By Lani Duke Vt. State Fair, moving toward sustainability Full accounting for the Rutland County Agricultural Society’s finances is still in the future, although two accountants and an assistant have been following the organization’s paper trail since February, Board President Don Chioffi told members at a recent meeting. After the IRS placed a tax lien…

By Lani Duke Firehouse construction CASTLETON — Castleton’s select board continues to wait for a wetlands permit to build its new firehouse. Construction is expected to start in early September on what is estimated to be a six-month-long building project. If all goes according to plan, Castleton’s fire department should be able to move into…

By Robin Alberti RUTLAND — Evelyn Bartenstein was a vibrant young girl from Rutland who lost her life too soon. She was born with handicaps that would have stifled so many, but she never let her challenges hold her back. Her exuberant smile and hot pink crutches were seen around Rutland, and she always brighten other…

KILLINGTON — Ian Clarke and Turner Ramsay, members of the Killington Mountain School cycling team, recently traveled to Connecticut to compete in the 2014 New England Road Championships. Clarke rode a smart race, pulling away to take the win in the hotly contested, and well-populated Cat 3 field! Coach Brad Ramsay comments that “it was an…

By Karen D. Lorentz Beth Kinne, daughter of Randy and Ruth Kinne of North Clarendon and a graduate of Mill River High School, hopes to shed some light on a national hot topic with the resource book “Beyond the Fracking Wars: A Guide for Lawyers, Public Officials, Planners and Citizens.” Kinne, an assistant professor of…

RUTLAND — This past Sunday dozens of dogs attended the fourth annual Dog Days of Summer Pool Party at White’s Pool in Rutland. Last year over 70 dogs participated and RCHS officials estimated this year’s event drew even larger crowds. The warm sunny weather certainly helped. The event raises money for the Rutland County Humane…

By Carolyn Dean If you’re a observant neighbor, you may have noticed a few more backyard chicken coops in your community recently. The ability to raise chickens that produce fresh organic eggs in a relatively small space is enough for many to have taken the plunge.  With good care, minimal cost and space, local families…

By Karen D. Lorentz After many years of work and extensive renovations, W. E. Pierce Groceries in North Shrewsbury, a.k.a. Pierce’s Store, reopened as a country store serving a small rural community on Aug. 25, 2009. The country store has served as the “original convenience store” but also has provided a “heartbeat” to the community,…

Dan McKeever, 66, of Bridgewater, Vt. died suddenly July 28 while visiting family and friends at the Jersey shore. His wife Betsy was by his side. Dan McKeever was born Dec. 4, 1947, in Trenton, N.J.  He graduated from Notre Dame High School in Trenton in 1965 and earned a BS degree in pharmacy from…

Accused: Scott Keefer and Aaron Roucoulet KILLINGTON — Two Killington men have been cited by Vermont state game wardens for illegally shooting two bears. Earlier in August, State Game Warden Timothy Carey responded to a report of a dead bear found in the backyard of a Killington residence. The bear had been shot with a rifle.…

By Robin Alberti WEST RUTLAND — On Saturday, Aug. 16, the parking lot of Bailey Motors in West Rutland was transformed to host a down-home chicken barbecue fundraiser. A committee of residents, veterans and decedents of those who served in WWII, formed almost a year ago to create a new granite memorial honoring local WWII…

RUTLAND — The Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) has selected Edward Bove as its new executive director. Bove, a senior planner at RRCP since 2008, will take over his new duties in early October, succeeding interim executive director Fred Nicholson. Bove is a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners and holds a…

MT. HOLLY—On Aug. 14 at 4:45 p.m., the Vermont State Police responded to a report of a car vs. train equipment crash at the railroad crossing on Healdville Road. A 2006 Subaru Forester driven by Lisa Bixby, 49, of Belmont, Vt., sustained damage when it collided with railroad equipment operated by Matthew Godzik, 28, a…

POULTNEY—Green Mountain College continues to attract nationwide attention as one of the nation’s top colleges for environmental programming and operations.  Sierra, the official magazine of the Sierra Club, announced today that GMC ranked eighth in the nation in its annual “Cool Schools 2014” survey. Sierra’s “Cool Schools” list recognizes colleges and universities that are creating…

RUTLAND—The Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) and the Rutland Farm and Food Link (RAFFL) have been selected to host AmeriCorps VISTA positions.  For the next year, Monika Ganguly-Kiefner, a recent graduate of Green Mountain College in Poultney, will be working for RRPC, and Jenn Simons, who graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2012, will…