By Polly Mikula The forest fire that broke out Saturday, May 15, in Killington has been contained but is still smoldering. After initially being contained, it flared up again Wednesday and Thursday last week, requiring fire departments from 10 towns to provide mutual aid. Killington Fire Warden Tom Rock said they are still monitoring it…

By Tom Kearney/VTDigger Ibjar Meneses wasn’t expecting to open a brick-and-mortar business downtown during the pandemic.  He started selling tamales out of a local church where he volunteers, and when locals started asking if he also made tacos or enchiladas, he knew he was onto something. In downtown Rutland, which has long been working to fill…

Fair Haven, Castleton, Orwell and West Pawlet affected The Society of Divine Vocations has informed the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington that as of the end of this month the order is no longer able to provide pastoral coverage for four parishes in southwestern Vermont: Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Fair Haven, St. John the Baptist in Castleton,…

By Brett Yates The Mendon Select Board’s monthslong project to enact a firearm discharge ordinance entered a new stage on May 24 when the board agreed to solicit volunteers for a committee of residents that would help design the law. The board’s first draft would have prohibited gunfire within 500 feet of any road, highway,…

By Neil Allen On Monday, Brandon Town Manager David Atherton recommended that the town use the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on wastewater projects. “Looking at the criteria, they are looking at water and wastewater projects,” he said. “The more we learn about it, the more I think we should put it towards wastewater.…

By Neil P. Allen On Monday, the Brandon Select Board agreed to provide goals and responsibilities for the Energy Committee now that the board has completed the preferred solar siting project. “We have been on hiatus for a few months,” said Jack Schneider, a member of the energy committee. “We are looking for direction forward…

By Neil P. Allen On Monday, the Brandon Select Board will return to in-person meetings beginning with its next meeting, with the option to access the meeting via Zoom. Select Board member Tim Guiles said, “We talked about this at the last meeting. With the guidelines changing, we could return to in-person meetings and continuing…

In a major milestone achievement in the fight against Covid-19, Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) announced Monday, May 24, that it will close the mass Covid-19 vaccination clinic at the Holiday Inn on Sunday, June 13. The hospital opened the Covid-19 vaccination clinic in February of this year to provide mass vaccination to the Rutland…

We all know Vermont’s dairy farmers help feed us, our families and our communities. Now they hope to help protect us from the coronavirus, with the help of a creemee! Beginning May 21 and extending through much of Dairy Month in June, Vermont dairy farmers will provide "creemee-for-a-shot" coupons, good for one small free creemee at…

Kinney Drugs, now vaccinating people ages 12+ in all its pharmacies, announced May 20 that it will help make six lucky winners’ post-Covid dreams come true with its new #VAXtoIT contest. People age 18+ can visit KinneyContest.com to share an activity they can’t wait to get back to doing after Covid— like renting a boat, buying concert…

Like most Vermonters, highway safety officers have been watching the progress of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting state of emergency from week to week, wondering what the next step will be in our journey back to “normal.” After 14 months it finally seems like we are on the brink of returning to something close…

On Friday, May 21, at 1:20 p.m., troopers from the state police Rutland Barracks were notified of a two-vehicle crash on Route 4 near the Mendon Apple Orchard, in Mendon. Through investigation it was determined Brandon Wortman, 22, of Rutland, was operating a 2020 Jeep Renegade traveling east on Route 4 when he turned left…

On Wednesday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m. troopers received a call for a report of a male who had fallen into Otter Creek while fishing. The male victim, later identified as James Woods, 67, of West Rutland, was pulled from the water by a witness who observed the fall. The witness contacted 911 and attempts at…

On Friday, May 21, at 4:22 p.m., troopers from the state police Rutland Barracks responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 7, near McKinley Ave, in Rutland Town. Through investigation it was determined that Jason Weedman, 37, of Pittsford was driving a 2007 Dodge Nitro, a compact SUV. He was following a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette…

On May 24 between 4-8 p.m., law enforcement personnel from the Vermont State Police, New York State Police, Rutland County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Fair Haven Police Department, Castleton Police Department and Granville Police Department, conducted a cross-border motor vehicle enforcement detail, along the Vermont and New York border.  The purpose of this…