By Stephen Seitz Voters across Vermont will trek to the polls on March 1 to set their town budgets, choose their local leaders, and settle various policy questions. Rutland and Windsor County voters will be considering the following: In Killington, voters will be asked to approve a $4.1 million budget. They’ll also be asked to…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org RUTLAND—Dozens of Vermonters are facing drug-related charges after an operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies this week. In total 20 defendants have been arrested and cited to appear in Bennington or Rutland Superior Court facing a variety of state-level criminal charges. Ten more defendants are facing federal drug charges and will…

Absentee ballots can be requested up to Feb. 29 Secretary of State Jim Condos and the Vermont Elections Division would like to remind all Vermonters that the deadline to register to vote is Wednesday, Feb. 24. You must register by this date in order to vote in the March 1 Town Meeting Day and Presidential Primary. Vermonters can…

CASTLETON — On Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. the Castleton University College Republican Club will be hosting Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton to speak about the importance of citizen involvement in local government. The event will take place in Jeffords Hall auditorium located off South Street in Castleton. The event is free and the public…

Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association leads the battle with letter to FDA  The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association (VMSMA) was formed in 1893, and one early mission of the organization was to safeguard the quality and tradition of maple syrup in Vermont—the “official flavor” of Vermont.” In the past this has meant addressing inaccurately labeled…

Courtesy of KMS Jud Bartlett speaks at the KMS guidence evening. KILLINGTON — Killington Mountain School hosted a College Guidance Night on Friday evening, Feb. 12, led by Middlebury College Admissions Officer, Karen Bartlett, who spoke about the college process from an admissions perspective. Karen Bartlett was joined by her husband, Jud, an alum of both…

Courtesy of PEGTV Host Tom Donahue will update the community as the election results come in on Tuesday, March 1 on PEGTV channel 21. Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. — RUTLAND — PEGTV, Rutland County’s public access television station, will be broadcasting live high definition election night coverage on PEGTV cable channel 21 on Tuesday, March…

RUTLAND — The Homeless Prevention Center, a nonprofit committed to providing services to prevent or re-house those experiencing homelessness, has been selected as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program for the month of March 2016. For every blue Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag with the good karma messaging purchased at Hannaford, Green Mountain…

On Feb. 19, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) announced the Strong Communities, Better Connections (SCBC) Grant awards. This year the organizations have funded three projects that help align land use planning and community revitalization efforts with transportation investments. Grant winners: The town of Chester…

LUDLOW—Monday, Feb. 29, is Leap Year . To mark this “additional day” of the year, the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is encouraging everyone to do something kind for someone else, and is calling the day “Leap of Kindness Day.” In announcing this new initiative, the OVRCC acknowledged its peers at the Saratoga County…

by Lani Duke Paul’s Pizza down, not out A Valentine’s Day evening fire severely damaged the community icon Paul’s Pizza on Route 4A in Hydeville, flaring up about 10 p.m., just after workers had left after closing. In addition to Castleton’s fire department, other responders at the scene included Fair Haven and Poultney fire crews,…

by Lani Duke Alderman contestants Alderman candidate George Gides describes himself as an analyst with strong negotiation skills. At age 49, he is relatively new to Rutland, having moved to the city from Bristol in 2005. His private sector work experience has him integrating major software systems in the field of health care. If elected,…

Submitted Rory Carrara Contributor to the Young Writers Project RUTLAND–Mount Saint Joseph Academy (MSJ) freshman Rory Carrara was recently chosen to perform a reading of her poem “How?” on the Regional Educational Television Network (RETN), according to a Feb. 12 press release. She was selected to appear on RETN as a “Millennial Writer on Stage”…

Submitted Dorran Cooley On Feb. 10, the Vermont State Police were notified of a possible stolen credit card, originating in North Clarendon, Vt. Initial investigation revealed that unauthorized purchases of fuel were being made to a credit card account owned by 74-year-old Phillip Alderman of North Clarendon. These purchases had occurred at the rate of…

Courtesy of PEGTV Candidates will answer questions from moderator Tom Donahue in the live forum. RUTLAND–PEGTV, Rutland County’s public access television station, will be broadcasting a live forum of candidates running for Rutland City Aldermen on Feb. 18, 2016. The forum will air on PEGTV channel 21 at 7 p.m. Candidates will answer questions from…