By Brett Yates Thanks to a team of volunteers, Pittsfield residents will have a free place to go ice skating this winter, as long as the weather cooperates. When Coral Hawley, the self-proclaimed “ringleader” behind the Pittsfield Community Ice Rink, spoke to the Mountain Times on Dec. 17, an unseasonable warm spell had delayed its…

Two Groton residents were issued citations by a Vermont game warden on Nov. 11, following the investigation of an incident of hunter harassment. Both were found guilty of interfering with hunters on Nov. 22, in Caledonia Superior Court. Topsham resident Theodore Shumway and two companions were hunting black bear with hounds in the 26,000-acre Groton…

By Curt Peterson The Killington Select Board discussed a possible local mask mandate at their Dec. 14 meeting, but failed to make a decision either way; Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth is to gather information about mandate terminology, enactment process and enforcement for the Jan. 4 meeting. Governor Phil Scott signed legislation Nov. 22 empowering Vermont…

MENDON—Debra Poplawski-Wilson, 57, a former resident of Rutland, passed away peacefully at her father’s home in Mendon on Dec. 17, 2020. Services were delayed. Funeral services for will now be held Monday, Dec. 27, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Christ The King Church, in Rutland. The family would like to invite you to join them…

By Karen D. Lorentz When Killington turned 63 on Dec. 13, it was eerily reminiscent of its opening day in 1958, a day without much fanfare. It had been a three-year struggle to get the ski area open — mostly because the state had to build the access road for skiers to get to the…

RUTLAND—Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) recently announced the return of the annual local favorite “Real Rutland Feud” to the Paramount Theatre set for Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. The "Real Rutland Feud" is based on the popular TV game show “Family Feud.” Unable to take place in 2021, this year’s…

By Karen D. Lorentz ‘Tis the season of making snow and the weird weather start to winter 2021-22 with its plentiful ups-and-downs has made the importance of making snow abundantly clear. Perhaps less obvious though is the significance of what is done, or not done, with that snow. A complaint from a little boy to…

By Tiffany Tan/VTDigger The Rutland Police Dept. has launched a campaign to recruit more police officers, even as eight jobs were recently cut from the force. The recruiting campaign includes a 5 -minute video, which is posted on the department’s Facebook page. The video features a reenactment of a criminal investigation and arrest, and several…

By Katy Savage Local public service departments are busier than ever and some can’t find enough volunteers. Rutland City Fire Chief William Lovett said his department is fully staffed with 27 full-time firefighters, but the volume of calls has increased since the pandemic, putting a strain on public service departments that were already struggling with…

Dear Editor, Editor’s note: this was submitted as an open letter to the Killington Select Board on Dec. 10. As the Select Board leads the effort to bring a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District to Killington, it appears obvious that the Board and SP Land are orchestrating an effort to promote this project in the…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger A mother accused of transporting her 9-year-old daughter from Nevada to Vermont for so-called “sexual training” with a man who worked as a CNN producer is facing felony sex abuse charges. The mother’s identity is being withheld because doing so could identify the victim of the sexual abuse. John Griffin, 44,…

By Karen D. Lorentz It’s interesting when a person who is responsible for overseeing the grooming of ski trails has never skied. That’s the case of Okemo’s grooming and trail maintenance team leader John Boudro who has long answered the call of the mountains in another way. Born and raised in Windsor, Vermont, Boudro graduated…

The statewide Support and Services at Home (SASH) program has recognized the Rutland Housing Authority (RHA) for offering SASH services to residents and surrounding community members since 2011, helping to keep older adults and people with disabilities healthy and living independently. The recognition comes at the time that SASH is celebrating its 10th anniversary. RHA…

By Brett Yates On Dec. 16, the Pittsfield Select Board nominated Sandy Begin to become the town’s health officer, effective upon confirmation by the Vermont Health Commissioner. By state law, every Vermont municipality must have a health officer; the position in Pittsfield has stood vacant since Sept. 30, when Rebecca Steward declined a fourth consecutive…

Former owner of Mendon establishment to repurpose name Staff report The former Holiday Inn on Route 7 in Rutland Town will now be called the Cortina Inn. If that name rings familiar, it is. The Cortina Inn was for years a popular local destination but stood vacant until recently repurposed as Vista Senior Living, an…