By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger A federal judge has thrown out claims in a police brutality lawsuit against Rutland City and its police department, but Matthew Hart, a Rutland attorney representing Smith-Wallett, said he’s pressing forward against officer Ryan Ashe, who he alleges used excessive force when arresting his client. Judge Christina Reiss issued the ruling…

Submitted Southern Vermont Arts Center names new leader Bob Van Degna Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester announced Bob Van Degna as its new president of the board of trustees, effective Oct. 20, 2018. For the last several months, Degna has been acting as board liaison to the staff, helping to create new momentum at SVAC.…

Heidi Crane is joining All Points Animal Care on Nov. 1 Crane is a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and has an undergraduate degree from Tufts University. She grew up in upstate New York but spent four years practicing in Colorado after graduating from veterinary school. She returned East to complete an…

Six local schools are part of a sweeping $31 million, seven-year GEAR UP grant awarded to the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. GEAR UP, or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enroll and succeed…

Much of Windsor and Rutland County will see familiar faces in Montpelier next year. Here's a breakdown of the local results from the Nov. 6 election. *SENATE SEATS   Rutland County Senate Name Town Of Residence Party Votes BRIAN "BC" COLLAMORE RUTLAND TOWN REPUBLICAN 11,476 CHERYL HOOKER RUTLAND CITY DEM/PROG 10,875 JAMES L. MCNEIL RUTLAND…

Architectural Digest, the publication considered an international design authority, named Woodstock Farmers’ Market as one of America’s most beautiful independent stores in an online article published in October. The article, “The Most Beautiful Independent Store In Every State in America” which selected one “Most Beautiful Store” from each of the 50 states, noted the Woodstock…

Staff report About 15,500 Green Mountain Power customers lost power in a high-winds storm over the past weekend. Crews had to respond to 250 locations with trees down or hazards that needed to be addressed related to the storm. About 98 percent of outages were duo to trees falling on lines. The other 2 percent…

RUTLAND—After an extensive search, Danielle Beckett and her two children will soon be living in the home Habitat for Humanity is building on Griswold Drive at Stone Gate in Rutland.  Jessica Cecot, chair of the Home Buyer Selection Committee, announced that the board of directors unanimously endorsed the committee’s recommendation. “My kids and I are…

By Katy Savage Kyle Aines drank to feel something. He drank to feel anything. When he came back from the war, “I drank to feel emotions. I was really shut down for a while,” he said. Courtney, his then girlfriend, didn’t realize how much the war impacted him at first, but there were signs—like how…

By Curt Peterson Kiki was just hanging out, bored,  at the end of Phil Corke’s and Susan Peters’ West Windsor drive, when some of the 179 runners in the Vermont 50 went by. The temptation was too much. Kiki, an 11 year-old Icelandic Shepherd, started running the 50-mile bike and running race Sept. 30 with…

By Curt Peterson QUECHEE—Suicide prevention fences were installed at the Quechee Gorge –  one of Vermont’s most visited state park with a dramatic  view that attracts 100,000 visitors each year. Local businesses, residents, and the Hartford Police and Rescue emergency responders have worked with the Agency of Transportation to get the fences installed. For the…

Amy Carr of Chittenden won first place in the costume contest at the Wobbly Barn on Halloween night, Oct. 31. The legendary annual party boasts a grand prize of a Killington season pass, bringing heavy competition to the floor. It has been the premier Halloween party in Killington for over 50 years. The winners in…

RUTLAND— Andrea Mead Lawrence, a Rutland native and environmentalist whom some call Vermont’s greatest athlete of all time, is schussing down a mountain in the newest sculpture unveiled today in downtown Rutland. It is the latest sculpture in Rutland’s growing trail of public art honoring important contributors to the region’s history. Lawrence is the only…

By Julia Purdy WEST RUTLAND—Greg Cox, well known for his involvement in the Vermont Farmers’ Market and the Vermont Farmers’ Food Center on West Street, is a contender for a Senate seat representing Rutland County. Cox also operates Boardman Hill Farm in West Rutland, where he cultivates vegetables – and young farmers-to-be. Originally planning to…

By Katy Savage PROCTOR—Two Main Street buildings owned by the College of St Joseph sold to the first and only bidders Friday afternoon. Fred Watkins, the owner of Watkins Building and Roofing Specialists in North Clarendon, purchased a 30,000 square foot building at 61 Main St. for $16,500 after fees Oct. 27, while Joe Casella,…