WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009 VOL. 18 NO. 73 BERLIN, N.H. 752-5858 FREE Fire causes little damage to Gilbert Street building BY CRAIG LYONS and responded quickly to the scene the fi re resulted many of the windows had been broken prior to the THE BERLIN DAILY SUN in very little damage to the building. incident since it had been vacant for some time. BERLIN — Authorities are investigating the Detective Richard Plourde said no offi cial deter- B.P. D., the New Hampshire Fire Marshals Offi ce, cause of a fi re that caused little damage to an aban- mination has been made regarding the cause of the the Berlin Fire Department and New Hampshire doned building on Gilbert Street. fi re at this time. State Police are investigating the incident. The fi re Late Monday night, Offi cer Nathan Roy of the The fi re occurred inside the building, in the marshal’s offi ce couldn’t be contacted for comment. Berlin Police Department smelled smoke and dis- middle section of the horseshoe shaped structure, The building had been vacant for a few years, and covered the fi re smoldering inside a vacant build- said Plourde. The fi re was discovered about 10- 15 sustained heavy damage during a fi re in 2007. ing at 49 Gilbert Street, according to a press release feet inside the structure and there doesn’t appear to Anyone with information is encouraged to call 1- issued Tuesday morning. Since authorities noticed be any signs of forced entry at this time. He added 800-400-3526 or 752-3131. City wants NH State Champs ! Councilors hold sign and fi re mixed opinions ruins removed on part-time BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN administrators BERLIN — If there is anything BY BARBARA TETREAULT the city has learned from its efforts to THE BERLIN DAILY SUN improve Berlin’s appearance it is that BERLIN — The city council contin- such undertakings require persistence ues to have mixed opinions on allow- and patience. ing three top city administrators to That was demonstrated again at retire and continue to hold their posi- Monday’s city council meeting as the tions as part-time employees. body wrestled with two long standing Starting July 1, Police Chief Peter issues. Morency, City Comptroller Blandine One is the rusty dilapidated Budget Shallow, and Assistant Superinten- Inn sign in Veterans Park that the city dent Marion Huntley all switched has tried to get taken down for several from full to part time employees. years now. The other is the ruins of Since all three retired and are collect- another fi re burned out building, this see OPIIONS page 10 time at 67 Granite Street, that the owner has not cleaned up. Budget Inn sign City Manager Patrick MacQueen T o wn submitting reported that the state Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Traffi c C.D.B.G. proposal held a hearing last November on the Budget Inn’s application to renew its for new health permit for the sign. No one from the inn attended the hearing and fi ve months later the application to renew the sign services facility permit was denied. Hearing Examiner BY CRAIG LYONS Kathleen Mulcahey-Hampson ruled THE BERLIN DAILY SUN the inn did not have the city’s consent GORHAM — The Gorham Board of to locate the sign on city property. She Berlin Bobcat fi rst baseman Megan Morin hugs team mate and pitcher Megan Hood after the Selectmen voted to submit an appli- ordered the sign removed but allowed fi nal out in Berlin’s two game sweep of Windham 11-2 and 8-4 in Concord on Saturday, to cap- cation for Community Development the inn 30 days to appeal the decision. ture State Championship in the 16 and under girls Babe Ruth softball tournament. The victory Block Grant funds for the construc- The inn fi led an appeal within the automatically qualifi ed the Berlin girls for the Babe Ruth World Series being held in Concord from August 8, through the 15th. (COURTESY PHOTO) tion of a new facility for Coos County deadline, arguing the sign is important Family Health Services at their meet- for the business. In the inn’s appeal, ing Monday night. Suzanne Smith said she feels the deci- The C.D.B.G. application is looking sion is unreasonable and will create a Lady Bobcats NH state shampions for up to $500,000 that would be used hardship for the inn. She noted the inn, team defeated Windham 8-4 in the for the construction of a new facility in which is at 25 Pleasant Street, is on a Berlin girls make Babe second game of the best of three Gorham. The board held a public hear- one way street and the sign provides a series, thus winning the series and ing on the grant application during directional guide to the building. Ruth World Series capturing the NH State Champion- Monday night’s meeting. Smith pointed out the sign has been BY JEAN LEBLANC ship in Concord on Saturday . The “I think this is a needed project,” THE BERLIN DAILY SUN in the park for years with original con- victory automatically qualifi es the said Selectman Paul Robitaille. sent from the city. MacQueen said the CONCORD — The Berlin Bob- Berlin team to the 16 & Under Babe The board voted unanimously to city did give permission for the sign to cats 16 and Under girls softball see CHAMPIONS page 16 submit the grant application. see CITY page 6 see PROPOSAL page 7 Low Rates BANKRUPTCY or CRIMINAL DEFENSE K elley’s Towing • 723-9216 WE BUY Free Initial Meeting AAA Fast, Professional Service Small & Ly ons Attorneys FREE REMOVAL GOLD 1-800-373-1114 OF JUNK CARS 107 Main Street, Berlin, NH 03570 • 1-800-479-1520 SEPTIC 752-4767 (a debt relief agency) Page 2 — THE BERLIN DAILY SUN, We dnesday, July 22, 2009 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DIGEST–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– How do you 3DAYFORECAST THEMARKET LOTTERY#’S TODAY’SWORD Today Tomorrow DAILY NUMBERS Wo rd: sedulous sneeze in a DOW JONES adjective: High: 73 High: 74 67.79 to 8,915.94 Day 7-3-9 • 9-0-9-3 spacesuit? Record: 93 (1994) Low: 56 Evening 8-6-5 • 0-9-9-8 1. Diligent in application or pur- Sunrise: 5:21 a.m. Sunrise: 5:22 a.m. NASDAQ WEEKLY GRAND suit; steadily industrious. CAPE CANAVERAL, Sunset: 8:20 p.m. 6.91 to 1,916.20 4-5-9-34 (22) 2. Characterized by or accom- Fla. (AP) — When it comes Tonight Friday plished with care and persever- to sneezing in a spacesuit Low: 55 High: 76 S&P 4,328 ance. while in the void of space, Record: 41 (1950) Low: 56 3.45 to 954.58 U.S. military deaths in Iraq. — courtesy dictionary.com it is best to aim well. Sunset: 8:20 p.m. That’s the advice lead records are from 1886 to present spacewalker David Wolf ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WORLD/NATION––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– offered Tuesday while answering one of the questions posted on You- Tube for the crew of the space shuttle Endeavor. “I’ve done it quite a few times, most recently yes- terday,” said Wolf, who Palin implicated in ethics probe led the mission’s second ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An inde- benefi ts and receiving improper gifts The practical effect of the ruling on Palin spacewalk Monday and pendent investigator has found evidence through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by will be more fi nancial than anything else. was set to go on a third that Gov. Sarah Palin may have violated supporters. The report recommends that Palin refuse to spacewalk Wednesday. “You learn in training, and ethics laws by trading on her position in An investigator for the state Personnel accept payment from the defense fund, and I don’t know how to say seeking money for legal fees, in the latest Board says in his July 14 report that there that the complaint be resolved without a this, aim well. It can mess legal distraction for the former vice presi- is probable cause to believe Palin used or formal hearing before the board. up your view and there is dential candidate as she prepares to leave attempted to use her offi cial position for The fund aims to help Palin pay off debts no way to clear it.” The Yo uTube question- offi ce this week. personal gain because she authorized the stemming from multiple ethics complaints ers, mostly children and The report obtained by The Associated creation of the trust as the “offi cial” legal against her, most of which have been dis- teenagers, had posted Press says Palin is securing unwarranted defense fund. missed. Palin says she owes more than their questions well before last week’s launch of Endeavour on a 16-day mission to the interna- tional space station. Their posts were played one at a time for commander Panel delays Sotomayor Abortion ‘hidden mandate’ latest Mark Polansky, pilot Doug Hurley, Canadian astronaut Julie Payette controversy in health overhaul and Wolf, who took turns vote as GOP support grows WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers opposed to answering the questions live, more than 200 miles WASHINGTON (AP) — The lier-than-usual fi rst meeting Sept. 9. federal funding for abortions said Tuesday the House leader- above Earth. Senate Judiciary Committee put off His prediction came as Sen. Susan ship’s health care bill contains a “hidden mandate” that would its vote Tuesday on Supreme Court Collins of Maine became the latest allow taxpayer dollars to be used to end pregnancies.