Week of May 11-17 [05/18/2002]

The overwhelming call by voters last month to delay the widening of Route 16 until after the bypass is built fell on deaf ears. State and federal officials met with leaders of the delay effort this week and told them the non-binding vote is not enough to justify reopening the permit process of the entire bypass project. N.H. Department of Transportation continues taking land for the Route 16 upgrade, set to begin in October.Local businesses have pledged $10,000 to restore a scaled-down traffic control program, which was eliminated by budget cuts. The town will decide whether to try to squeeze $15,000 to $20,000 out of the default budget to add to the private donations and fund traffic control from July Fourth through Labor Day.Conway School Board is moving ahead on two tracks toward fixing Kennett High. Pat Swett is chairing a committee to look into an "indition" plan to renovate the school from the inside to accommodate Conway students. Rebecca Moore heads a committee to explore a broader solution including other towns.Saturday, May 11 Grassroots campaign by Peter Pinkham, a local Realtor, writer, outdoor enthusiast and former town official, encourages Americans to take patriotism to a deeper level and follow seven guiding principles. Conway Planning Board seeks ways to get more people to contribute to the master plan. Ideas floated so far have been "awesome" but participation in public forums is dwindling. Peer leaders at Madison Elementary become "deer deputies" to spread the word that fawns are not usually abandoned and are best cared for by their mothers. Ossipee Selectman Harry Merrow will run for state representative in the Republican primary, seeking the seat now held by Randy Lyman, who is retiring this year. Kimberly Moore is nominated as assistant principal for Kennett Junior High. Chosen from among seven candidates, she was dean of students at St. Johnsbury Middle School.Monday, May 13 Reconstruction of Route 16 through North Conway will begin in October from Burger King to Barnes Road and continue for two years, finishing up in Intervale by June 2004. A last-minute idea to flip the work schedule and begin at the northern end is abandoned because the state has not yet acquired the right-of-way for that section. Conway selectmen vote unanimously to ask the state to completely rebuild Route 16 from Burger King to Intervale instead of simply resurfacing the road. The decision will add to the time, and disruption, of the road project set to begin in October. Bill Fabrizio, former Bartlett School Board chair, wants citizens to step forward to try to solve the secondary education dilemma. He offers to come out of retirement to lead a grass roots effort. Bartlett selectmen encourage all towns in Mount Washington Valley to return to the table to agree on a plan for an eight-town high school. The board feels a regional schools offers the best education and best financial package for taxpayers.Tuesday, May 14 An emergency strategy session on delaying the widening of Route 16 from Burger King to Barnes Road shifted gears to discuss killing the northern leg of the bypass and extending the north-south local road to Intervale. A groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of construction on the new $8 million county jail. The 73-bed facility replaces the 30-bed jail built in the late 1800s around two cell blocks salvaged from a prison ship. Lillian Brookes of Wolfeboro is running for reelection as Carroll County Register of Deeds. Debra Noyes, administrative assistant to Madison Police Department, is laid off after having been on administrative since April. Selectmen say the position is no longer needed. A judge finds sufficient evidence to try Wolfeboro priest George Robichaud on a charge of aggravated felonious sexual assault against a teenage boy.Wednesday, May 15 N.H. Department of Transportation continues taking land in North Conway for the north-south local road and upgrade of Route 16. Among the property owners not satisfied with the state's offers are Chris Kanzler of Cranmore Inn and Ham Greene of Northway Plaza. Plans for a 35-acre recreation complex in Wolfeboro are approved by the planning board. Wolfeboro Area Recreation Association is spearheading the project, which includes four ballfields, basketball and tennis courts and a synthetic track. Armed with a 272-signature petition, more than a dozen supports plead with Conway School Board to reinstate Kennett High music teacher Brad Hagen. The board ignores the pleas and Superintendent Carl Nelson says the matter is closed. No decision is likely regarding the suspension of Madison Police Chief James Basinas, Selectman John Arruda says. He reiterates that the suspensions of Basinas and police department secretary Debra Noyes are in no way related.Thursday, May 16 The vote in Conway to delay the widening of Route 16 until after the bypass is built is not enough to justify revisiting the permit for the entire project. State and federal officials stand firm: the Route 16 upgrade will begin in October. Conway School Board forms two committees to move forward with high school building plans. Pat Swett's committee will present an 'indition' plan, Rebecca Moore's will explore a broader solution. Bartlett School Board extends principal Joe Voci's contract through 2005 and raises his salary to over $67,000. "You need us and we need you," said Vicki Harlow, board chair. The New Hampshire Lakes Association recently received a $260,100 award to help pay for an invasive species education and milfoil prevention program this summer. A citizens group in Freedom claims Ossipee Lake Marina was granted building permits without proper zoning review. The zoning officer acknowledges some violations.Friday, May 17 Local businesses pledge $10,000 to reinstate traffic control this summer, which was eliminated after voters cut the budget by $276,000. Police commissions will recommend to selectmen whether to go ahead with a scaled-down program. Madison selectmen will meet Tuesday with town counsel to discuss the suspension of Police Chief James Basinas. Basinas has hired a lawyer, and town officials have not spoken with him since he was put on leave with pay. Former Madison Police Chief Scott Frost is leaving his current position with the town highway department to become a Carroll County Sheriff's deputy.