Vermont

Vermont Lawmakers Chose New Sergeant at Arms in Close Vote

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2024

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Vermont Lawmakers Chose New Sergeant at Arms in Close Vote

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Jeb Wallace-Brodeur ©️ Seven Days
Agatha Kessler

The deputy director of the Office of Professional Regulation narrowly beat out Mike Ferrant, the current director of legislative operations, for the $120,000-a-year post. Kessler received 84 votes to Ferrant’s 82 during a secret ballot election of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Kessler will replace Janet Miller, who has served in the role for a decade and is retiring.

The sergeant at arms is an influential position in the Vermont Statehouse. In addition to ceremonial duties, the person is responsible for booking meeting rooms, managing the page program and overseeing the small Capitol Police force.

Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) praised Ferrant for his dedication, patience and calm demeanor in helping lawmakers deal with everything from computer questions to reimbursement forms.

Kessler worked in a legislative operations role until 2017 and has maintained close relationships with veteran lawmakers and former Statehouse colleagues.

Rep. Diane Lanpher (D-Vergennes) praised her “vast experience” in the Statehouse and state government and her warmth as a person. “Her humility, kindness and diplomatic nature set her apart as an outstanding candidate for this important role,” Lanpher said.

The 41-year-old Barre resident will be in charge of running a building steeped in tradition but also one in transition.

A third of the lawmakers are new, following a historic exodus last session. A new police chief, John Poleway, the former chief of Larchmont, N.Y, starts his job March 18.

And the historic building, which is effectively a living museum, requires significant ventilation, accessibility and security upgrades in coming years.

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Related Topics:Featured mike ferrant sgt. at arms. agatha kessler Statehouse

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Vermont

40th Rotary All Star Classic features shootout to determine senior game

Published

31 minutes ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

40th Rotary All Star Classic features shootout to determine senior game

A shootout to determine a high-scoring girls game highlighted the 40th Rotary All Star Classic featuring the state’s top high school senior hockey players at Essex Skating Facility on Saturday, March 21.

Chittenden Charge’s Hadia Ahmed scored the lone goal in the shootout, leading the Harris girls to a 7-6 victory over the Austin squad. In the nightcap, the Austin boys staked to a 3-0 lead in the second period on their way to a 4-2 triumph over Harris.

Ahmed was named team MVP for the Harris girls. Gabrielle Griffith was selected the MVP for the Austin girls. On the boys side, South Burlington’s Christian Butler and Rice’s Colton Riberia were their team MVPs for Austin and Harris, respectively.

Game details from Saturday’s doubleheader are below. Scroll down below the hockey results for details on the VBCA senior games.

Girls game: Harris 7, Austin 6 (shootout)

Harris: Hadia Ahmed 3G, 2A. Gabbie Fraties 2G, 1A. Gracie Lunt 1G. Grace Raleigh 2A. Jillian Smith 1A. Marley Clark 8 saves, Dahlia Steele 10 saves.

Austin: Gabrielle Griffith 2G, 1A. Alexis Moody 2G. Jackie Henderson 1G. Lillianna Fournier 1G, 1A. Alexis Audsley 1A. Morgan Rivard 1A. Lucia Minadeo 1A. Ella McAllister 15 saves.

Note: Austin took a 4-3 lead into the second period. Fraties and Ahmed had second-period tallies for Harris and Austin’s Moody also scored for a 5-all game entering the third. Harris’ Lunt and Austin’s Henderson traded third-period goals to forge overtime. After a scoreless extra period, Ahmed had the lone goal in the shootout.

Boys game: Austin 4, Harris 2

Austin: Christian Butler 2G, 1A. Eli Herrington 1G, 1A. Garret Carter 1G. Milo Lavit 1A. Gavin Benoit 1A. Brady Jones 1A. Tommy Barnes 8 saves, Alex McCabe 5 saves, Ryan Philbrook 10 saves.

Harris: Colton Ribera 2G. Chais Lyford 1A. Drew Laprade 1A. Ethan Fortin 6 saves, TJ Baron 5 saves, Dominic Palazzo 6 saves.

Note: Butler, Carter and Herrington gave Austin a 3-0 lead into the second period.

North sweeps South at VBCA senior showcase at Windsor

The state’s top boys and girls basketball seniors convened at Windsor High School for the long-running Vermont Basketball Coaches Association all-star event on Saturday, March 21. Among the all-day festivities, the North claimed all four games vs. the South, while year-end awards were handed out, including a lifetime achievement honor for Dave Fredrickson, the VBCA’s former executive director and Mount Anthony boys basketball coach.

The North now leads the all-time series 63-33.

For stats from Saturday’s game courtesy of the Rutland Herald, see below:

D-III/IV girls: North 46, South 42

North: Lynsey Lavely 7 points.

South: Hayley Raiche 10 points. Natalie Perry 7 points. Braylee Phelps 7 points.

D-III-IV boys: North 90, South 83

North: Jack Lafayette 14 points. Nick Mascitti 13 points. Sebastian Eldred 13 points). Tej Stewart 12 points.

South: Jayden Huntoon 14 points. Brody McGaffigan 8 points. Ryker Mosehauer 8 points. Chase Razanouski 8 points.

D-I/II girls: North 76, South 66

North: Zoey McNabb 15 points. Addie Nelson 12 points. Alyssa Small 11 points. Marlie Bushey 10 points.

South: Charlotte Jasmin 18 points. Reese Croutworst 11 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals. Bayleigh Clark 8 points.

D-I/II boys: North 82, South 66

North: Vinny Wagoner 12 points. Byron Robertson, Jr. 11 points. Oli Avdibegovic 11 points. Paul Comba 10 points. Colby Hall 9 points.

South: Noah Jenks 14 points. Ryan Murphy 14 points. Kole Fotion 8 points. Cooke Riney 8 points.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

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Vermont

Louisville Advances Over Vermont 72-52

Published

13 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

At the end of the first half the score was 32-28 in Louisville’s favor. Two players on Vermont’s team, Keira Hanson and Nikola Priede, combined for 24 of those 28 points. In the third quarter the Cards held those two players to a total of 6 points. There’s your ballgame.

Mackenly Randolph did it all for the Cards today. She had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists. After the game she said, “I feel very comfortable. It’s March and tournament. It’s my favorite time of the year. I’m just glad we pulled out this win. And my team, we played really good.” Laura Ziegler had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Imari Berry had 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Coach Walz credited the defense for the win. “I thought eventually it wore them down some. And like I said, in the first half we got the lead to 9, I think, at one point in time, and just couldn’t put the put-way punch or however you want to say it. You’ve got to credit them because they made the shots when they needed to when we got some momentum going.”

Tajianna Roberts said, “We’re a great offensive team. Like, we can score anytime. But our biggest thing is we have to figure out how to come up with stops. I think in certain games, we’re scoring the ball, but we’re just going back and forth. Us as a Louisville team, we have to figure out how we can get a stop. I think that’s just the intentionality and the focus that we have been working on.”

Coach Walz praised Mackenly’s play: “She’s as good as there is being able to use her body. You kind of call it bully ball. She likes to put her shoulder down and will create some contact and does a really nice job of it. And then she finishes. She had six offensive rebounds in the game. I think three of them were her own on that one shot. But she ended up with a double-double, but she’s always around the ball. It’s not like she’s out-jumping everybody.”

He said, “It’s just one game at a time. You’re trying to make sure that they understand the importance and the honor to play in this tournament. Not everybody gets to do it. And when you get the opportunity, don’t take it for granted. That’s really what we’re trying to make sure we show our kids. And I was proud.”

Louisville will take on the winner of Alabama/Rhode Island on Monday.

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