This Week’s News
Brandon’s volunteer-led “Adopt-a-Garden” sows civic beauty
Sarah Pattis helped organize a group of like-minded citizens in the “Adopt-a-Garden” program that’s kept downtown filled with flower gardens throughout summer, and now into to fall.
Brandon must wait and see what becomes of Shane Bartshe
For the last two months, the town of Brandon has been awash in fear and speculation surrounding the actions and safety of Shane Bartshe, who has had repeated legal and mental-health-related interactions with the Brandon Police Department (BPD) and emergency services.
Brandon seeks answer about vacant selectboard seat
Questions, confusion, and allegations have been swirling in Brandon following the recent resignation of selectboardsman Mike Markowski and the process to find his replacement among three qualified applicants.
Ex-Rutland childcare provider charged three years ago in infant’s death to stand trial in September
A former Rutland child care provider charged more than three years ago with manslaughter and child cruelty in the death of six-month-old Harper Rose Briar in her care is set for trial next month after a prosecutor pushed back on delaying it.
RNESU’s new superintendent, Dr. Kristin Hubert, looks to build on lessons learned from COVID
“There have been a lot of negatives regarding the pandemic—we don’t want to do long-term school closures ever again,” said Hubert in a recent conversation with The Reporter.
Photos of the Week
Sports
Otter Valley puts up a fight, but loses in Championship game to powerhouse Woodstock
The Otter Valley football team made an unanticipated trip to the Vermont Division 3 championship game but lost 65–14 to a fast and dominating Woodstock team that featured 13 seniors.
OV football stuns BFA Fairfax; will play division championship
Last Saturday, in a show of outstanding football, the Otter Valley Otters defeated the BFA Fairfax Bullets in a show of stellar offense and gutsy defense. On a raw day with occasional sleet, a crowd of 300 showed up in Fairfax to witness the semifinal game which looked to be a sure thing for the Bullets, who were undefeated at 10-0 versus the Otters at 5-4.
OV Football wins big in playoffs, moves to state semis
Isaac Whitney had a huge game, gaining 180 yards and scoring 4 touchdowns to lead the Otter Valley football team to a 46–14 playoff win over rival Mill River Saturday night under the new lights at Markowski Field.
Local group proposes multi-town community rec center
On a rainy Sunday afternoon, a bunch of middle-aged friends in Pittsford want to play some pick-up basketball. Or some older folks want to continue their daily exercise walks when the snow is knee deep outside in winter. Or some kids want to play volleyball but the school gyms are all closed. Where can they go?
‘Game Seekers’: local hunters use online platforms to reach an audience
Fall in Vermont means foliage, cider, pumpkins, and, for a good number of our neighbors, hunting. Every year, people across the state pick up their bows and rifles and head out into the woods, hoping to bag a big-antlered buck or a fat, feathered turkey.

