By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org The State Board of Education has decided to draw up guidelines and rules for communities interested in pursuing an alternative path to complying with Act 46 changes to school governance. And one thing is clear: For places hoping to keep things as they are, the bar is going to be…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org Revisiting a controversy from the initial round of Act 46 mergers, the State Board of Education has made clear that school districts merging under the later phases of the law will face the same prohibition on combining systems that operate a school and those that tuition students for the same…

By Karen D. Lorentz The most recent news to hit Vermont indicates that state regulators are paying greater attention to the details of EB-5 projects in the aftermath of the problems besetting certain Northeast Kingdom EB-5 projects. They are also meeting with success in their investigations of fraudulent use of EB-5 funds. The developer of…

RUTLAND—Baxter Street Park has opened, according to a news release Friday, July 1. “Thanks to many hours of effort from community members and the Rutland Recreation Parks staff the Baxter Street Park is now open,” wrote Cindi Wight, director of Rutland Recreation. An official grand opening event is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, from 6:30…

RUTLAND — On Tuesday, July 5, Rebecca Allen Hougher, president of the Descendants of the Green Mountain Boys, presented Greg Cox, president of the Vermont Farmers Food Center, with a plaque honoring the VFFC for their revitalization and advancement of our Vermont heritage as workers of the earth and promoters of healthy farm to market…

Photo courtesy of VSP Police photograph of the house taken from the South Burlington Fire Department’s ladder truck after the fire was extinguished. SOUTH BURLINGTON — On Monday, July 4, at approximately 3:45 a.m. the South Burlington Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 213 Cobblestone Circle in South Burlington after receiving a 911 call.…

ROCHESTER — Gordon Merrill, age 44 from Rochester, Vt., reported that a 2000 325 Magnum 4-wheeler was stolen from his residence in Rochester, Vt. The 4 wheeler is white with red trim. It was stolen between the hours of 8:45 p.m. on June 28 and 8:10 a.m. on June 30. Anyone with information is asked…

Lightning suspected as cause POULTNEY — Friday, On July 1, at 11:49 p.m. a motion sensor alarm went off at the Discount Food Store of Poultney at 298 E. Main Street in Poultney.  The owner of the store, Russell Merrill, age 60, of Poultney, Vt., was notified by the alarm company and responded immediately, according…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org The South Hero home of Green Mountain Power President and CEO Mary Powell caught fire Tuesday evening, June 28, and burned into the night. Vermont State Police said a preliminary investigation indicates the fire may have been started by lightning. The fire is still under investigation. Don Turner, chief of the…

A new study analyzing traffic stops in Vermont shows that black and Hispanic drivers are pulled over, searched and arrested far more often than whites, yet white drivers are more likely to be carrying contraband. Released June 30, the independent study of racial disparities in traffic stops and outcomes by Vermont State Police between July…

  Submitted ETHAN  MUELLER By Karen D. Lorentz Ethan Mueller, president of Crested Butte Mountain Resort and senior vice president of Triple Peaks, LLC, has relocated to New London, N.H., which is close to the company’s Mount Sunapee and Okemo Mountain Resorts. “My job hasn’t changed with the move,” Mueller told the Mountain Times, noting…

By Lani Duke Rutland HS students to attend national music conference RUTLAND CITY—Two Rutland High seniors won acceptance to the National Association for Music Education conference to be held in November in Grapevine, Texas. Violist Ryan French, 17, and violinist Nova Wang, 16, will spend three days in classes and rehearsals before participating in a…

By Lani Duke Students learn local community arts CASTLETON—Students in Castleton’s master of arts in arts administration program recently spent a week learning about local community arts. Launched this summer, the low-residency program emphasizes practical applications. Enrollment currently totals nine students. Two are Castleton alumni; the others come from from across the country. During their…

A man once called Lake Champlain’s loudest advocate is being honored for his tireless devotion to Vermont’s most important body of water. James Ehlers, executive director of Lake Champlain International, was recently presented with the GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award for his unwavering efforts to protect and improve Lake Champlain, according to a news release June 30.…

SHARON– The board of The Sharon Academy (TSA) in Sharon, Vt., voted unanimously at its annual meeting Saturday, June 25, to adopt an open enrollment policy. The policy takes effect immediately for all grades, 7–12. “The board has affirmed as official policy what is already our practice– embracing all applicants,” said Head of School Michael…