The News & Sentinel

The NEWS and INDEPENDENT BUT NOT NEUTRAL SENTINEL Wednesday, September 16, 2015 — The North Country’s hometown newspaper since 1870 Vol. CXLV No. 37 6 Bridge Street, Colebrook, N.H. — www.colebrooknewsandsentinel.com Seventy-Five Cents Colebrook Shuts Down Wells after North-End Users Find Clay in Water By Jake Mardin She explained that when the new wells Following reports of cloudy water from were installed, there was about 90 feet of users on the north side of town, the new clay, and below that 15 feet of gravel. The wells located across from Piper Hill Road wells were drilled below the gravel. On have been turned off and users are back on Tuesday, Mr. McKinnon said it appears a the old system. In the meantime, town clump of clay dropped into the gravel, and officials say the water is still safe to drink. that is being drawn through the pump. Users at the northern end of Route 3, on Selectman Greg Placy explained that Cummings, Couture and Edwards streets, sand or gravel granules are big enough so and in the Windsor Park Estates trailer that they can settle and not be noticed, but park were affected by the problem, and the clay is a different story. “Clay is a very new wells were turned off last Tuesday. unique size of product of the earth,” he Town manager Becky Merrow dis- said. “It’s so small that it very rarely if cussed the issue with public works direc- ever settles out.” tor Kevin McKinnon and Shannon Grady He added that while most material com- of the water department on Monday, and presses when water is added, clay will brought it to the selectboard later that day. (Continued on Page 21) North Country Recreation Center PRIDE AND JOY Nancy Biron has been taking care of the flowers outside the Colebrook Public Library for Turns Back Northern Pass Grant many years as a member of the Colebrook Area Garden Club. The box just outside the front door was particularly colorful this summer, with an assortment of blooms including Persian In a unanimous vote, the North Country the Northern Pass Fund partnership inten- Shields, Scaevolas, Lavateras and Lemon Gem Marigolds. (Rob Maxwell photo) Cyan Community Recreation Center’s board of tions, except that this seemed like an directors decided to return a $10,000 grant award for their own immediate public received from the Coös County Job relations needs. Currently, we don’t agree Magenta Creation Association, which is funded by with their proposed transmission line plan. Colebrook Area Garden Club Adorns Northern Pass Transmission, LLC. As long as the lines aren’t buried, we can’t “All our other grant awards come with support it and that means we can’t, in Downtown with Flowers All Summer letters of congratulations, including good faith, take their money.” By Rob Maxwell the balance of the club’s budget comes Yellow reporting requirements and specifications During a May, 2015 strategy session Those traveling on Colebrook’s Main from membership dues, fund-raisers, on how the funder would like to be recog- that included over 50 community mem- Street this summer have been treated to donations, and $1,800 to $2,400 annually nized in Rec Center publicity,” said exec- bers and facility users, the Rec Center lovely displays of hanging and potted from the Tillotson North Country Black utive director Lori Morann, “This award learned of the region’s great enthusiasm flowers along the sidewalks, and large Foundation. came with no such letter.” for all that the facility offers; hearing planted displays on the traffic islands at “Without the foundation’s help,” said Speaking for the board of directors, loudly and clearly that even more pro- either end of the street. These floral deco- Ms. Hurlburt, “there would be no flowers. chairman Dr. John Fothergill stated, “We grams were desired. However, without a rations are the result of much hard work Every town has their own way of getting can’t just take a pay-off. We look to part- significant operating endowment, the Rec and dedication from a few of the members some flowers out there, but we’re the only ner with our funders. We’re unclear about (Continued on Page 37) of the Colebrook Area Garden Club. ones who do it largely without financial During a sit-down in August with club assistance from the town or from busi- co-chairmen Terry Hurlburt and Ginny nesses.” Comments at Northern Pass Meeting Freudenberger and secretary Jean Caird, The Colebrook Area Garden Club has all three noted that while many towns 49 dues-paying members, although Ms. Mostly Favor Burial of Entire Line have flower displays on their Main Caird said only about 15 are actively By Jake Mardin Evaluation Committee. Stenographers Streets, the situation in Colebrook is involved. “Every member supports in The common refrain from the majority were present to record the meeting, and unique: aside from $500 from the town, (Continued on Page 20) of those who spoke during Northern Pass’ transcripts will be sent to the SEC. public meeting last Wednesday at the The majority of the over 50 people who Mountain View Grand in Whitefield is spoke about the project were against the that the entire transmission line should be proposal and suggested that the entire line Coös Planning Board Proposes New buried. be buried, or not built at all. Some felt that The meeting drew around 300 people Eversource favored the White Mountain Zoning Ordinance for Balsams Plan and was the fourth in a series held as National Forest area, where 52 miles of By Jake Mardin meeting (pending approval), planning required before Eversource Energy may line are proposed for burial, over other Balsams resort developers met with the board chairman John Scarinza went over submit an application to the N.H. Site areas farther north. county planning board last Wednesday to what had taken place since the August Last month, Northern Pass announced discuss its Subdistrict Concept Plan for meeting, when the board agreed that the Inside this issue: an updated route that included the 52-mile the resort, and the two parties outlined a applicant would work with attorney underground portion in the WMNF. plan to work on a zoning amendment. Bernie Waugh and Tara Bamford of the Headwaters Citizens Committee Because of the different cables being used This meeting followed an August 18 North Country Council to complete the Meets This Saturday — page 3 in underground portions, the project discussion of the plan during an applica- application. He explained that the process capacity was reduced from 1,200 tion review. The board identified areas of is unique because the concept plan model Errol Heritage Day & Lumberjack megawatts to 1,000 MW. the application where more information is for shorter-term projects, or for a phase Competition Sept. 26 — page 3 The doors were opened at 5 p.m. last was needed, and the meeting was contin- of a project that within 18 months would ued first to September 2, and then resched- have a final development plan ready for Resource Officers Weigh in After Wednesday for an open house, during which various officials and experts from uled to last Wednesday. Last month, board review. Three Weeks on the Job — page 21 Northern Pass were on hand to answer developers said their goal was to see the Because the Balsams project could go out questions. Among the displays were the creation and adoption of a new zone with 20 to 30 years, The board met with Mr. cross-linked polymer cable that will be land use and site plan review standards by Waugh to explore better ways to review the used to bury more of the line, and com- which future development would be project. He suggested that rather than go puter simulations where people can put in judged. through the concept plan (Continued on Page 30) According to the minutes of last week’s (Continued on Page 36) 2 Page Two THE NEWS AND SENTINEL - Colebrook, New Hampshire Wednesday, September 16, 2015 For the Record... N.H. FISH AND GAME threatening injuries in an ATV crash that Four separate incidents kept conservation occurred at 3:45 p.m. in the Potato Hill area officers busy around the area on Sunday, of Stratford. Fish & Game reports that Ms. September 6. Davignon was trying to catch up to other CO Chris Egan was involved in a pursuit members of her riding party, and may have of a side-by-side OHRV after the rider hit a water bar in the trail, causing her to allegedly failed to stop when signaled at lose control and roll over, with the ATV around 3:20 p.m. on Moose Pond Road in landing on top of her. She was discovered Pittsburg. “The OHRV then continued by members of her riding party shortly after beyond the officer’s vehicle at a high rate of the accident occurred. Another rider trav- speed and accelerated after passing it,” his eled from the scene to Connolly Cabins in press release states. “CO Egan turned his Stratford to call for help. Personnel from the vehicle around and began pursuing the Stratford Hollow and Groveton fire depart- speeding OHRV, but the pursuit was quick- ments responded to the scene. Ms. ly discontinued due to the lack of visibility Davignon was transported by rescue ATV to in the extremely dusty conditions.” Based a waiting Groveton ambulance, where she on interviews with other riders, he identified was taken to Weeks Hospital in Lancaster several members of the suspect’s riding for further evaluation and treatment.

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