Josie is a female lab mix, white and tan, approximately 35 pounds, that went missing at the Bear Mountain/ Sunrise area on Saturday, Feb. 7. Her owners are anxious to find her. If you have seen her or have any information, please call 802-779-4084, 860-575-5227 or 802-775-9729.

By Lani Duke CASTLETON—A four-foot-long, young Brazilian rainbow boa is still missing from the Castleton State College science labs. The classroom in which it resided in the Jeffords Science Center was locked over the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 1 and remained locked Monday, Feb. 2, due to a snow day. Tuesday morning the snake had…

By Stephen Seitz WOODSTOCK–When Woodstock voters assemble for Town Meeting, one thing they’ll be asked to consider is a one-percent local options tax on rooms, meals, and alcohol. Charles Kimbell, head of Woodstock’s Economic Development Commission, said the tax would raise about $160,000 a year. Kimbell said this isn’t because the town needs more money.…

PLYMOUTH — At the request of Plymouth Town Officials the Vermont State Police were requested to investigate several checks that had been written by the previous town clerk which were believed to be fraudulent. During there investigation it was found that Barbara Stone, age 57, now of Newport, N.H., had cashed several checks written to herself…

Editor’s note: The following letter was submitted by the Killington Selectboard on behalf of the citizens of the town of Killington, to Speaker of the House Shap Smith in response to his request to submit proposals for economic development and job growth strategies for consideration in this legislative biennium. As elected officials, we too have…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org The Vermont Department of Taxes temporarily suspended the issuance of personal income tax refunds last week. The state suspended refunds on Wednesday in response to reports that other states across the country are seeing an increase in fraudulent filings. TurboTax, the popular tax preparation software company, announced on Friday that an…

City of Rutland awarded top allocation of $300,000; Town of Killington, $227,174 On Feb. 5 Governor Peter Shumlin and Transportation Secretary Sue Minter announced the recipients of $2.1 million in federal funds for municipal grant projects under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). The funding will be used for construction projects in 11 cities and towns around the state. “Investments in infrastructure are key to economic growth…

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Speaker of the House Shap Smith’s public request for ideas on education governance and finance reform drew 87 proposals, which are now available online. Smith asked Vermonters to submit ideas on the public education debate now playing out at the State House by New Year’s Eve. “The proposals had a…

MARCH — Rutland Area VNA & Hospice (RAVNAH) will offer a free eight-week hospice volunteer training course for individuals who wish to become hospice and palliative care volunteers in the Rutland County, Dorset and Rupert areas. There will be eight three-hour sessions beginning in late March that will meet two times a week on Thursday afternoons…

By Cristina Kumka The town Select Board voted last week to put an 18-month budget up to voters this coming March that will increase the town’s tax rate by about 1.28 cents per year. The rate will go from 44 cents for every $100 of property value that paid for the town’s last calendar year…

KILLINGTON – On Friday, Jan. 30, Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office and other EPA representatives, toured Killington Resort to see some of the best practices in the ski industry at work. Congressional representatives from Leahy’s, Sanders’ and Welch’s office also attended, as did David Dunn of Green Mountain Power and Eugene…

By Robin Alberti KILLINGTON — Fire on the Mountain has re-opened, under new ownership and in a new location, the old Vertical Bliss location, on the right of Outback Pizza. Live glass blowing demonstrations can be seen from the great bay window in the front. Mari Roma, the energetic new proprietor, hopes to make Fire…

RUTLAND — Four months ago, on Oct. 6, the Vermont State Police were notified by the Vermont Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) of their concern of inappropriate sexual conduct between Jon R. Gilbert, age 48 from Rutland, and a 13 year-old female student.  At the time of the offense Gilbert was employed with the…

RUTLAND — Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum, set to reopen after a major expansion later this month with new and improved interactive displays, will now be accessible to low-income families thanks to a grant from Green Mountain Power. “We are thrilled to be able to support Wonderfeet and help open its doors to families who otherwise might…

By Stephen Seitz CHESTER – When most people picture a home in Vermont, what often comes to mind is a farmhouse, or a stately Victorian structure, not a geodesic dome. But Roberta Piper has one in Chester, and it’s for sale. “It’s just too much for one person,” Piper explained when asked why she has…