HARTFORD—Due to the growth of Upper Valley Aquatic Center’s (UVAC) membership base, increased day pass use from the community, and especially an increase in the number of families using the center, the Upper Valley Aquatic Center’s board of directors has approved an expansion plan. “We listened to feedback from our members and guests and realize…

CHITTENDEN—It’s the end of August, which means students in the towns of Chittenden and Mendon who attend Barstow Memorial School are headed back to school. This year, students will welcome a few new staff members to the building, including nurse Amy Ridlon, third grade teacher Coral Ward-Torelli and head custodian Alison Patterson. There has also…

RUTLAND—Registration is open for a free workshop being offered to Vermont food and beverage processors and manufacturers who want to be fully compliant with environmental laws. The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Environmental Assistance Office is hosting the Food for Thought workshop to accommodate the need for the growing food and beverage industry to access information…

By: Lani Duke Sheriff grabs pot The Rutland County Sheriff’s Department culminated a two-week investigation into local marijuana cultivation with the eradication of 249 plants found in Clarendon and Rutland Town Sept. 1. The plants were found in three separate growing areas and had a street value of about $500,000. This is the second major…

By Julia Purdy MENDON—Work continues along sections of US Route 4 in Mendon and Rutland Town as VTrans crews and contractors repair and replace features of the Route 4 corridor in two spots: the ravine on the west side of Route 4 between Meadow Lake Drive and Wheelerville Road, and at the Norman Rockwell Museum,…

RUTLAND– Avery Mullan of Proctor, Vt., and Kira Simonds of Whiting, Vt., recently participated in STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) at Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) 2016 National Leadership Conference in San Diego, Calif. They joined more than 8,500 nationwide members, advisers, alumni, and guests of FCCLA, gathered July 3-7…

PLYMOUTH—Recently 10 ladies of the W2W cancer support group gathered for their 10th annual day of kayaking, picnicking and swimming on the beautiful grounds of Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort in Plymouth, Vt. W2W (Woman to Woman) is an open support group for women of all ages who have been diagnosed, at any time in their…

At 12 p.m. on Aug. 25, Vermont State Police received a request for assistance from fire/rescue personnel who were responding to the area of Hamilton Falls on Hamilton Falls Road in Jamaica, Vt., for a 17-year-old male who had gone over the upper falls to the middle pool (there are three pools in the falls).…

WAITSFIELD—On Friday morning, Aug. 19 at 9:40 a.m., Vermont State Police in Middlesex received a call from a male who was swimming at the Lareau Swimming Hole, located just off Route 100 in Waitsfield. The  caller advised dispatch he had located a body at the bottom of the swimming hole. Troopers and detectives responded to the…

Not buckling up, driving impaired and speeding are lead causes Highway fatalities to date on Vermont roads have nearly doubled compared to this time last year, according to an Aug. 26 news release from the state. The majority of the fatal crashes have involved non-use or improper seatbelt usage, speeding, and/or driving under the influence…

KILLINGTON—On Aug. 27, 2016, at approximately 2:59 a.m. troopers from the Vermont State Police-Rutland Barracks, the Killington Police Department, Killington Fire Department and Regional Ambulance Service responded to a two-vehicle crash with injuries on US Route 4 near the intersection of Mission Farm Road in Killington. Preliminary investigation revealed Amin J. James, age 36 of…

WEATHERSFIELD—On Aug. 24, 2016, at approximately 9:29 p.m., the Vermont State Police responded to a single motorcycle crash on Weathersfield Center Road, in the town of Weathersfield, Vt. Upon investigation police reported that a Weathersfield police officer had attempted to stop, Nathaniel Watkins, who was driving a 2005 Honda Shadow Motorcycle, for a speeding violation.…

Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m.—POULTNEY—Rockey R. Robbins, associate professor at the University of Oklahoma, will be the keynote speaker for Green Mountain College’s 2016 convocation on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. in Ackley Hall. Robbins’ address is titled “Education for the Well Being of the Land and the People.” “Education should derive first…

By Julia Purdy PITTSFORD—Chittenden Road will be closed to through traffic from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 and possibly over the Labor Day weekend, according to Town Manager John Haverstock, although he hopes that will not be the case. The work is being done near the Newton Farm on Chittenden Road, north of the intersection…

CLARENDON—On Aug. 28, 2016, Troopers from the Rutland Barracks responded to a home burglary at a residence on Quarterline Road in Clarendon, Vt. owned by John and Kristine Lee. Investigation found that someone had entered the home through a window that housed an air conditioning unit, sometime on Aug. 27 or Aug. 28. Eight firearms,…