The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board voted on the Fish & Wildlife Department’s proposal for antlerless deer hunting for 2017 at its meeting on April 26 in Montpelier. “We are recommending an increase in muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits this year to account for the increase in the deer population following another mild winter in…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is looking for volunteers to help count state-endangered little brown bats as they emerge at dusk at locations throughout the Champlain Valley. Vermont’s little brown bats suffered massive declines due to the deadly disease, white-nose syndrome. An estimated 90 percent of the state’s bat population has been lost to…

RUTLAND—Green Mountain Power earned top spots on Smart Electric Power Alliance’s annual energy storage rankings for 2016. GMP ranked No.10 for the most storage installed in the country, with two megawatts in 2016. GMP also scored the No. 9 spot for most watts per customer in 2016. This is the first year SEPA looked at…

By Evan Johnson HARTFORD—A 22-year-old worker at a Hartford assisted-living facility has been accused of sexually abusing an 83-year-old woman with dementia. Valley Terrace employee Michael Paton, allegedly had sex with the woman in her room on Monday, according to a news release from Vermont State Police issued on Tuesday night. Police said in the…

RUTLAND—For 4-Hers from seven clubs in Bennington and Rutland Counties, April 14 was an action-packed night. Southwest Regional 4-H Night, held at Rutland High School, provided an opportunity for them to demonstrate what they have learned in University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H projects and club activities. At stake was the chance to continue on…

Watching wildlife is enjoyable, especially when young animals appear in the spring. But it’s best to keep your distance. Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. It’s also against the law. When people see young animals alone, they often mistakenly assume these animals are…

HUBBARDTON—The Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site isn’t the only thing to put the small Rutland County town of Hubbardton on the map these days. The town recently won a statewide award for its modern creativity and fresh approach in its newest town plan. The award recognizes plans that exemplify a visionary approach and expand the…

Fair Haven schools look ahead FAIR HAVEN—Girls’ and Boys’ Club activities are opening to Fair Haven Grade School students in the fall. Grant-funded, the club will be free to students from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., including Power Hour academic time, an activity, light dinner, and pick-up by parents. Director of Student Services Pat Davenport applied…

Homeless family shelter planned for downtown Homeless Prevention Center Executive Director Deborah Hall asked the city for support in developing a shelter to house as many as 10 families in the former Red Cross building, 117 Strongs Avenue. Hall told the aldermen she is not asking for funds but a document of local support to…

RUTLAND—Bureau of Criminal Investigations detectives with the state police have finished a 30-day investigation of an incident that occurred in March at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility. On March 19, 20-year-old Emma Decubellis was caught by corrections officers attempting to smuggle the pain-relieving drug buprenorphine into the jail for inmate Randy Babcock during visiting…

Police are urging the public to watch out for a computer scam that can access bank accounts and lock a user out of their computer. Police say incidents have been reported locally, in which individuals have had their bank accounts fraudulently accessed after having a virus installed on their computers. Users with an infected computer…

By Mike Polhamus, VTDigger Fewer birds appear to live in Vermont today than 25 years ago, according to recent research by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. The most dramatic declines in bird populations were seen among those that live off flying insects, scientists say. Known as aerial insectivores, this diverse group of birds has declined…

Seeking to recognize a leading Vermont environmentalist and honor the legacy of a legendary wildlife advocate, Green Mountain Power has called for nominations for the 2017 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. Presented annually and named for famed osprey advocate Meeri Zetterstrom of Milton, the GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award is given to one person, business, group or non-profit who…

CASTLETON—Nineteen Castleton students traded in their final break of the academic year for some hard hats, hammers, and building supplies, as members of the Habitat for Humanity Club made the journey to Dekalb County, Ga., as part of an alternative spring break trip. The volunteer group spent their time working with the local community on…

A brother and sister were due in court on Monday morning for stealing a cash register from Wal-Mart in Rutland. On April 16 at approximately 8:05 a.m., officers from the Rutland City Police Department responded to Wal-Mart for a report of a robbery that had taken place and that a male suspect had stolen a…