By Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger Seeking an epic story? The Rutland Free Library can offer Homer’s “The Odyssey,” a sprawling saga of angry gods and mythical monsters. Or J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” a page-turner rife with man-eating trolls and boulder-throwing giants. Or J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, a seven-part crusade against an evil wizard and a deadly curse.…

By Curt Peterson On Saturday, Jan. 11, six Killington Search and Rescue (KSAR) volunteers found a lost hiker deep in the snowy forest. It may have been the luckiest and unluckiest day of his life. According to Killington Police Chief Whit Montgomery, the call citing a lost hiker needing rescue came from the Vermont State…

By Polly Mikula Vermont lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban cell phones and other electronic devices in public and independent schools from the start of the school day until dismissal — often called bell-to-bell — and prohibits schools from using social media to communicate with students. The bill, H.54, is intended to reduce the burden on…

By Polly Mikula Since first announcing what they’ve coined the “education transformation” plan on Jan. 22. Governor Phil Scott and his top education officials have gradually unveiled more and more details.  Democratic lawmakers have mostly welcomed Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s grand proposal with cautious optimism. Yet while broad support for a new funding formula and…

Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 — KILLINGTON — Subaru WinterFest is back, bringing an action-packed weekend of live music, outdoor adventure, and winter lifestyle experiences to Killington Resort. Running from Friday through Sunday, this free event invites skiers, snowboarders, music fans, and adventure enthusiasts to celebrate their love for winter with gear demos, live performances,…

 Last Tuesday, Jan. 21, Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Senator Ginny Lyons, and Representative Alyssa Black announced a proposal to provide medical debt relief to thousands of Vermonters. The proposal would eliminate up to $100 million in medical debt for a one-time investment of $1 million. Further, the proposal would protect Vermonters’ credit scores by eliminating the…

By Karen D. Lorentz What started out as a fun winter sport on a school trip and a hobby — perhaps inspired by his artistic mother — led to a new vocation and lifestyle for Jerry LeBlond. Born in 1946 and raised in Biddeford, Maine, a coastal French speaking community, until the  6th grade when…

By Auditi Guha/VTDigger He was called the N-word. His head was compared to a chimpanzee’s skull. A banana was waved at him with comments about him looking like he needed it. His arm was drawn on with a dark marker with remarks about how it could not be seen on his skin. Comments and memes…

By Polly Mikula A first look at the Town Meeting Day ballot was presented at the Killington Select Board meeting, Monday, Jan. 27 — and there were some surprises with two contested races, two bonds and an article to change the governing structure of the Select Board.  The first article on the ballot asks voters…

by Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger State officials unveiled the broad strokes of Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal on Wednesday, Jan. 22, a plan that includes sweeping changes like consolidating Vermont’s dozens of school districts to just five and adopting a foundation formula. “We know that the work that we’re describing here is going to be really challenging,”…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger The chair of the state’s Public Utility Commission told lawmakers on Thursday, while presenting a long-awaited report, that implementing the controversial clean heat standard could cost significantly less than others have previously suggested. However, chairman Ed McNamara concluded that the commission recommends that the state not move forward with it. Debate about…

By James Kent Brent Dickinson, a veterinary practice manager from Merchantville, New Jersey, is no stranger to Killington or the infamous Sherburne Pass. His family still owns a condo at Mountain Green, which they’ve had for over two decades. Dickinson graduated from Green Mountain College and was a Poultney volunteer firefighter before moving back to…

By Katy Savage Banners demanding “Save the Halfpipe” and “Build the Pipe” flutter across the balconies of Winterplace condominiums at Okemo Mountain Resort, as the community protests the closure of the popular halfpipe for a second consecutive year. A change.org petition with nearly 4,000 signatures reflects the outcry, spurred by Vail Resorts’ decision not to open the…

By James Kent A new dining spot has taken root off Route 4 in Rutland. Townline Grill and Bakery, known to locals as a popular food truck, now occupies the space in the former Restoration BBQ location. Owner and primary cook Tracy Rose launched her food truck in 2021, gradually building a loyal following. In…

By James Kent Perhaps you’ve seen it as you drive along Route 7. In an abandoned lot next to Godnick’s on the corner of 259 N Main St. in Rutland City, erected atop a leftover sign from a long-shuttered mini golf course, a Trump/Vance election sign is affixed overhead. Even those with a cursory knowledge…