Vermont State Police Trooper Honored for Heroic Ice Rescue
Vermont State Police Trooper Michelle Archer has been awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Heroism, following her courageous and life-saving rescue of a young girl who fell through the ice on a local pond in December 2023.
Trooper Archer is one of just 17 individuals across the United States and Canada to be honored with the Carnegie Medal, an award given to those who put their own lives at significant risk to save or attempt to save another’s life. The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced the award, recognizing her selfless act of bravery that day.
In 2023, Trooper Archer’s heroism extended beyond this single event, as she was named a finalist for the International Association of Chiefs of Police/Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year award. She was also presented with the Vermont State Police Lifesaving Award, further highlighting her commitment to public service and the safety of her community.
Since joining the Vermont State Police in 2018, Trooper Archer has been stationed at the Williston Barracks, covering patrols across Chittenden and Lamoille counties. Throughout her career, she has remained dedicated to her work, with only a brief two-month assignment at the Derby Barracks in northeastern Vermont in 2021.
Her leadership and expertise, combined with her unwavering determination in life-threatening situations, have earned her the respect and admiration of both her peers and the community she serves.
Museum Reopening and Events Across Vermont
Bennington: The Bennington Museum is reopening its doors to the public on Tuesday, April 1, welcoming visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except for Wednesdays. Summer Fridays will offer extended hours, remaining open until 7 p.m. Admission fees are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors (age 62+), active/retired military, and students (18+), while youth (17 and under), museum members, and others such as SNAP cardholders and their families can enjoy free entry.
Rutland: Rutland County Health Partners, formerly known as Rutland Free Clinic, is offering free walk-in health care services to uninsured or underinsured adults every Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. to noon throughout April. Additionally, special clinics with appointments are scheduled for April 3, April 15, and April 21. For more details or to make an appointment, call 802-774-1082.
Poultney: Stone Valley Arts kicks off its 2025 season with a variety of April classes and programs. Upcoming events include a free ballroom dance class on April 2, Essentrics Stretch and Strength classes on Thursdays starting April 10, and a free concert by Americana artist Alice Di Micele on April 11. For a full list of events, visit stonevalleyarts.org.
Middlebury: Middlebury College Theatre Department presents “The Virtuous Fall of the Girls from Our Lady of Sorrows” at Wright Memorial Theatre from April 3-5. Set in a post-9/11 world at a Catholic girls’ school in Brooklyn, the production explores the moral complexities of six students’ lives. Tickets are available online or by calling 802-443-6433.
Rutland: Mount St. Joseph Academy’s Shoestring Theater has rescheduled the performance of their one-act comedy, “13 Reasons To Quit Being A Pirate,” to Friday, April 4 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for students and seniors.
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