BENNINGTON -- A former Arlington teacher received a nine-month deferred sentence Friday after pleading guilty in Bennington District Court to enabling the consumption of alcohol by minors. Allyson Hoffman, 38, of Sunderland, will also have to complete tasks assigned to her by a reparative board as part of her sentence.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- A Bennington woman who was allegedly stabbed in the chest two weeks ago was arraigned Wednesday in Bennington District Court on charges she held a knife to a woman’s throat in a separate incident. Jayde Caslin, 18, of Pleasant Street, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- State officials said the incidences of swine flu in Vermont continue to rise, but most afflicted with the virus are experiencing minor flu-like symptoms. State Health Commissioner Dr. Wendy Davis said the H1N1 virus,widely known as swine flu, is showing up in higher numbers. Hospital visits and admissions continue to rise, she said Thursday in a weekly briefingwith reporters.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- Students in the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center's cosmetology program are passionate about cosmetology and raising awareness about breast cancer. So it only fits that when the class picked a fundraiser to donate profits to from hair, facial and nail services at Studio 152 in the CDC, they chose the Susan G.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- A North Adams, Mass., man pleaded not guilty Thursday in Bennington District Court to three felony counts of attempting to lure a child. An arrest warrant for Joseph R. Rhoades Jr. had been issued in September because, according to an affidavit by Bennington Police Officer Anthony Silvestro, Rhoades failed to meet with police after speaking to them over the telephone.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- After a local school board questioned receiving a $218 payment stemming from 2008 at a meeting last month, they were informed the bill had been received months earlier. At Monday's Bennington School District board meeting, Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Superintendent Catherine McClure said Michael Bethel did in fact pay the bill in April.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- Thomas A. Dee, a former president and CEO of Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, N.Y., was named Wednesday at a press conference as the new CEO of the Southwestern Vermont Health Care. Dee, 53, will officially begin his duties at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, the hospital operated by the health care corporation, on Dec.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- The case of a Pownal woman who is facing charges from a crash that resulted in serious injuries and caused a woman to lose her unborn twins may not be resolved until March. Kelly M. Cook, 22, of Sparrows Way, was involved in a two-vehicle crash Aug. 10 on Route 7 near the Apple Valley Inn.   Full Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- It was the end of an era Tuesday night. City Councilor Richard Alcombright swept all five city wards, winning the election by 880 votes and ending Mayor John Barrett III's 26-year tenure in the city's corner office. Alcombright, who attributed his victory to an unprecedented outpouring of community support, celebrated his victory with a packed room of filled   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- The following cases were heard Monday in Bennington District Court. Matthew J. Bortell, 24, of Farley Drive, pleaded not guilty to felony counts of second degree unlawful restraint and unlawful mischief greater than $1,000. According to an affidavit by Bennington Police Officer Lawrence Cole, on Oct.   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- A man serving a 25- to 35-year sentence for sexually assaulting a young girl pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Bennington District Court to charges he sent a letter to his victim urging her not to testify against him in a post-conviction relief case in Bennington Superior Court. Harold Haner Sr.   Full Story

HOOSICK, N.Y. -- Incumbents faced tough challenges in Hoosick Falls on Election Day, and in the end, all fell to their opponents. In the town supervisor race, Republican Keith Cipperly beat Democrat Marilyn Douglas by about 200 votes. Cipperly received 1,098 votes and Douglas 855. For the two Town Council seats, challengers Jeff Wysocki and Louis Schmigel -- with 1,106 and 1,073 votes   Full Story

BENNINGTON -- On Tuesday at about 5:30 p.m., Bennington Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Ore Bed Road in which a car struck a utility pole. The woman driving the car walked away from the point of impact before she collapsed on the lawn of a nearby residence, according to a press release from Sgt.   Full Story

Staff Reports HOOSICK, N.Y. -- Incumbents faced tough challenges in Hoosick Falls on Election Day, and in the end, all fell to their opponents. In the town supervisor race, Republican Keith Cipperly beat Democrat Marilyn Douglas by about 200 votes. Cipperly received 1,098 votes and Douglas 855.   Full Story

WOODFORD -- A special election will be held in Woodford on Nov. 17 to decide whether future budgets should be voted by Australian ballot. The election is the result of a petition signed by about 10 percent of the town's approximate 300 registered voters that asked for the town's general fund budget, Highway Department budget and the school budget be voted by paper ballot, Town   Full Story