Oxbow sets budget vote

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BRADFORD—A budget was approved on March 10 by members of the Oxbow Unified Union School District’s school board for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.
The $17,171,968 budget and several other articles will be decided by Australian ballot by Bradford and Newbury voters on April 13. Polls will open in each of the towns at 10 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.
The ballot vote on next year’s budget comes just three months to the day after voters approved the current year’s budget.

Piermont pans park, OKs road bond

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PIERMONT—Voters passed a $464,000 road reconstruction bond, but nixed a proposed recreation park on Route 25C.
Approximately 37 people attended the March 13 in-person town meeting to decide the fate of 18 warrant articles.
Over an hour was spent in discussion of article 2 proposing a $464,000 reconstruction of Indian Pond, Lily Pond, and Bedford roads.
All of these roads are in dire need of attention, officials said.
Road commissioner Frank Rodimon spoke of the roads’ deterioration, noting Bedford Road had not been touched in over 30 years.

Residents continue questions on detention center

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NEWBURY—As Newbury awaits an official permit application to open a juvenile treatment facility on Stevens Place, residents and state officials met for a second time last week via Zoom to discuss lingering apprehensions.
The central topic became: Why Newbury? What other locations were considered for this facility and why was this Orange County town deemed the most suitable?
“I hear a lot of people in town do not want you here,” said Newbury Village Store owner Lance Battersby. Questions such as this were common during Thursday’s Zoom meeting as Newbury residents expressed their reservations towards the proposed plans.

Marker request denied in Murray disappearance

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HAVERHILL—New Hampshire officials have denied a request to erect an official state highway marker at the roadside where Maura Murray was last seen in February 2004.
The decision came just one week after the “blue ribbon” memorial tree at that location was cut down.
It has been over 17 years since Maura, then a 21-year-old nursing student at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, disappeared on the evening of Feb. 9, 2004. For over 16 years the Murray family has placed a blue ribbon around the trunk of a tree near the location where she was last seen after her car crashed on Route 112.
Since then, the unsolved mystery of her disappearance has developed a worldwide following.

New park mulled for tax sale property

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PIERMONT— On March 13, voters will decide whether to pass article 16 and develop less than an acre of land, formerly known as the Veilette property, into a community park.
Located at 239 Route 25C, the property is deemed an ideal spot for recreation and picnic use.
According to Piermont Selectboard Chair Colin Stubbings, the cost to develop the site will be minimal as much of the work will be done by volunteers.

Selectman proposes river name change

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WARREN—Of the 28 articles listed on Warren’s town meeting warrant, it is number 25, changing the name of the Baker River to Asquamchumauke River, which is unusual.
The Baker has long held the name Asquamchumauke although it may not be a well-known fact. Asquamchumauke is an Abenaki word which means salmon spawning place.
In a telephone interview with the Journal Opinion, selectman Charlie Chandler revealed he was inspired by seeing the name in connection with the local Asquamchumauke Valley Snowmobile Club

Board defends warrant articles

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WOODSVILLE—A selectboard candidate accused board members of a “power grab” on Monday night with proposed changes in town governance that will be voted on during town meeting.
Michael Graham, who is challenging selectboard chair Darwin Clogston, said proposals to give the selectboard the power to appoint the town treasurer and budget committee members deserved public discussion.

Vault repairs to continue

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BRADFORD—Work will continue on a pricey hole in the ground in downtown Bradford.
The Bradford Selectboard has authorized another round of repairs for a section of Main Street sidewalk.
At a meeting on Feb. 25, the board voted unanimously to spend as much as $100,000 for the second phase of repair work around the so-called vault located in front of the former Aubuchon store.

Haverhill candidates set to square off

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NORTH HAVERHILL—The escalating division among Haverhill’s precincts was a concern for both candidates running for a three-year term on Haverhill’s selectboard.
All town meeting voting, including officer elections, will be conducted by Australian ballot at the Haverhill Cooperative Middle School on March 13. Walk-through and drive-through voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In separate interviews, incumbent Darwin Clogston and challenger Michael Graham each highlighted the importance of serving with the interests of all citizens in mind.

Hundreds get vaccine at local clinic

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NORTH HAVERHILL—With cooperative weather, last week’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic went smoothly as 450 Grafton County residents received their first shots via a drive-through clinic at the Horse Meadow Senior Center.
In early February Dick Guy, director of Woodsville Ambulance contacted Maureen Platt-Russell, newly hired director of the HMSC to see if she could get at least 150 names of people interested in getting the vaccine.
“We put out feelers with our participants to gauge interest and were overwhelmed with calls,” she said.
Within two to three hours, there were enough names collected to make the clinic a reality.