash flood through Monday's state of emergency By Katy Savage and Victoria Gaither It began with isolated flashfloods and a mudslide in Killington Friday, July 7, but rains continued — and worsened — Sunday and Monday escalating to become a State of Emergency. Estimates of  5-12…

Southern Vermont and the spine of the Green Mountains could see 5 inches of rain. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for the entire state and warned of flash flooding Sunday night. By Paul Heintz/VTDigger Vermont could face catastrophic, life-threatening flooding as a deluge of rain meets saturated soils and swelling waterways, officials…

By Polly Mikula Over 5 inches of rain reportedly fell in less than 2 hours on Friday afternoon, July 7, in Killington and Bridgewater causing flash flooding and mudslides that washed out portions of Route 4, East Mountain Road and Bear Mountain Road in Killington. Rains began around 3 p.m. with reports of flash flooding…

Vermont State Police identifies officer, provides additional information on fatal car crash involving member of Rutland City Police Department The investigation into a July 8 fatal crash that killed a Rutland City Police Department officer remains active and ongoing tonight. Numerous law-enforcement resources have been brought to bear on this complex case. The officer who…

UPDATE: Officer identified   RUTLAND — The Vermont State Police is investigating a multi-vehicle crash that occurred in Rutland on Friday afternoon, July 7, in which an on-duty officer with the Rutland City Police Department was killed. The crash occurred at about 3 p.m. on Woodstock Avenue, also known as U.S. Route 4, near Deer…

Fishing line removed from mother’s beak By Lisa Hamm-Greenawalt A loon couple that has made Lake Rescue in Ludlow its home for several few years finally succeeded in hatching an egg in June, producing the first successful chick ever recorded on the 200-acre lake in Ludlow. The adult loons, large birds with striking dappled black-and-white…