The Vermont Dept. of Labor released data on the Vermont economy on Aug. 18 for the time period covering July 2023. According to household data, the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for July was 1.8%. This reflects a decrease of 1/10 of 1 percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The civilian labor force…

  Vermonters can now get “Vermont Strong” license plates are now available for purchase. All proceeds will support victims of the summer’s severe flooding.  “Time and time again, Vermonters have shown how willing they are to step up, join together, help their neighbors and unite for their communities,” said Governor Phil Scott. “This summer’s flooding…

  Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Economic Development (DED) announced Aug. 24 that businesses and nonprofits that suffered physical damage from the July floods have been awarded $400,000 in Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) grants to date. The $20 million BEGAP program is intended to support the reopening of businesses impacted…

  By Brooke Geery Each year, Killington Resort celebrates its team members who have reached significant five-year milestones in their careers at The Beast. A party is thrown, complete with gifts from YETI and a glamourous evening of gambling at the Mountain Top Inn. The 2023 gala recognized a collective 1,289 years of full time,…

  The Vermont Agency of Transportation reminds drivers to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. A list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts area on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 1, follows: I-89 White River Junction – Our partners at NHDOT are working…

  By Curt Peterson Hartland Select Board faces the same major challenges all other boards face – getting things done, and finding the money to pay for them. Monday night’s meeting involved a litany of infrastructure issues that have to be dealt with and funded. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster funding for Hartland’s flood…

Obituary: John Michael McGrath   John Michael McGrath, a former resident of Killington, Vermont, passed away on August 22, 2023. Born on May 15, 1935, John was the son of John and Rose Amodeo McGrath. He grew up in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. During his teen and early adult years he spent many hours working…

  An inmate at the Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield held a pen to a nurse’s neck on Thursday, Aug. 24, police said.  A nurse in the facility intake area was administering medications to Cory Munger, a newly detained individual at SSCF.  Munger forcibly grabbed the nurse, wrapping  his arm around her throat…

  By Katy Savage When rain hit Killington in early July and mud slid across the road, Lisa Ransom and her husband scurried with heavy equipment to save the 1895 Mission Farm church from flooding. Ransom, the vicar of the church, and her husband dug a ditch around the building as rain came down “like…

  Engineers, contractors, landowners, and scientists gathered Aug. 22 for the post-construction meeting and site walk for the removal of Connolly Pond Dam in Shrewsbury. Construction was completed, the dam has been removed, and the channel is free-flowing.  The dam was removed in the interest of public safety to reduce flood risk, and to reconnect…

Killington’s Kent Pond Dam listed in top 10 with significant hazard potential  Staff report “When nine inches of rain falls in a short period of time, bad things are going to happen. It’s not always clear what those bad things will be, but we know some communities will flood, some infrastructure will be damaged, and…

  Spartan Race will remain headquartered at Bear Mountain with shuttle service Staff report At its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 28, the Killington Select Board stated that East Mountain Road will remain closed to traffic Sept. 16-17 for the annual Spartan obstacle course race, which is headquartered at Bear Mountain base area of Killington Resort.…

  Staff report Rainy days have caused financial setbacks at Green Mountain National Golf Course in Killington. Expenses for July were up while revenue was down, according to a comparative financial document. The Killington Select Board approved the financial report Aug. 28. The document showed revenue was down around $30,000 in total, while expenses were…

Zion Growers at the former Vermont Marble Company and Ascend Housing Allies in Rutland among recipients By Katy Savage Zion Growers, an industrial hemp processing company in Proctor, was one of nine companies in the state that received a U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant. Zion was awarded $60,000 to conduct a…

By Polly Mikula Towns seeking funding to improve stormwater infrastructure and municipal water systems topped the list of Catalyst Grant grant recipients in Vermont this year with Killington receiving the largest award at $2.25 million, followed by Wilmington and North Hero, each with $1 million. Killington’s grant will be used toward planned infrastructure improvements including…