Bennington Banner

BENNINGTON -- It was as good a start as the Patriots could have ever wanted. The Mount Anthony Union High School boys varsity basketball team jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the opening minutes and quickly closed the doors on visiting Windsor. In the end, the Patriots dominated every facet of the opening-night game for a 79-21 victory over the Yellow Jackets at Kates Gym in Bennington on Full Story »

BENNINGTON -- Two Bennington School District school board seats will be up for election in March, one of which is being vacated by longtime board member Lora Block, who announced Monday that she will not seek re-election to her three-year seat. Six years on board Block will have served on the board for six years at the conclusion of her term. Full Story »

MANCHESTER -- Police Chief Manfred Wessner, 63, announced his retirement at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, ending a career that spanned more than four decades -- 36 of them spent as Chief of Police. Following the announcement, Select Board member Wayne Bell had a few words to say about Wessner and the service he has provided to the community throughout his career. Full Story »

BENNINGTON -- A leaner form of a home retrofitting program introduced in Congress by Rep. Peter Welch is now a cornerstone of a strategy aimed at putting Americans back to work that was outlined Tuesday by President Barack Obama. Energy proposal The president said Tuesday he is seeking a program to provide Americans with rebates for completing home improvement projects that make homes more Full Story »

POWNAL -- Two town roads where access has been allegedly blocked without the Select Board’s permission will be discussed by the board at Thursday’s meeting. Board member Stephen Kauppi said Tuesday that he requested the subject of "gated roads" to be placed on the agenda for discussion. Full Story »

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION (AP) -- An attorney for the Vermont State Hospital has apologized that no one notified a judge about the one-day release of an elderly man found incompetent to face charges he fired a barrage of rifle shots at his neighbor. Lawyers say the nine-hour Thanksgiving Day release of 77-year-old William Burch of West Windsor was designed to lift his spirits. Full Story »

BENNINGTON -- A second man has been charged in connection with the thefts of two dirt bikes two weeks ago. Zachary Wielt, 19, of Jackson Cross Road in Pownal, pleaded not guilty to a felony count of accessory after the fact. The man accused of stealing the bikes, Jerry Crandall, 20, of Pleasant Street in Bennington, pleaded guilty to violating probation and burglary last week and will Full Story »

HOOSICK, N.Y. -- Few local officials were available for comment on the outcome of the trial of former New York Senate Leader Joseph Bruno, who a jury found guilty Monday of two corruption charges. Bruno, 80, of Brunswick, is credited by many as having brought a large amount of money into the area, using member items and his position as Majority leader. Full Story »

MANCHESTER -- Two adults and two children were able to escape the flames of a fire that resulted in a total loss of a mobile home in Manchester Monday evening without incurring injuries. Manchester Fire Chief Philip Bourn said the mobile home at 249 Squires Road was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the residence around 8:30 p. Full Story »

PHOENIX -- Danica Patrick signed with JR Motorsports on Tuesday to give NASCAR a try, but her schedule in the second-tier Nationwide Series has yet to be determined. Patrick will make her stock car racing debut in the Feb. 6 ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway, a day before she’ll be featured in a pair of Super Bowl ads for sponsor GoDaddy. Full Story »

BENNINGTON -- A state senator representing Essex and Orleans counties, who serves as a county prosecutor, has introduced a bill that would recognize a fetus as a victim under certain criminal statutes. Sen. Vince Illuzzi, a Republican, introduced the bill Tuesday. The crimes include various homicide laws, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol with death resulting and grossly Full Story »

MANCHESTER - More than 30 people gathered at the Masonic Lodge in Manchester to hear one of Ronald Reagan’s speechwriters, John McClaughry, talk about the nation’s 40th president at an event hosted by the Manchester Tea Party. Participants then viewed the film "Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny. Full Story »

ARLINGTON -- Residents of Sandgate and West Arlington may have access to DSL coverage as early as spring. Roger Webster, an outside plant engineer for Fairpoint, said Monday that three concrete "pads" have already been completed and are awaiting "cabinets," which have been manufactured and are currently being shipped. Full Story »

I think that I arrived at one inescapable truth about crime in Vermont after serving on a jury recently. (You may want to write this down somewhere.) No matter what the offense might be and no matter what her involvement in said offense is -- whether it is major or just marginal -- there is usually a woman named Tammy mixed up in it somehow. Full Story »

Increase exemption for veterans In the next few months, 1,300-plus Vermont National Guard members will go to war. While we all wish them the very best and a safe return, we can do something very meaningful in each of our communities to prepare for their return. What we can do deals with increasing the property tax exemption for our veterans 50 percent or more disabled to $40,000 as allowed in Full Story »

WEST DOVER -- A weekend snowstorm was enough to bolster around-the-clock snowmaking efforts at two area ski resorts and allow both Mount Snow and Stratton to open for business this week. Mount Snow opened its 55th winter season on Monday, with approximately 76 acres of terrain open for skiing and snowboarding on two of its mountain faces. Full Story »

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A jury convicted former New York Senate leader Joseph Bruno of two corruption counts Monday, determining that he illegally traded on his position as one of the state’s most powerful politicians to enrich his personal fortune. Guilty on two counts Bruno, 80, faced eight fraud charges in a corruption trial that exposed Albany’s practice of influence-peddling by Full Story »

MANCHESTER -- Three stacks of musical CDs -- compact discs -- sit on a shelf in Amber Miller’s hideaway office on the second floor of radio station WEQX, in a Victorian-style building at the corner of Elm Street and Highland Avenue. Miller, the music director at the station that features the "best new rock" on area radio dials, listens to a lot of music each week. Full Story »

BENNINGTON -- Local state legislators met with Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union administration and local school board members Monday morning to discuss the upcoming legislative session that will begin in January. Burden on districts? Going into the legislative session, the Department of Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca has made it clear the department will ask for changes in Full Story »

HOOSICK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday that it has approved a plan that would allow New Yorkers to get a rebate in February for swapping old appliances with new, energy efficient, ones. Called "New York’s Great Appliance Swap Out," the program seeks to give out $16.8 million in rebates during Presidents’ Week (Feb. Full Story »

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are still around. This year’s New England Patriots, though, bear little resemblance to the teams that won three Super Bowls this decade. Their coach wants them to understand that. "That’s basically what Bill tried to get across to us," running back Laurence Maroney said Monday. Full Story »

BENNINGTON -- Len Britton has never sought an elected office at any level of government. But with a growing concern over business in Washington, and unhappy with an entitled ruling class, the "armchair politician" from Pomfret has chosen now to begin his political career and challenge one of the most senior members of the United States Senate. Full Story »

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A jury convicted former New York Senate leader Joseph Bruno of two corruption counts Monday, determining that he illegally traded on his position as one of the state's most powerful politicians to enrich his personal fortune. Full Story »

Do the right thing for Brillons After reading the front page of Thursday's Bennington Banner I felt compelled to write and tell the Select Board and Town Manager Stuart Hurd to do the right thing and give Mr. Brillon a waiver, variance or do what ever it has to do to allow him to continue his business. Full Story »

BENNINGTON -- With news of businesses closing doors due to the tough economy making headlines on a regular basis, it makes the accomplishment of 50 years in business that much more impressive for what began as a local welder looking to start a small business. Bill Lauzon began Bill’s Machine Shop in 1958, which changed its name a few years later to Lauzon Machine and Engineering Inc. Full Story »