By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org RUTLAND — Business organizations are urging local political and community leaders to resolve their differences on the question of refugee resettlement for the good of the city’s reputation. The Rutland Economic Development Corp. and the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce released a joint statement Wednesday, July 27, urging the Board of…

KILLINGTON – In June of 2013, the Town of Killington officially transitioned from a constable department to a police department when Whit Montgomery was named as its first chief of police. Since that time, the town has enjoyed the benefits of this transition, the most recent being a financial benefit for residents, according to a…

By Lani Duke One-room schoolhouse gets third lease on life PAWLET—The Pawlet Historical Society has found a new home in the renovated Chris Monroe Chapel in Mettowee Valley cemetery, on Cemetery Hill Road off Route 30 and next to the Pawlet post office. On exhibit is a display curated by George Bouret on the history…

By Lani Duke New hires, promotions RUTLAND—Bernadette Robin begins a new job as business development and marketing director at Visiting Nurse Aassociation and Hospice of the Southwest Region, starting Aug. 8. She spent the previous two years as Rutland Regional Medical Center communications specialist, and nearly 10 years as director of annual giving for the…

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="3" gal_title="Killington Summer Camps"] Courtesy of Killington Rec dept.

By Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger Mayor Chris Louras By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org Rutland’s Board of Aldermen held a closed-door executive session with the City’s attorney last week to discuss legal issues surrounding the refugee resettlement process. In a rare move, the board excluded Mayor Chris Louras from the meeting. The board approved three motions: The first directs…

Courtesy of the city of Rutland Combination Pond is one of two impoundments along Moon Brook in Rutland. By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org RUTLAND—A federal judge has given the city of Rutland and the EPA two more weeks to resolve a long-running dispute over the restoration of Moon Brook, an impaired stream that winds its way…

By Stephen Seitz KILLINGTON — At a special meeting held  July 19, the Board of Selectmen adopted a new policy on when to initiate tax sales of delinquent properties. Under the previous rules, a property owner would get a year before the property went to tax sale. The new policy allows the town to initiate…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org CASTLETON—Castleton Selectboard Chairman Joseph Bruno delivered a sharp rebuke to a petitioner seeking a townwide vote on resettling refugees in the area and said she had become a “victim of fear.” Bruno added that the Board had sought outside counsel on the petition and determined it had no jurisdiction over the…

By Stephen Seitz LUDLOW – Six potential governors of Vermont came to Ludlow last week to make their cases to voters at an event hosted by the Friends of the Ludlow Auditorium. Running in the Democratic primary Aug. 9 are former state senators Matt Dunne and Peter Galbraith, perennial candidate Cris Ericson, former state transportation…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org RUTLAND — Can Vermont meet its own economic needs and still effectively address the issue of global climate change? That question was at the heart of Tuesday evening’s well-attended gubernatorial debate in Rutland, July 19, which claims the title of “New England’s solar city,” with the most solar generation per capita.…

By Jimmy Britt RUTLAND — The Vermont Farmers Food Center will be hosting their second annual Harvest Fest, Feast and Fundraiser Sunday, Aug. 14. Besides local food, drinks, d’oeuvres and music the VFFC will be doing something unique: They will be auctioning “scarecrows.” Each will be created by local artists including Mary Crowley, Norma Montagne,…

By Lani Duke Road work: be patient and courteous Traffic is running slowly along some of the local roadways as construction crews take advantage of summer weather. The Business Route 4 corridor project has been slowing traffic. Route 4 East is receiving a new drainage culvert and storm drain plus repair to the retaining wall…

By Lani Duke Clean Water rules to affect more farms Farmers await new Vermont water quality rules with trepidation. No longer do restrictions apply only to dairy farms, but, if drafted rules receive approval, new Agency of Agriculture rules will apply to all, whether livestock or vegetable and other crops. Enforcement won’t be immediate; farmers…

On July 21, Representative Job Tate (R, Rutland-Windsor-1) endorsed Bruce Lisman for governor, saying: “In my conversations with Bruce, I’ve been profoundly impressed by his clear-eyed and comprehensive knowledge of the issues facing our beloved state. Whether in the business field or simply working to help Vermonters, Bruce has shown, time and again, that he…