VTF&W: Take steps now to prevent bear conflicts  The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept.has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to take steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer. “Vermonters need to act to prevent bear conflicts now, even if…

A group of 5-year-olds recently experienced their own “pomp and circumstance” ceremony recently at the Rutland Free Library (RFL), Saturday, March 2. After their 5th birthday, the boys and girls aged out of the Dolly Parton Imagination Program Library (DPIL) program. As a way of celebrating this special milestone, and encouraging the children to keep…

The General Fund, Transportation Fund and Education Fund all exceeded their monthly consensus cash flow targets, corresponding to the annual fiscal 2024 consensus forecast update as adopted by the emergency board at its January 2024 meeting. Revenue collections for the month of January 2024 receipts were a combined $362.4 million, exceeding the $324.4 million monthly…

By Mike Dougherty/VTDigger The Travel Inn in Rutland was one of at least 75 motels in Vermont where state agencies housed people who would otherwise be homeless.   The Dept. for Children and Families (DCF) has announced the successful continuation of sheltering all Vermonters currently in a motel and eligible for the General Assistance (GA)…

  Colleges and universities can now participate in the Vermont Campus Voting Challenge, a new nonpartisan initiative announced Jan. 25 by Vermont’s Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, in partnership with the nonpartisan nonprofit “All In” Campus Democracy Challenge. All higher education institutions in Vermont are invited to be a part of the challenge. Participating…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Courtesy UVM The new logo (above) will replace the steeple logo from the ‘90s. “Going forward, UVM will unify its brand message under a refined V logomark outlined by a shield,” wrote the University of Vermont’s strategic communications division. Image courtesy University of Vermont The University of Vermont will abandon its iconic Old…

By Curt Peterson The approximately 200 attendees at the Hartland Town Meeting Tuesday, March 5, approved all nine pertinent Articles on the warning. Select Board chair Phil Hobbie told the Mountain Times, “I think things went surprisingly well. John Broker-Campbell, who’s been our town manager for just five weeks did a wonderful job.” Many said…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger The Vermont Supreme Court on Friday, March 1, upheld contempt sanctions imposed on Daniel Banyai, owner of the former Pawlet weapons training facility Slate Ridge.  The court heard oral arguments in the appeal in January. Banyai, who faces an ongoing arrest warrant for failing to comply with orders to remove unpermitted structures on his property,…

Brennan Bigelow, age 33, of Rutland, Vermont, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 80 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced on Feb. 29, 2024. Bigelow previously pleaded guilty to two robberies and,…

By Glenn Heitsmith Klara Lendic, Rotary exchange student from Croatia, described what her native country is like to members of the Ludlow Rotary Club. The Ludlow Rotary Club was treated to a lively overview of Croatia’s history, language, culture and geography by a Rotary Youth Exchange Student Klara Lendic at their recent meeting.    Lendic spoke…

Submitted The Grafton Village Cheese Company (GVCC), a subsidiary of The Windham Foundation, recently announced the move of its retail store and cut and wrap operation from Brattleboro to the Okemo Valley. A long-time fixture at 400 Linden St. in Brattleboro, the company lost its lease when the building was sold to Retreat Farm in…

By Catherine Morrissey, Community News Service Editor’s note: Catherine Morissey reported this story on assignment from The Herald of Randolph. The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost. Floyd Van Alstyne has just as many stories and anecdotes as…

Articles, municipal budget pass, Haff re-elected By Polly Mikula Whether to authorize cannabis retailers to operate in a defined business district on Killington Road passed by the smallest margin, just 21 votes (265 for to 244 against) on Town Meeting Day, March 5. Voters also approved a budget of $7,021,304 — up $419,050 over last year,…

By Katy Savage Rutland City voters opted to not change the language of a charter to remove fluoride from the water. The measure failed by 687 votes (2031-1344) on Town Meeting Day, March 5. Some residents at public hearings in January had mixed feelings, saying fluoride in the city water is a violation of medical…

Submitted By Polly Mikula The Barstow school budget, Article 10, was defeated by just 4 votes — 379 (no) to 375 (yes). The proposed budget was $6,273,856, up about 12% over last year. But the actual education tax rate in Chittenden would increase 31%, from $1.38 after adjusted for the common level of appraisal to…