This Week’s News
Brandon Selectboard approves 13.4% budget increase despite pushback
t its regular meeting on Monday evening, the Brandon Selectboard approved a proposed FY25 budget of $3,796,180, representing an increase of 13.4% over the current year’s budget of $3,346,150.
Brandon voters agree to pursue land deal for tank
The Brandon Fire District #1 held its annual meeting at the Brandon American Legion on Monday evening.
Names Lost in Vermont, Part 15: Shortsleeve[s], Cole, Simes, Pistol, Bluebeach
Growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts, once a bastion of immigrants from Québec, as well as studying French since sixth grade, gives me an advantage in deciphering changed Vermont French-Canadian names.
Boy scout brings winter safety to Proctor trails
The star of this particular story is Mitchell Knowles. In February of 2022, while walking with his family on a trail in Burlington, he noticed an offering by a community group to help people explore the great outdoors during the winter months.
Legislative Report: Getting ready to advocate for Pittsford and Proctor
The start of the 2024 Legislative Session was gaveled in on Wednesday, January 3, without the usual fanfare of the beginning of a biennium.
Photos of the Week
Sports
OV beats Mill River in quarterfinal, 12-6
The third-seeded Otter Valley football team outlasted visiting No. 6 Mill River, 12-6, on Saturday in a Division III quarterfinal and will play No. 2 Fairfax in a semifinal this coming Saturday.
Proctor girls soccer shoots for 11th straight trip to finals
Going into the girls Division IV soccer playoffs, the question around the state is whether anyone can challenge two-time defending champions, the Proctor Phantoms.
‘Trash-talk’ allegedly used racial slur at OV/MR game
RNESU Superintendent Jeanné Collins released a statement on Monday, Nov. 1 referring to an alleged incident at the OVUHS-Mill River High School football game in which players may have used racial slurs in an escalated instance of trash-talking among the players, Collins said.
OV field hockey beats Fair Haven, 7-0, to earn No. 4 seed in Division II playoffs
The Otter Valley field hockey team earned the No. 4 seed in Division II after a successful regular season that concluded late last week. The Otters will open their title quest on Friday.
Field hockey love
A couple of weeks ago, an out-of-town sports team came to Brandon to donate a day of free labor. Brandon’s economic development and recreation director Bill Moore welcomed the help and put the Castleton University field hockey team to work moving a big pile of woodchips at the Seminary Hill Park playground and painting picnic tables at Estabrook Park.

