Saturday, May 10 HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. — A local man who excelled in academics and athletics at Southern Vermont College will return to campus on May 18 to be honored at the college's 81st graduation ceremonies. Benjamin Patten, a Hoosick Falls resident and radio disc jockey in Albany, will receive the college's Distinguished Alumni Award, the college announced Monday.   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 POWNAL — Ken Norris does not know where to begin. He is leading an effort to create a connecting trail from the Taconic Crest Trail to North Pownal village, but the only two accessways are not feasible, he told the Select Board on Thursday. "This trail has been slow going so far.   Full Story

Saturday, May 10 SHAFTSBURY — State officials will be hard at work this spring striving to ensure that the closure of Lake Shaftsbury in 2007 because of high E. coli readings does not recur. Frank Spaulding, the parks project coordinator with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, said efforts are being made to prevent geese, associated with the high E.   Full Story

Friday, May 9 BENNINGTON — The Vermont Department of Health is investigating a complaint that state employees became ill after coming in contact with files from the now-closed "sick office building." "Every time somebody has touched the files somebody has gotten sick. This last time the girl got pneumonia," a corrections employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said Thursday.   Full Story

Friday, May 9 BENNINGTON — A 19-year-old was arraigned in Bennington District Court on Thursday on charges that he impeded a sexual assault investigation against him. Jacob Shortt, 19, of Chestnut Hill Road, Cambridge, N.Y., pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing justice and violating his conditions of release.   Full Story

Friday, May 9 HOOSICK, N.Y. — Timing is everything. Two classes at Hoosick Falls Central School are nearly finished learning about how to get a job and now will host a job fair. Following a successful job fair a year and a half ago, the Polo/Ralph Lauren at Manchester Designer Outlets recently asked the town to put on another one.   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. — Cambridge Central School is tightening campus security after a 16-year-old allegedly threatened to go on a shooting spree in the K-12 school. Garth Hahn was indicted by a Washington County grand jury two weeks ago and arraigned in court on charges of making terrorist threats and coercion in the first degree when he allegedly threatened to shoot other   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 SHAFTSBURY — Work continues on the effort to have certain areas of town designated as village centers, with determining the boundaries of such areas the focal point. The town Select Board unanimously voted in late March to support the Economic Development Committee's efforts to have certain areas of Shaftsbury receive the designation from the state.   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 DUMMERSTON — The Vermont Theater Company has canceled this weekend's performances of "The Lift," after the director received a complaint over his casting of a teenager in a suggestive scene. The scene in question takes place in complete darkness and contains no nudity. In it, Louise Krieger, who portrays Helene, a wealthy, older woman, has a sexual encounter with the   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 BENNINGTON — Democrats unfurled a new proposal Wednesday to ease prices at the gas pump, and Vermont's Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is taking a lead role in urging its passage. Sanders joined Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and several other senators at an afternoon press conference to announce the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008.   Full Story

Thursday, May 8 EAST DORSET — Town officials are looking to bring more bars to area cell phones. Town Manager Peter Webster said he is pursuing a plan that would build a municipal cell tower off Dorset West Road, near its intersection with Church Street, to improve cell phone reception in town.   Full Story

Wednesday, May 7 BENNINGTON — With the Legislature in adjournment, Speaker Gaye Symington, who has announced she will not seek re-election to her House seat, is touting the Legislature's successes over the past four months. Symington, 54, is expected to mount a campaign for governor, but in an interview with the Banner Tuesday said she will likely make her decision next week.   Full Story

Wednesday, May 7 SHAFTSBURY — The town Select Board discussed multiple issues with the town's roads at its Monday night meeting. The board agreed to reconsider placing a four-way stop at Coulter Road, Cross Hill, Tinkham Road and Myers Road. Road foreman Ron Daniels had requested the board review its decision to place stop signs at that intersection.   Full Story

Wednesday, May 7 BENNINGTON — The following cases were heard in Bennington District Court on Tuesday: Kevin Russell, 42, of Little Brook Lane in Pownal pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence third or subsequent offense and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage.   Full Story

Tuesday, May 6 POWNAL — Gravity-defying motorcyclists, high-wire balancing acts, daily demolition derbies, a circus, hands-on demonstrations and pig races could make the Tri-State Fair even bigger this year. The fair attracted more than 10,000 people at the former Green Mountain Race Track site last year, and organizers say they expect more to attend a larger fair.   Full Story

Tuesday, May 6 BENNINGTON — The following cases were heard in Bennington District Court on Monday: Harley Lane, 26, of North Road in Sunderland pleaded not guilty to a charge of domestic assault. The court imposed $5,000 bail. According to an affidavit by Vermont State Police Sgt. Brian Turner, police were dispatched to a domestic incident on North Road in Sunderland on Sunday at   Full Story

Monday, May 5 POWNAL — The Select Board is ready to flex some muscle. The board allocated funds for the zoning administrator to take legal action against zoning bylaws violators and gave the planning commission funds to pursue an interim bylawtoban mobilehome parks. "We're trying to addressthese things in a legal manner.   Full Story

Tuesday, May 6 BENNINGTON — Police are investigating a burglary early Monday at Dunkin' Donuts on North Street. At least one person broke into the store at about 1 a.m. and stole in excess of $500 of rolled coins, according to Bennington Police Det. David Rowland. The burglary was reported shortly after the restaurant opened on Wednesday morning, and surveillance equipment showed at   Full Story

Monday, May 5 POWNAL — Rising fuel costs triggered the Select Board to raise sewer rates on Thursday. The rates are increasing annually by $16 per hook-up. "Fuel costs are killing us," said Select Board Chairman Nelson Brownell. The fees, which have risen for the first time in three years, pay for operation and maintenance, according to Brownell.   Full Story

Saturday, May 3 CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. — A Cambridge Central School student allegedly threatened to shoot his girlfriend, dozens of his classmates, law enforcement officers and then himself, according to police. Sixteen-year-old Garth Hahn was indicted by a Washington County Grand Jury last week and arraigned in district court on charges of terroristic threats and coercion in the first   Full Story