Homeless family shelter planned for downtown Homeless Prevention Center Executive Director Deborah Hall asked the city for support in developing a shelter to house as many as 10 families in the former Red Cross building, 117 Strongs Avenue. Hall told the aldermen she is not asking for funds but a document of local support to…

RUTLAND—Bureau of Criminal Investigations detectives with the state police have finished a 30-day investigation of an incident that occurred in March at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility. On March 19, 20-year-old Emma Decubellis was caught by corrections officers attempting to smuggle the pain-relieving drug buprenorphine into the jail for inmate Randy Babcock during visiting…

Police are urging the public to watch out for a computer scam that can access bank accounts and lock a user out of their computer. Police say incidents have been reported locally, in which individuals have had their bank accounts fraudulently accessed after having a virus installed on their computers. Users with an infected computer…

 KILLINGTON—After 35-plus years in Killington, Craig and Mary Hogstrom are beginning  the next chapter of their lives in Newark, Del. As you can tell from the smiles on their faces, parting is not such sweet sorrow, as they are excited about their upcoming move in mid-May. Mary is leaving her most recent job at The…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger Following spirited debate Friday, April 21, the Senate supported a proposal that would legalize marijuana and create a system to regulate and tax marijuana sales. The proposal, which would set up a system similar to the model currently in place in Colorado, came after several members of the Senate expressed frustration…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger An attorney for Rutland City is disputing claims of bias policing and wants a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit from a former nightclub owner alleging discriminatory police tactics forced him out of business. The city, in its recent filing, also asked the judge to require Charles Greeno III,…

By Evan Johnson Governor Phil Scott has stated he wants economic growth to be a cornerstone of his administration and this week in Rutland he got a preview of what that growth could look like in a state with a rich history of agriculture. On a tour of the Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC), Scott…

By Evan Johnson Jim Harrison has jumped “with two feet” into his new role as state representative for the towns of Killington, Mendon, Chittenden and Bridgewater. The Chittenden resident was selected by Gov. Phil Scott to replace Rep. Job Tate, who resigned from his post for a deployment with the U.S. Navy Seabees earlier this…

RUTLAND—A group of Rutland boosters is hoping to use a pop-up gallery to raise local artists’ profiles and add to the growing art scene that will include galleries, murals and a planned series of sculptures in downtown Rutland. Organizers this week issued a call for artists for the new pop-up gallery, which will feature a…

CASTLETON—Castleton’s student-run newspaper, the Spartan, was recently selected by the New England Society of News Editors to receive recognition as one of the top college newspapers in the region. “I honestly can’t believe it,” said senior co-editor Jadie Dow. “We’ve always been this good, we just haven’t been recognized until now.” To be considered for…

RUTLAND—An initiative of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority (RRA) and the City of Rutland to improve appearance and safety along one of the key gateways into downtown is ready to commence. The Gateway Improvement Project construction contract has been awarded to Parker Excavation, of New Haven, Vt. Work is set to begin in mid-June and is…

ArtBeat Cafe and multi-media space to open RUTLAND—The Chaffee Art Center will begin a major transformation this summer with the addition of a café, artisan co-op, multi-media HD gallery, and expanded educational and community outreach offerings, including a dedicated mobile art unit. In addition, the property will begin the first stage of a major permaculture…

Walker Bridge and Branch Brook Bridge work to start May 1 By Stephen Seitz LUDLOW—Hoping for the smoothest possible project, officials from the Vermont Agency of Transportation outlined their plans for replacing the Walker Bridge, which is the gateway to downtown Ludlow, at a public forum Thursday, April 20. At about the same time, a…

By Evan Johnson Vermont Congressman Peter Welch had a busy Thursday in Rutland last week. He spoke on behalf of the Community Development Block Grants, visited a Veterans’ Affairs outpatient clinic, sat in on a meeting with the Rutland Regional Chamber of Commerce and got a tour of the Vermont Farmers Food Center. When he…

By Mike Polhamus, VTDigger Fewer birds appear to live in Vermont today than 25 years ago, according to recent research by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. The most dramatic declines in bird populations were seen among those that live off flying insects, scientists say. Known as aerial insectivores, this diverse group of birds has declined…