Bradford Fire Department resignations deplete ranks

BRADFORD—Ten Bradford firefighters resigned last week to protest the selectboard’s move to demote longtime Bradford Fire Department Chief Ryan Terrill.

Orford Academy sale nears after vote

ORFORD—At a special meeting on April 30, members of the Orford School Board unanimously voted to sign the deed for the historic Orford Academy building over to the Rivendell Interstate School District.

OUUSD voters increase school budget

BRADFORD—By a show of hands, voters overwhelmingly increased the 2025-2026 Oxbow Unified Union School District budget by $100,000 bringing the total to $21,554,611.

2025 PET PARADE PAGES in this week’s JO!

Check out the B Section with 4 full pages of pet photos!

County eyes new courthouse

NORTH HAVERHILL—A report on the construction of a new Grafton County Courthouse is due in June and will lay out plans to get underway after much study.

Ex-selectman accused of misconduct

A former Haverhill Selectboard member has been accused of sexual misconduct while he was a Proctor Academy faculty member in the 1970s and 1980s.

Court continues hearing for Newbury man

CHELSEA—A court hearing held last week to determine next steps for James D. Perry Jr. was continued for 30 days after a judge found the Newbury man not guilty by reason of insanity.

Wells River ice cream a decades-old tradition

WELLS RIVER—From Rowden’s to Frosty Delites to Big Cones, Main Street in Wells River has been home to an ice cream stand for more than half a century.

Space on Main to close, teen center to move in

BRADFORD—The Space on Main coworking space will close on June 1 in downtown Bradford.
Monique Priestley, executive director and founder of The Space on Main, said the multiuse venue has been a community networking and events location for nearly seven years.  In her announcement about the closure, Priestley, who is also a state Representative, said that the Bradford Teen Center will soon move into the space.

OUUSD annual meeting is next week

BRADFORD—Officials project school tax rates will decline in Bradford, but rise slightly in Newbury under the 2025-2026 Oxbow Unified Union School District proposed operating budget of $21,454,611.  The district’s annual meeting is on April 30 at Oxbow High School. The district supports Bradford Elementary School, Newbury Elementary School, Oxbow Middle/High School, and River Bend Career and Technical Center.