Bennington teachers' strike ends

From the AP (more updates to come from Herald reporter Patrick McArdle)
BENNINGTON, Vt. - Teachers in southwestern Vermont say they have reached a tentative deal with their Bennington county school boards that would end a nine-day-old teacher strike.
Union spokesman Darren Allen said late Monday afternoon teachers were going over the details of the deal and they are ready to go back to school on Tuesday.
The school boards have a meeting scheduled for Monday night to discuss the details of the negotiations.
The district with about 3,000 students and about 300 teachers covers schools in the towns of Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury and North Bennington, as well as the Mount Anthony Union and Southwest Vermont Regional Technical district.
The issues that separated the two sides were salaries, health care benefits, and how much time teachers will be in contact with students during the day.

Look for the full story from McArdle in tomorrow's Rutland Herald.

Montpelier police union ratifies contract

The Montpelier police union has ratified a new three-year contract, Times Argus reporter Keith Vance says on his blog. He's got the memo from city manager William Fraser, and more, at the link.

 

Bus schedule altered by parade

Due to the Halloween Parade this evening in Rutland, the bus schedule for MVRTA buses has been altered.

The last in-city buses will leave at 5 p.m. from the Transit Center. There will be no additional in-city buses after.

Out-of-town routes will pick up and drop off on West Street. There will be no pick up at the Transit Center.

Stenger named chamber's Citizen of the Year

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce on Monday named Bill Stenger, president and chief operating officer at Jay Peak Resort, as its Citizen of the Year.

Stenger will be honored on Dec. 9, in coordination with a sneak preview of Jay Peak’s 50,000 square-foot Pump House indoor water park.

Twinfield Elementary School vandalized

School officials said they believe that Twinfield Elementary School was broken into Sunday night.

The thieves allegedly stole a maintenance truck with a plow attached and a laptop computer from the school.

The walls of the school and many lockers were sprayed with fire extinguishers and crews were still cleaning up the mess at noon today.

The damage was discovered early Monday morning when a boot camp fitness group came to the school at around 5 a.m.

School will resume tomorrow, according to Nancy Thomas, superintendent of the Washington Northeast Supervisory Union.

Thomas added that Halloween activities at the Elementary School will resume tomorrow as well.

Jenna Pizzi will have the full story in tomorrow's paper and online.

Vt., FairPoint agree on settlement

MONTPELIER — The state of Vermont and FairPoint Communications say they believe a $1.6 million settlement is a good way to resolve a series of complaints about the company’s service after it took over the landline telephone and Internet system in the state.
FairPoint could have faced penalties of up to $10.8 million for service problems after it took over the system from Verizon in 2009.
The Public Service Department’s James Porter says the company has fixed many of the problems, such as customers receiving wrong bills.
The settlement money would be used to further expand broadband service in Vermont.
FairPoint’s Vermont President Michael Smith tells Vermont Public Radio the settlement should allow the company to compete successfully against other telecom providers.
The settlement must be approved by utility regulators.

-- The Associated Press

Brandon announces winter parking ban

BRANDON - A winter parking ban is in effect starting Nov. 1, until April 1, 2012 in Brandon.
No vehicle may be parked on any roadway, public parking area or town right of way from 12:01 a.m to 6:00 a.m.
This parking ban assists town highway crews with snow removal from roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks.
Violations of the parking ban are subject to a $5 fine and removal of the vehicle at the owners expense.

Police nab homeless man in stolen car after high-speed chase

WORCESTER — Police arrested a homeless man in East Randolph after he led them on a high-speed chase in a stolen car, eventually crashing into another vehicle.
Travis Woodbury, 20, was allegedly traveling on Interstate 89 in Royalton at speeds in excess of 100 mph when police began the pursuit. Woodbury exited the highway and continued to travel on Route 14 at speeds police say exceeded 90 mph.
The chase eventually ended when Woodbury reportedly collided with vehicle operated by James Tracy, of Tunbridge, and then crashed through a fence and into a field.
Police report that Woodbury was taken into custody Saturday afternoon without further incident. He was jailed at Orange County Sheriffs Department on charges of negligent operation, attempting to elude, operation of a vehicle without the owner’s consent, excessive speed, and violation of conditions of release.

Teachers, district back at bargaining table

BENNINGTON — Striking teachers and the negotiators for schools in a southwestern Vermont school district are bargaining again in hopes of ending a nine-day-old teachers’ strike.
A spokesman for the Vermont Education Association says the negotiations began just after 10 a.m. Monday.
School for about 3,000 students in the Bennington Southwest Supervisory Union has been canceled during the strike.
The district with about 300 teachers covers schools in the towns of Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury and North Bennington, as well as the Mount Anthony Union and Southwest Vermont Regional Technical district.
The issues that separate the two sides are salaries, health care benefits, and how much time teachers will be in contact with students during the day.

-- The Associated Press

First tracks at Okemo

 

Have you ever wanted to be the first one to ski down a mountain as soon as the first snow falls? Okemo Mountain Resort’s new snow reporter, Colin Giblin, was happy to be the first skier to make tracks at Okemo Mountain Resort this winter season.