By Curt Peterson HARTLAND—Candidates and their advocates began staking and arranging campaign signs in front of Damon Hall in Hartland early Saturday afternoon, in preparation for the Pasta and Politics annual Windsor County Democrats get-together Oct. 13. Neither Sen. Bernie Sanders nor Sen. Patrick Leahy were able to attend, but Vermont’s sole congressman, Rep. Peter…

By John Flowers FAIR HAVEN —Twenty-seven years ago, Chuck Laramie had reached his personal abyss. A slave to alcohol and recreational drugs, he was so intoxicated one night that a police officer insisted on driving him home. “He asked me what I was going to do when I got home, and I told him I…

By Curt Peterson RUTLAND—The debate between Republican Governor Phil Scott and his rival Christine Democrat Christine Hallquist was well-managed, informative, and remarkably civil on Oct. 10 at the Paramount Theatre. Outside, a half-dozen protestors complained that five independent candidates were excluded from the VTDigger-sponsored debate. VTDigger editor Anne Galloway did not respond when asked why…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger Rutland City has reached an agreement with a Medal of Valor winning police officer that requires officials to keep mum on the details regarding his departure from the department. Police Cpl. Damon Nguyen had been placed on administrative leave on Dec. 12, 2017; it ended on Aug. 26, when he resigned…

By Curt Peterson WOODSTOCK—Charlie Kimbell is the unopposed legislative candidate for re-election representing Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth. The Mountain Times had an opportunity to ask Kimbell about the major Vermont issues on for the 2018 election at the Thompson Center on Oct. 10. On marijuana legislation, Kimbell said he is not in favor of a…

Staff report Several businesses in the Rutland Plaza were without water on Tuesday, Oct. 16, after pipes broke over the weekend. Wal-Mart temporarily closed Saturday, Oct. 13 after a pipe “blew up” behind it, said Rutland Department of Public Works Projects Manager David Sears. About four hours after the Wal-Mart pipe was fixed, a pipe…

WOODSTOCK—The Woodstock Inn & Resort Corporation is under new leadership. After Gary Thulander resigned as general manager this summer, the Woodstock Foundation Trustees Director Douglas Horne announced the formation of a new senior management team to lead future enhancement of guest services. John Hallowell was appointed president and managing director of the inn, Paul Ramsey…

RUTLAND—More than 260 residents from the Rutland area joined the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 8 in Main Street Park. Participants raised more than $37,000 to fund Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. Though the amount raised was short of the goal of $45,000, the local committee is still urging the community…

By Katy Savage Whenever Molly sees water, she can’t control herself. “She gets really hyper,” said Michael Cimonette. “Whether it’s a pool or a lake, she doesn’t care.” Cimonette, of Pittsford, has to hold Molly, his 1-year-old Labrador Retriever, back from running and jumping out of his truck to get to the water. “She doesn’t…

RUTLAND—In front of a sold-out crowd at the Paramount Theatre, Praveen Keshava, ophthalmologist and owner of Central Vermont Eye Care, and Sam Ho, a dance instructor at Cobra Gymnastics and Dance Center, were presented with the Mirror Ball Trophy as the Judges Choice at the eighth annual Dancing with the Rutland Stars. Mike McClallen, an…

By Katy Savage The Killington World Cup Committee has given 17 ski organizations across seven Northeastern states grants to expand youth skiing and riding. Local ski foundations and organizations received a total of $207,000 from the KWCC’s first grant awards. The KWCC formed last year. It raises money by selling VIP packages for the World…

By Abagael Giles CHITTENDEN—The Vermont Huts Association will build yet another new hut come Spring 2018. The announcement came less than a week after the organization installed the Chittenden Brook Hut at Chittenden Brook Campground, near Brandon Gap, on Sept. 28. On Thursday, Oct. 5, Executive Director RJ Thompson announced at the organization’s birthday bash…

By Katy Savage BENSON—Some days, the pumpkin in Dan and Holly Boyce’s backyard grew 50 pounds a day. In 86 days, the pumpkin grew from the size of a cherry to the weight of a ton. The Boyce’s 2,017-pound pumpkin broke the state record this year for the largest Atlantic pumpkin ever grown. “‘It was…

By Katy Savage Ninja warriors are coming to town. Allyssa Beird and Joe Moravsky, who compete on the NBC television show “American Ninja Warriors,” are making a special guest appearance for the inaugural WreckTangle Championship at Killington Resort Sunday, Oct. 7 from 12-3 p.m. Morvasky, 29, has been competing on the show for the past…

By Julia Purdy RUTLAND—Some 50 citizens attended a candidates’ forum at the Rutland Public Library Saturday, Sept. 22, sponsored by the Rutland chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Tabitha Pohl-Moore, president of the chapter, said that the focus of the forum was more about the issues than about party…