NORTHFIELD—Last week, Norwich University broke ground on a new academic building as well as renovations to Webb, Dewey and Ainsworth Halls in a combined $48.5 million project. This project is the second major construction project undertaken as part of the $100 million Forging the Future campaign. The five-year campaign is timed to culminate during the…

The United Way of Rutland County is pleased to announce that Caprice Hover is becoming its executive director. Most recently, Caprice has been the executive director of the Rutland County Parent Child Center. Hover replaces Jim Kahle who has been acting as interim executive director. Mr. Kahle is assuming the position of board chair. “I…

RUTLAND—The Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) has received Certificate of Need approval from the Green Mountain Care Board for a merger with Manchester Health Services in Manchester, Vt. “We are delighted to move forward with the merger,” said Ronald J. Cioffi, RN, CEO of the VNAHSR. “For more than 50…

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…