CHITTENDEN—Barstow Memorial School began a fundraising project for a new playground after their current playground was determined to be no longer safe. This month, the goal has been achieved and a new playground will be in place for the start of school in August. Principal Renee Castillo noted that in August 2016 she had invited…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger IRA — The 108 head of cattle are gone. So are the tractors, balers and even the manure spreader. They all went to the highest bidders at an auction Saturday, July 8, at Milky Way Farm in Ira after a creditor of the financially struggling Rutland County dairy operation called…

POULTNEY—Do you know a Poultney citizen who goes above and beyond the call of duty to enrich the Poultney community in sharing his or her time and talents to it? Residents are invited to submit their nomination for their ideal Poultney citizen for the 2017 Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award.…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger RUTLAND —A local doctor and medical practice owner had been engaged in criminal conduct for several years involving prescription and Medicaid fraud, Vermont State Police alleged Monday, July 3. Dr. Mark Logan, owner of Green Mountain Family Medicine in Rutland, faces 35 counts of prescription fraud and six counts of…

By Susan Durant “I wake up every morning amazed I am living in a 200-year-old house. The fact that it is still standing is a testament that they knew how to build them then,” said the Rev. Lee Crawford, the current resident of the Josiah Wood Farmhouse (now the vicarage for Church of Our Saviour…

By Lani Duke Downtown’s changing face The Bookmobile has moved to 17 Center Street, near Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum, and double its original square footage, on June 1. Owners Ruthellen Weston and Donald Babcock had opened the original store on Merchants Row in October 2012. They specialize in used books but offer new titles, children’s books,…

By Lani Duke Poultney residents contest store proposal POULTNEY—Local residents’ concerns about developing a Dollar General store on a Beaman Street property led to the town’s Development Review Board nixing the proposal, June 28. A pair of planned light-industrial uses met with community approval, but inclusion of the 10,000-square-foot retail use did not. Four buildings…

Tasting wine on the mountain July 14-16 — KILLINGTON — This year’s wine festival toasts 16 years of tasting events in the heart of the Green Mountains July 14-16, 2017. Throughout the weekend, representatives from dozens of wineries and distributors pour hundreds of wines and spirits from around the world. The Killington Wine Festival boasts one of the widest…

New attractions, events continue to grow summer offerings KILLINGTON—Since 2015, Killington Resort has invested more than $5 million to enhance its summer offerings including an expanded mountain bike park, adventure center, events and attractions. The Killington Bike Park expansion continues into the fourth phase of a five-year build out designed by Gravity Logic, a world…

RUTLAND COUNTY—The Killington Valley Initiative, a part of the Regional Marketing Initiative, which involves Rutland County communities, towns and businesses, is set to release its first promotional video on July 14 at the Killington Wine Fest, at Killington Resort during the estate tasting at the Peak Lodge. The program is designed to showcase mountain biking services…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger Rutland City leaders say the status of the Syrian refugee resettlement initiative in Rutland is uncertain following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January calling for a 120 day halt to the resettlement program. Syria was included on the list of countries affected…

By Evan Johnson  CASTLETON—On Wednesday, July 5, a white tour bus pulled into a parking lot at Castleton University in front of a small group of waiting families. One at a time, 10 children and teens emerged blinking into the hot Vermont summer sun as groups stepped forward to greet the travelers. Shy hellos, big…

By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger The new chair of the Green Mountain Care Board says hospitals should disclose administrator salaries as part of their annual budget review. Kevin Mullin, who became chair in May, endorsed administrative salary disclosure after a member of the public brought the issue up at a meeting on June 22. The board’s…

RUTLAND—The annual Mini Gift-of-Life Marathon is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, from 12-6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn located at 476 Holiday Drive in Rutland. This blood drive comes when the Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for donors of all types to give now so patients…

FLORENCE—Aimee Nordmeyer of Florence, daughter of Susan and Mike Nordmeyer of Florence, received her doctorate of pharmacy degree in a hooding ceremony from New England University in Portland, Maine, on Sunday, May 21. Attending the ceremony were her parents, Ethan Nordmeyer, Ben Merkert and both maternal and paternal grandparents, Marie and John Manney of Rutland,…