Recreation Funding on the Ballot
February 22, 2008
There were no dissenting opinions as selectmen discussed a proposed warrant article that, if passed, could change the way the Recreation Department in town is funded.
The proposed article would create a revolving fund for the Recreation Department, which would allow the department to create new programs without having to plan everything ahead of time and get the money via the town’s budget.
As it stands now, the Recreation Department has to try to predict what types of programs it will run, and how much participation they will have, and it has to appropriate a particular amount of money via the budget process.
- More from Terrill Covey.
Wal-Mart Helps Town Stay Warm
February 22, 2008
The Wal-Mart corporation gave back to the Epping community this year, with a $2,500 donation to the town to help support families in need throughout the winter months.
Selectmen recently accepted the donation, which is earmarked for needy families to assist with heating fuel costs. The board will now forward the money on to the Raymond outreach center, a branch of the Rockingham Community Action program. It will use the money to assist Epping families in dire need of heating fuel assistance.
Selectmen chairman Jeffrey Harris said he was glad to see the town receive the donation, which could be particularly helpful during this long winter.
- More from Terrill Covey.
Few Debate Petition to Change Senate Bill 2 Status
February 22, 2008
The raging debate over a possible change from Senate Bill 2 back to a town meeting fizzled by Monday night’s public hearing, as only three citizens showed up.
The subject of a petition warrant article asking voters to change Epping’s government from SB 2 back to town meeting sparked much debate at the town and school deliberative sessions, but by Monday night’s meeting it was mostly board members who did the speaking on the topic.
Currently, Epping operates on Senate Bill 2, which means a deliberative session is held in February and citizens vote at a ballot box in March. With a town meeting, citizens would attend one meeting to discuss, change and vote on all warrant articles.
- Full article from Terrill Covey.
Town Looks at Ways to Increase Salt Storage
February 20, 2008
This winter, Dave Reinhold has had to keep a close eye on the town’s salt supply.
“In a storm like that rainstorm last week, we use 100 tons, no problem,” said Reinhold, the town’s road agent.
Like many towns, Epping has been in a race to fill up its salt shed before the next wicked winter storm eats into the supply. The only problem is that the town just doesn’t have the space to store a large supply, town officials said.
Selectmen this week suggested the time has come to begin looking at ways to increase the town’s salt storage capacity.
A wooden shed with three large bays on Old Hedding Road can hold about 400 tons of salt, but Reinhold said he would like to be able to keep about 1,000 tons on hand. More storage space would ease fears of the town running out of salt with increased demand putting pressure on salt supply companies.
Full story from Jason Schreiber
Boys Get Revenge in Win Over Somersworth
February 19, 2008
Stockton and Malone … Jordan and Pippen … Crowley and Riordon?
“They have a great 1-2 punch with those two,” said Somersworth coach John Langlois, referring to Epping High School’s Chris Crowley and Jimmy Riordon.
Crowley, who finished the night with 14 points, set up Riordon (game-high 21) three straight times in the fourth quarter as Epping pulled away from the Hilltoppers for a 52-40 Class M victory Friday.
Chris Dougherty scored nine points; Steven Robert, four, and Mike Fecteau and Dave Deschene, two apiece for Epping (10-5). Jesse Frankland led Somersworth (5-9) with 12 points, while Chris Rideout and Mike Lefontaine each had 10.
The victory was redemption for the Blue Devils, who lost to Somersworth, 69-44, earlier in the season.
Full story from Ken Stejbach.
Ken Knight: Pats fans learn to eat crow, with a side of humble pie
February 18, 2008
LET ME PREFACE this by stating that I am not a Patriots fan, even though I was born and raised in Massachusetts. I have been a loyal, dedicated, die-hard Minnesota Vikings fan, never wavering since 1969.
I must take exception to Mark Morris’ comments in his Feb. 6 New Hampshire Union Leader column, “Super lessons from Sunday.”
First, he is right on the money when he states that the “experts” in the media beat up every facet of the game to the point of nausea. However, he made no mention of the fact that it started right here in New England in April, on NFL draft day, when the Patriots made the deal for Randy Moss.
That was precisely when the local sports media first mentioned the hollow words “19-0, Super Bowl 42 champions.” After being forced-fed this fraudulent information for eight months, I cannot begin to tell you how sickening this ordeal was!
Read the rest of Mr Knight’s Opinion on the Union Leader website.
Read a counter-opinion by an Epping resident on Patriots Daily.
Burden On Defense in Insanity Case
February 17, 2008
The rarely used insanity defense brought into play in the case of Sheila LaBarre has not worked for a handful of other murder defendants in the state.
One heard God tell him to kill his wife and son. Another, with an abusive childhood, snapped when he strangled his wife and suffocated his three children. Both did as LaBarre, 49, has opted to do in their murder cases, when they waived the guilt phase of the case and moved straight to a trial on their sanity. Both failed to convince a jury they were insane at the time of the slayings and are now serving life sentences.
“It’s been tried and it is an uphill battle. It’s not an easy thing,” said Manchester lawyer Michael Ramsdell, a former head of the homicide unit at the state Attorney General’s Office and a former federal prosecutor, who added that LaBarre’s decision is a rare move. “It’s not unprecedented, but it is unusual.”
Complete story from Lara Bricker, Seacoast Online.
LaBarre Officially Pleads Insanity - To Two Murders
February 12, 2008
Former Epping resident Sheila LaBarre admitted in court this morning that the state could prove she murdered not only Massachusetts resident Kenneth Countie, but a second man, Michael Deloge.
LaBarre was arrested and charged with killing Countie in March of 2006, but it was only yesterday that the state formally alleged she killed Deloge as well. LaBarre pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges, essentially admitting that the state could prove her guilty in both cases, but that she was not legally responsible because she was insane at the time she committed the murders.
Assistant Attorney General Kirsten Wilson read off the state’s evidence against LaBarre, including new details about Deloge’s death.
Get the full story from Russ Choma in the Union Leader.
Energy Efficient System Unveiled at Town Hall
February 12, 2008
White snow fell Thursday afternoon but inside Epping Town Hall, people were seeing green.
The town’s new green, environmentally friendly, heating and power systems were unveiled for the public Thursday. They included the Ecopower, co-generation heating and power system, solar panels on the roof of Town Hall, and energy-efficient windows.
These green technologies now used by the town make it the first municipality in the state to use alternative energy sources in town buildings. “We’re making history here,” State Rep. Ron Nowe, R-Epping, told a crowd gathered for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the town’s efforts. “This is exciting. This is one of the most exciting things I’ve had a chance to participate in in the town of Epping.”
Officials hope Epping will serve as a model for other communities. “If Epping can do it, anybody can do it,” Epping Town Planner Clay Mitchell said. Representatives from several other towns, including Newmarket, were on hand at the ceremony, and have expressed interest in learning more about the technologies.
Full story from Lara Bricker.
Hot Debate Over SB2
February 12, 2008
A proposed warrant article to change Epping from an SB2 government back to town meeting was a hot topic at the school deliberative session on Thursday.
“I would be the first to admit that the system is flawed,” said Budget Committee member Paul Spidle. “But it’s not at this level that it should be fixed.” He encouraged those in attendance to speak to their legislators to see about closing the five-week gap between the deliberative session and Voting Day. He also said voter turnout steadily improved since the town adopted SB2 in 2001.
Resident Heather Kyle, who serves in the military, asked why the town would vote to “disenfranchise” soldiers who were serving the country.
Full story from Terrill Covey.
