Community Church Rebuilds After Smoke Damage
December 31, 2007
The renovated sanctuary is bright, fresh and beautiful, and the antique organ was restored. The former choir loft is now being used by the bell choir; there are new side pews at the front for the choir.
(Nancy Carr wrote this article for Seacoast Online. Read the rest of the story there.)
Epping McDonald’s shows off eatery’s new image
December 31, 2007
It’s not your grandfather’s McDonald’s. It’s not even your father’s McDonald’s. The world’s largest fast-food chain, which started with Manchester brothers Dick and Mac McDonald, is getting a new look.
And as the restaurant’s jingle goes, people are definitely “lovin’ it,” especially customers at the snazzy new Epping McDonald’s.
“It seems very contemporary,” said Stephanie Tessier of Epping as her daughter, Molly, 3, enjoyed her chicken McNugget Happy Meal from the comfort of a brown leather-cushioned seat.
“Contemporary” is exactly the word Epping McDonald’s owner Dwight Barnes uses to describe this next generation of McDonald’s that has begun moving into New Hampshire.
(Text and photo from The Union Leader. Subscribe to read the full story)
High School Teams in Christmas Tournament Action
December 31, 2007
The Epping High boys basketball team fell in the finals of the Farmington Christmas Tournament to undefeated Prospect Mountain 65-56. Previously the Blue Devils had beaten old rival Nute 60-55.
The girls team beat Spaulding in overtime, 43-42 in the consolation bracket of the Coe Brown holiday tournament, but lost to Somersworth 46-45 in their final game of the tournament.
Hindu Temple Members Fighting Eviction
December 22, 2007
Members of a Hindu temple are refusing to budge as they face eviction amid a legal fight over ownership of the property.
“We’re waiting to be served, because we’re not going to leave voluntarily,” insisted Rita Sud, a religious student who practices Hinduism and lives on the grounds of the temple on Ladds Lane.
More from Jason Schreiber in The Union Leader.
Man Arrested for Statutory Rape After Computer Analysis
December 22, 2007
A former resident was arrested Friday for allegedly using the popular website MySpace to lure an underage girl into having sex with him on three separate occasions, according to police.
On Friday, Police arrested David C. Smith, 28, of 30 Winslow Way in Epping on four felony charges including three counts of sexual assault-statutory rape and one count of certain uses of computer services prohibited.
The charges allege Smith used a computer while he was living in Portsmouth to communicate with and solicit sex from the minor. Two of the sexual assault charges are believed to have occurred in Epping, the third in Portsmouth.
More from Charles McMahon at Fosters and Elizabeth Dinan on Seacoast Online.
New McDonald’s Open For Business
December 21, 2007
Windows were ripped out. Walls were torn apart.
To some, it looked like a tornado had blown through McDonald’s, with building debris littering the restaurant.
Still, loyal customers kept wheeling into the drive-thru, hoping to place an order at the closed McDonald’s. They seemed to ignore all the mess as crews prepared to demolish the restaurant that has stood at the intersection of routes 125 and 101 for 22 years.
A sign at the entrance warned that the restaurant was closed as construction crews worked on a brand new building was rising right next to the old one.
But the sign did little to stop the customers. Some even went inside looking to place an order despite the fact that the front portion of the building was in shambles.
Full story from Jason Schreiber in the Union Leader.
New Town Vehicles, Garage, Head Warrant Articles
December 21, 2007
Three new police vehicles, a new transfer station vehicle and a garage for town vehicles are among the items on the warrant article requests being considered by town selectmen.
It appears to be a longshot that all items will be passed.
Terrill Covey has the full story on Seacoast Online.
Selectmen Grant Knights Tax Relief
December 21, 2007
Christmas came early for Jack and Beatrice Knight, as the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to grant them a tax abatement on their home that burned last May.
“It was a relief to see them come through for us,” said Jack Knight. “(The board is) a group of good, reasonable people. They just wanted to be sure they were doing it the right way.”
Knight said the $3,408 abatement would go a long way toward helping them get back on their feet after losing everything they owned in the fire.
The board tabled the issue at its Dec. 3 meeting after Town Assessor Scott Marsh recommended it not grant the abatement because state law requires property owners be taxed on their lots for the assessed value on April 1 of each year.
Read the rest of the article by Terrill Covey
LaBarre Facing Criminal Charges and Insanity Hearing
December 21, 2007
Sheila LaBarre could face two jury trials in March after Judge Tina Nadeau recently granted a motion by her attorneys.
The decision means the trial against the murder suspect will be held in two parts. The first will deal with the issue of guilt. If there is a guilty finding, there will be a second trial to determine whether she is criminally insane.
LaBarre is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Kenneth Countie and burning his body at her Epping horse farm.
LaBarre’s Boston based attorney Brad Bailey, with the firm Denner Pellegriono, LLP, appeared in court with LaBarre on Wednesday for what was scheduled as a Daubert hearing, but turned into a status conference. The defense withdrew the motion for a Daubert hearing about the validity of scientific evidence used in analyzing blood spatter on the walls of the LaBarre home because they believe the science is sound, defense attorney Tim Bradl said.
Read the rest of the article by Gretyl MaCalaster
Note: A little later in the article, defense attorney Brad Bailey is quoted as saying “We don’t want to take their feet away from the fire.” Given how LaBarre is accused of disposing of Countie’s body, this seems an thoughtless and poor choice of wording.
LaBarre Lawyers Drop Blood Spatter Challenge
December 19, 2007
Attorneys for a woman charged with killing her boyfriend at her Epping farm withdrew their motion Wednesday to challenge blood spatter evidence.
Sheila LaBarre’s attorneys were expected to challenge the evidence, but on short notice, they withdrew their motion. Investigators said that the blood spatter was found on a wall ripped out of LaBarre’s house.
Prosecutors intend to use the evidence and expert testimony to prove that LaBarre killed Kenneth Countie.
“After analyzing their evidence, we found that the actual sciences used were sound,” defense attorney Brad Bailey said.
Read more at WMUR.com
