Week of Feb. 7-13, 2004

Saturday, February 7 Bob Snow Jr., the former Bartlett police chief who pleaded guilty to stealing more than $30,000 from the town and its DARE program, will spend at least two years in prison. The sentence will be imposed in six weeks to give him time to help his wife with cancer treatment. White Mountain Trails Club proposes expanding snowmobile trail on the rail line from Bartlett to Glen. Selectmen Doug Garland and David Shedd raise concerns. Gov. Craig Benson, Sen. John E. Sununu and Rep. Jeb Bradley attend Carroll County Republican's Lincoln Day dinner, with the congressman showing slides of his recent visit to Iraq.Monday, February 9 Kennett High School social studies teacher David Freedman can take a paid sabbatical next school year, a divided school board has decided. Kennett High School teams win sportsmanship awards in boys cross-country, girls cross-country, football, boys soccer, girls soccer and volleyball. The first bond payment for the new high school along with increases in special education tuition and legal fees account for the bulk of the 13 percent increase in Bartlett's proposed $6.27 million school budget. Conway taxpayers can expect $35,000 more for equipment and personnel in the 2005 budget as the town takes over roads in Village at Kearsarge and Settlers' Green. The warrant article for the town to take over roads in Village at Kearsarge will include conditions to protect Conway taxpayers and road users from costs and road damage that might ensue from a legal dispute over sewer installation.Tuesday, February 10 North Conway Water Precinct infrastructure betterment work is delayed till next year; the treasurer walks out; a consultant is hired for six months; and there's a difference of opinion on school and Rt. 16 projects. Commissioners for North Conway Water Precinct are pressing forward with exploring hiring a private contractor to run the precinct, but they are already running into opposition. Kennett High Boosters Club invites New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, staff and players from the Super Bowl championship team for a March 27 scholarship fund-raiser. Mount Washington Valley Winter Carnival, Feb. 20-29, is not a new idea, just one whose time has come.Wednesday, February 11 North Conway Water Precinct and the three employees who manage the wastewater treatment plant, Peter LaBonte, Robert Bagley and Glen MacDonald, receive an EPA award for running a clean and efficient facility. Conway School Board decides to name the new school Kennett High but will wait to hear from principal Jack Loynd before naming junior high. Cheryl Bodeau, 41, of Haley Town Road in Brownfield, Maine, dies in a two-vehicle accident on Route 302 near the state line. The town portion of the average homeowner's tax bill would climb by $39 if the town adopts a tentative, working tax rate of $4.71 per $1,000 of assessed valuationThursday, February 12 Carrying signs that read "Give Us Our Precinct Back" and "Bring Back Gary," a handful of disgruntled North Conway Water Precinct residents picket at the corner of the road leading to the precinct's office, on Sawmill Lane, and Route 16. Kennett High girls are state nordic champs, beating Hanover for the first time in 25 years. Liz Kantack wins both classical and skate races. The first proposed zoning change based on the recently completed master plan is a petitioned article to rezone 24 acres behind Staples from residential/agricultural to highway commercial. Madison selectmen are cleared of a forgery allegation by Sam Bourne. The police chief reports a handwriting expert found document signed by Bourne himself.Friday, February 13 Conway selectmen fear turmoil at North Conway Water Precinct threatens $100,000 in repaving projects and, more importantly, the next phase of the state's upgrade of Route 16. Commissioners will likely ask voters at the annual meeting of North Conway Water Precinct whether they want a private contractor to run the multi-million dollar water and wastewater treatment facilities, but they will not be bound by the result. Kennett High students produce a 6-minute documentary on the high school building project. George G. Cunningham will retire as superintendent of schools in Western Maine in June 2005, when his contract expires.