RUTLAND—College of St. Joseph (CSJ) is offering summer sports camps for young athletes throughout July. These six-day residential camps are open to athletes in grades 7-12. Camps are led by CSJ’s varsity coaches, their staff and student-athletes, and will include an academic component. The college will offer an eSports camp July 9-14; cheerleading and dance camp July 16-21; boy’s soccer camp July 16-21; girl’s soccer camp July 16-21 and July 23-28;…

RUTLAND—The Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging has received a $1,500 grant from Meals on Wheels America to support its client pet support program. Funding will be used to provide food, supplies and care for area clients with pets — all of which can be financially and physically burdensome. In total, Meals on Wheels America has…

Local and state law enforcement agencies will be stepping up efforts to stop impaired and dangerous driving during the upcoming holiday weekend. Between June 30 and July 4, the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies will conduct sobriety checkpoints focused on catching people who drink and drive or are under the influence of alcohol…

Interim fire chief, search committee chosen Rutland City Deputy Fire Chief William Lovett will formally take on the role of interim chief, once he is confirmed by the aldermen July 3. Mayor David Allaire recommended Lovett for the position when the aldermen met June 19. If confirmed, Lovett’s appointment would begin July 1 and continue…

VERMONT—From June 1 to Sept. 1, 118 Vermont public and academic libraries will be handing out passports in the third annual Passport to Vermont Libraries program, encouraging Vermonters and visitors alike to visit some of Vermont’s unique, beautiful and creative libraries. Did you know? The Isle La Motte Library, a lovely stone building, boasts their…

Dollar General stores planned for western Rutland County CASTLETON—While Poultney waits to learn whether a Dollar General store will move in, one is under construction in Castleton. The steel will be placed in July and the store will have a soft opening in early September with an official opening celebration Sept. 24, according to Dan…

By Stephen Seitz LUDLOW—A Green Mountain Union High School senior is under house arrest following his arraignment in Windsor County criminal court on June 20. According to court documents, Chester resident Ryan Stocker is accused of having sexually assaulting two of his fellow students in October of last year and this past May. The earlier…

By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger The new teacher health insurance deal passed by the Legislature last week gives school boards little choice but to require teachers and support staff to pay 20 percent of premiums. The premiums on these new health insurance plans range from $523 per month for a single plan to $1,450 per month…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger Former Mayor Christopher Louras said as more Syrian refugees arrive in Rutland as part of a resettlement program, more people will see the human side of the initiative. “For a full year I was the face of refugee resettlement here in the city of Rutland. I was proud to be that…

The Vermont Department of Labor announced that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May was 3.1 percent. This reflects no change from the revised April rate. The national rate in May was 4.3 percent. As of the prior month’s preliminary data, the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan area was tied for the 12th lowest unemployment rate in…

Work on local roads and bridges continues this week, causing some delays for travelers. Here is the latest travel update: Route 4 Crews are scheduled to continue paving on milled surfaces and shoulder work  throughout this week. Crews have also begun to pave driveway aprons on the Rutland Town/Mendon side of the project. This operation…

Senator Patrick Leahy announced Tuesday, June 20, that Vermont will receive more than $11 million in new affordable housing and community development funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Earlier this year, as vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy successfully negotiated the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations Act, which included…

The Hunger Council of Rutland County has announced free meal sites for youth 18 and under from June through August. There is no application or registration fee. To find drop-in summer meal sites in Vermont, call 211 toll free or text “FOOD” to 877 877. Neshobe Elementary School, 17 Neshobe Circle, Brandon. Contact: Nancy Bird,…

Kimberly and Matthew Johnson and their family have recently been selected by Habitat for Humanity of Rutland County to live in a new home being built at 42 Cleveland Ave. in Rutland. This family of four is currently renting an older two bedroom unit in a building that houses seven other units in the same…

By Stephen Seitz LUDLOW—If nothing else, the Black River High School class of 2017 will remember their commencement speaker with a smile, as diplomas were handed out to the 26 new graduates on June 17. The class voted to hear from Craig Goodman, who founded and runs Goodman’s American Pie in Ludlow. He was graduated…