AG: Barre man stabbed himself

WOODSVILLE—Authorities say a 19-year-old man found dead inside a Woodsville business earlier this year killed himself with a knife.
The state’s chief medical examiner has found that Victor Maldonado of Barre died from self-inflicted stab wounds.
“Based on the investigation conducted into Mr. Maldonado’s death, he entered the business after-hours, and while inside alone in the business he acquired a knife and killed himself,” the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office stated in a news release on May 17. “His dead body was found by employees of the business when it reopened on the morning of Jan. 31.”

Bradford approves parking restrictions

BRADFORD—At the meeting on May 10, the Bradford Selectboard unanimously approved several changes to the town’s traffic ordinance, including new prohibitions on parking for a stretch of North Main Street.
The bans are effective November through April when parking on the southbound portion of North Main Street between the Bradford Congregational Church and the Wells River Savings Bank will be prohibited. Similarly, a ban will be in place on the northbound section of the roadway from 70 North Main Street to 130 North Main Street.

Dental clinic to go before DRB

WELLS RIVER—Little Rivers Health Care’s plan to redevelop a long-deserted gas station into a dental clinic will go before the Newbury Development Review Board this week.
The DRB will hold a hearing on May 19 at 5 p.m. in the congregational church vestry in Newbury Village.

Bradford, Newbury approve school budget

BRADFORD—Bradford and Newbury voters gathered outside in perfect weather on May 12 and approved the $17,494,601 budget at the Oxbow Unified Union School District’s Annual Meeting.
The approval came with a vote of 60 to 10. Education spending next year will be $18,781 per equalized student, a 4.1% increase over the current year.
There was not much discussion on this big-ticket item since many questions had been addressed in an informational meeting the previous night.

Woodsville funding gets rejected

HAVERHILL—The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has invalidated two articles approved by voters at town meeting in Haverhill in March.
At town meeting on March 16, voters narrowly approved two petitioned articles—27 and 28—that provided funding for Woodsville Precinct. The former provided $298,630 for the precinct highway department and the latter provided $146,974 for the precinct’s fire department.

Groton set for revote

GROTON—After Groton voters spurned (132-106) the general fund budget at town meeting on March 1, selectboard members have revised the budget, decreasing it by $22,275.
A special revote will be by Australian ballot on May 25 in the Community Building from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. An informational meeting will be held in the same building on May 23 at 6 p.m.

Kings Plain lighting mooted at school

WOODSVILLE—Soccer field illumination was the subject of lengthy discussion at the May 9 meeting of the Haverhill Cooperative School Board.
The cost estimate for the project, which has been discussed at several board meetings this year, is $66,000. Not all board members agreed on the need.
Chair David Robinson mentioned that Woodsville Water and Light would supply the poles and labor at no cost to the school.

Fairlee Diner closure is only temporary

FAIRLEE—The dusty parking lot next to a one-story building beneath the Palisades has been empty for a month.
But, hopefully, not for too much longer. As the overcast days of April finally parted, Mother’s Day opened up a glimmer of hope for the Fairlee Diner.
Janice Neil of West Topsham posted that it was “a great one” for her on Facebook with a picture of herself standing beneath the Fairlee Diner sign holding her own handwritten message that reads “Coming in June!!” with “Jan’s” replacing “the Gilman’s” in the picture.

OUUSD set for annual meeting

BRADFORD—The Oxbow Unified Union School District will hold its annual meeting on May 12.
There will be an in-person meeting at 6 p.m. to vote on the proposed 2022-2023 budget and other items. There will also be an Australian ballot vote on proposed changes to the district’s charter. Polls in Bradford and Newbury will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the charter change vote.

In Times Past: Roads to and from

Five decades ago, the new interstate highway arrived, opening in Fairlee in 1971, then Bradford in 1972, and eventually Newbury in 1974. The highway’s impact has been economically and socially profound.
In many ways, the history of towns along I-91’s route can be divided into two eras: before and after its arrival.
This is not the first time roadways in the area had significant impact. This column reviews the history of local roads from colonial settlement to the 20th century.