Ryegate special meeting to reconsider auditor vote
RYEGATE—On Monday, May 18, a special Ryegate town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Ryegate Town House to reconsider a vote at the annual town meeting which abolished elected town auditors.
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OUUSD sets vote, trims proposed budget
BRADFORD—At a special meeting on May 6, the Oxbow Unified Union School District Board voted to cut $300,000 from the proposed 2026/27 school budget. The revised amount of $23,039,333 is down from the $23,339,333 proposal rejected at the annual meeting on April 28.
Business Buzz: Yeoman’s new brews serve growing audience
HAVERHILL—Joe Mitchell began cultivating a dream while at Woodsville High School, eventually founding Yeoman Brewing Company. After initial success with cold-brew drinks and lemonades, Yeoman Brewing recently launched a new line of non-alcoholic wines in partnership with friend and Oxbow High School graduate Darren Sherburne.
In Haverhill, town provides audit update
WOODSVILLE—The Haverhill Selectboard discussed audits among other items at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 11. Town officials said the 2023 audit is at a “solid standstill.” For several years, the town has lagged in completing contracted audits of its finances.
Wildlife in Benton burns over a dozen acres
BENTON—Wildfire season has begun and area fire departments have been busy. On April 29, nearly two dozen fire departments responded to a forest fire near Owl’s Head in Benton. Haverhill Fire Chief Phil Blanchard told the Journal Opinion on Thursday that he had departments from Plymouth to Lisbon to Thetford respond. Benton does not have […]
WRVS budget passes; OUUSD budget fails
TOPSHAM—On Monday evening, Waits River Valley School voters passed a $10 million budget for 2026-2027 in a paper ballot vote of 73 to 42. AND BRADFORD—In a 145 to 119 paper ballot vote, the 2026/2027 Oxbow United Union School District budget failed to pass.
Finding support close to home
BRADFORD—After winter’s isolation, a welcome sliver of sunlight cut through mid-April’s leaden sky. Lifting the mood from cloudy to bright really meant something, especially for those seeking connection and hope on a Monday night. Since Dec. 23, 2025, the Upper Valley Recovery Group has met every Monday evening for one hour on Main Street.
At forums, Rivendell explores options
ORFORD—Democracy is messy and takes time. At a moment when some governing bodies choose to cut corners on the democratic process, the Rivendell Interstate School District invited public participation in not one, but three forums held on April 30. A fourth online forum is planned for May 9.
Man charged with burglary in fatal shooting incident
WOODSVILLE—The Hartford, Connecticut man arrested in connection with last week’s fatal shooting in Woodsville has been charged with three felonies. Jayden McClanahan, 21, had been charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and felonious use of firearms after he and others climbed an emergency fire escape at 14 Nelson Street and entered a second-floor apartment […]
Board imposes health order on blighted parcel
BRADFORD—A second public hearing on a proposed health order against a Goshen Road property with numerous junk order violations was held April 23.