RUTLAND—A community collaborative has been recently formed to help strengthen and support substance abuse prevention initiatives in Rutland County. Regional Prevention Partnerships (RPP) of Rutland, in collaboration with the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and other community partners, want to help shape what substance abuse prevention will look like in Rutland County. Their intent is…

Fair Haven water line upgrade goes forward FAIR HAVEN—In February, the town will finalize contract documents that will result in major improvements to its system of water lines. Among them are the replacement of 5,975 feet of water line with 8-inch diameter PVC pipe and new fire hydrant installation on North Main, Fourth, Mechanic, Maple,…

Are snowplows outgrowing narrow roads? WALLINGFORD—At its Dec. 19 meeting, the Wallingford Select Board heard Road Commissioner Phil Baker’s report on plowing Rogers Farm Road. Road crews stop plowing before coming even with the loop to Stan Taylor’s property because there is no place wide enough for the plow to turn around beyond the pillars.…

By Karen D. Lorentz The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation Securities Division has oversight of 104,00 registered investment broker/dealer agents in Vermont. Those agents don’t have to live here, noted William “Bill” Carrigan, deputy commissioner of the Securities Division. In addition to registering broker-dealers, investment advisors, and their agents and representatives and bringing administrative or…

Norwich University has been named Organization of the Year by Special Olympics Vermont. The university was recognized at an annual awards luncheon held on Dec. 11 at Killington Resort. “Norwich University has been an important partner of Special Olympics Vermont for many years, hosting two annual sports events and providing volunteer support at numerous other…

RUTLAND—Thanks to contributions from family, friends, and community members, the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link has met its fundraising goal to acquire a gently used van for the Glean Team. The organization raised $1,500 through Facebook and its website, with $1,000 matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In January RAFFL will put…

DuBois & King, headquartered in Randolph, Vt., has announced that Joe Coutermarsh, PE, has joined the firm as a senior mechanical engineer. Coutermarsh has 30 years of experience providing design of mechanical-HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems for industrial, commercial, educational, healthcare, and municipal projects. Licensed in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, Coutermarsh lives in…

A number of Vermonters have received unsolicited phone calls from parties claiming affiliation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont. The caller offers a special program regarding pain management and opioid prescriptions and asks the consumer to disclose personal information to determine qualification for the program. BCBS is not affiliated with any such program and…

SO. POMFRET—State police and the U.S. Postal Service are investigating a break-in and burglary that occurred at the Teago General Store and U.S. Post Office in So. Pomfret. On Thursday, Dec. 22, at approximately 8:14 a.m. state police from the Royalton Barracks responded to a report of a break-in at the combined store and post…

Department of Vermont Health Access officials reported that Vermont Health Connect Open Enrollment has been progressing smoothly. They expect the state to maintain one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country in 2017. Open Enrollment is a time for new customers to sign up for health and dental plans for the coming year. It…

City budget omits fire department; Louras leaves meeting RUTLAND—When Rutland City voters mark their ballots in March, their city budget will not include funding for the fire department. The Board of Aldermen voted to remove that $3.5 million sector of the budget in accordance with the Public Safety Committee’s recommendation. There appears to be no…

Nursing students learn from Army CASTLETON—Forty-six Castleton junior and senior nursing students as well as two faculty members took part in a Nov. 29 hemorrhage clinic, learning the basics of stopping excessive bleeding in a patient, second in seriousness to trauma injuries. The students learned how to use tourniquets, pack simulated wounds, and use various…

RUTLAND—State police have arrested Brian McIntyre, an employee of the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility suspected of misusing a credit card assigned to the facility. In early December 2016, state police detectives were contacted by administrators within the Department of Corrections and asked to investigate what they believed were fraudulent charges made to a department-issued…

MOUNT HOLLY—A crash last week left a tractor-trailer in the water and briefly closed Route 103. At about 4:00 in the afternoon Tuesday, Dec. 13, state police were notified of a single-vehicle crash on Route 103 in Mt. Holly. Troopers from the Rutland Barracks responded and located the wreck at the intersection with North Bowlsville…

BENSON—State police arrested Loren Wooster, 50, of Benson Wednesday, Dec. 14, for alleged lewd and lascivious conduct with two underage girls and providing alcohol and drugs to a third. Wooster was cited with lewd and lascivious conduct, providing alcohol to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was scheduled to appear…