OV board backs 2.2% increase in spending

BRANDON — The Otter Valley Unified Union school district board last week approved a proposed $20,377,427 fiscal year 2021 budget that would increase spending over the current year by 2.22%. Board members call it a modest increase as the district handles the ever-shifting demographics that influence staffing at each school, student population numbers, and the individual needs of those students. The state doles out education funding money based on the number of students a school educates, and OVUU is seeing p … (read more)

BRANDON – In a world where advocates are hard to find and harder to keep, where the most vulnerable are keen for guidance and support, there is New Circle Mentoring. The program launched by the Safer Society Foundation in Brandon is entering its third yea … (read more)

LEICESTER — The Counter family of Leicester lost everything in a Jan. 2 fire that consumed their mobile home and killed several animals, but they are heartened by a community that is rallying in support. The mobile home was located toward the back of the … (read more)

BRANDON — Brandon-area schools are taking “See something, say something” to the next level in handling student threats to schools and classmates. That’s good news for parents concerned about procedure and Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union school officia … (read more)

BRANDON — The move from Division II to Division III may be more of a lateral move for the Otter Valley Union High School girls’ basketball team this year. While they will no longer have to travel to Brattleboro and Mount Anthony, they will have to deal wi … (read more)

BRANDON — A new coach is at the helm of the Otter Valley boys’ basketball team, and with that, a new team. Literally. When it comes to varsity experience, head coach Mike Stark may start five juniors who have never played a varsity game. The team graduate … (read more)

BRANDON — The recruitment and retention plan the Otter Valley wrestling team has implemented to bolster the varsity squad is paying off, and this year the team features 12 grapplers. Fifth-year coach Cole Mason said his team is solid through the underclas … (read more)

BRANDON — The Nordic ski team at Otter Valley is building momentum going into this season. Fourth-year head coach Devon Fuller was seeing improvement and focus in preseason as his team prepared for the season with 15 student-athletes, seven of whom are in … (read more)

BRANDON — It takes a village to do great things, and in Brandon that means establishing a new, independent bookstore. Former Briggs Carriage Bookstore co-owner Barbara Ebling and Phoenix Books owner Mike DeSanto have teamed up with the help of a community … (read more)

PROCTOR — If there is a public vote on the potential sale of prized town-owned watershed land in Proctor, it will happen at town meeting in March. Voters also will decide whether any sale should hinge on keeping the land open to public use and protect the … (read more)

BRANDON — There is a new millionaire in our area. One lucky resident bought a Powerball ticket at the Jiffy Mart in Brandon and won $2 million, Vermont Lottery officials said. The winning ticket drawn Dec. 4 matched five out of five numbers, not including … (read more)

BRANDON — Brandon’s favorite birder has received a high honor from one of Vermont’s premier natural science organizations. Sue Wetmore has been named the 2019 Julie Nicholson Citizen Scientist by The Vermont Center for Ecostudies. The Norwich-based wildli … (read more)

PROCTOR — The first of December has come and gone, but an offer to buy the 1,600-acre Chittenden Watershed is still in play. Despite extending the deadline to accept his $1.5 million offer to buy the parcel owned by the town of Proctor, Rutland resident J … (read more)

BRANDON — An appeal for pledges from members to keep the Neshobe Golf Club alive in the face of foreclosure has failed. Neshobe Golf Club Board Chair Jeff Wallin said Tuesday morning that the club was only able to raise about half of the $575,000 necessar … (read more)