www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com SERVING THE NORTH COUNTRY SINCE 1889 [email protected] 122ND YEAR, 5TH ISSUE LITTLETON, N.H., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 75¢ (USPS 315-760) Gionet seeks Attorney General’s counsel By KAYTI BURT representation from the when McLeod allegedly sent inexpedient to legislate, and allegedly sought to have a countersuit against Gionet. [email protected] Attorney General’s office for an email to members of the McLeod saw the assumed McLeod fired from her job as Before becoming speaker CONCORD — The bitter the dispute. House Public Works and facts as a conflict of interest. Executive Director of the of the house late last year, clash between Representative Gionet, a Republican rep- Highways Committee, of When Gionet brought the North Country Home O’Brien served as Gionet’s Edmond Gionet, of Lincoln, resentative from Grafton which Gionet was a part, email to light, pursuing the Consortium – a charge attorney. In November, he and former representative District 3, has been embroiled falsely accusing him of issue in the press, and Gionet denies – McLeod filed SEE GIONET, PAGE A8 Martha McLeod, of in a legal dispute with receiving and unsuccessfully Franconia, is causing a stir in McLeod since last year when trying to get out of a ticket the statehouse as criticism he filed a suit against her for issued by slain Franconia rains down on Speaker of the alleged defamation and Police Cpl. Bruce McKay. The House William O’Brien for intentional or negligent inflic- committee had unanimously supporting former client tion of emotional distress. voted a bill to rename part of Gionet’s action to seek legal The suit was spurred a road in McKay’s memory as Bids for permanent transfer station put on hold By KAYTI BURT The four competitive bids [email protected] Normandeau for municipal waste came BETHLEHEM — The and Casella from two companies: Board of Selectmen stayed a Normandeau Trucking, of decision on how best to move awarded bids Groveton, and Casella Waste forward with the permanent Management, who also oper- transfer station until the town for temporary ates the controversial landfill can voice its opinion at the in town. Both companies bid deliberative session next station for an open top container week. option compactor option. The main dilemma: should selectmen and detailed by Normandeau’s bids came in at the town invest tens of thou- Transfer Department Manager $35,158 and $32,658 for the sands of dollars more in the Gene Grunza at a meeting on year, while Casella’s bids installation of a compactor, Monday addressed both the came in substantially less at which will yield better long- temporary transfer station, $18,980 and $22,580 for the term savings, or wait it out currently located at the high- year. until better times with a sim- way department garage, and Though the compactor pler open top container solu- the permanent transfer sta- option is less expensive on an tion in the meantime. tion, which has yet to be annual basis, it necessitates a The bids, reviewed by the opened on Route 116. SEE TRANSFER STATION, PAGE A8 Eames named to 40 under 40 By Jeff Woodburn was coming to an end, LITTLETON — Jack Eames and his wife reached Eames, a local business a critical fork in the road. entrepreneur, was featured The choice was to continue in the Union Leader to move up the military lad- Monday as one of the state’s der by accepting a promo- most successful young peo- tion to the State ple. For the past 10 years, Department, which would PHOTO BY GEORGE MITCHELL the Union Leader has annu- require considerable ally recognized 40 aspiring amount of travel, or to TEAMWORK people who are under 40 return to Littleton take over Jillian Allaire (flyer) and bases Kaitlyn Horner and Katrien Dexter from Littleton Receation years old. Union Leader the family business. Department's Littleton Leopards stand tall in the Red Carpet Cheerleading Competition held at Littleton President and Publisher The young Eames’ want- High School on Sat. Jan.29. Joseph W. McQuaid said the ed to start a family, so they Jack Eames “40 under 40” recognition chose to forego the glitz of “was and is intended to his service in the U.S. Army Washington, D.C. for showcase and honor those after West Point that he met Littleton’s Main Street. LRH counts successes in the who are contributing so his wife, Victoria, who was When you grow up in the much to life in New an Army Nurse. Eames was North Country, he said, “It’s face of health care uncertainty Hampshire…” first based in Germany easy to take it for granted.” Eames is only one of two where he served as the exec- But he assures, that he’s “so By KAYTI BURT Though it is a difficult side and give instant access north of Plymouth to receive utive officer of one of the fortunate” to live here. “It’s [email protected] time to be in health care with to that information hospital- this recognition. The other is large postal companies and a special place,” he added, LITTLETON — Members the uncertain future of health wide, among other benefits. a State Trooper from Berlin. later he went to Washington and “a wonderful place to of the Littleton Regional care policy, CEO Warren West West also commended the Thirty-nine year old to work in the Pentagon as a raise a family.” The Eames’ Hospital (LRH) community took the opportunity to focus hospital’s staff – from house- Eames manages his families Commander of the Defense now have three children – gathered last Tuesday to cele- not on the struggle of the past keeper to nurse to doctor. various business interests. Courier Service Station. In Ethan, 10, Morgan, 8 and brate the past year and look year, but the successes. While “I see the dedication, the His family has been a fixture 1999, as his five year mili- Carson, 5. ahead to another at LRH’s other hospitals across the caring, and the compassion on Littleton Main Street tary service commitment SEE EAMES, PAGE A8 104th annual meeting. state and country have had to that patients see when they since 1920. A native of go to “Draconian measures” come to our hospital for Littleton, he is the son of Jere to save their facilities, he said, care,” said West. and Yvonne Eames. LRH has been able to focus West said one of his chal- After graduating from on its dreams and plans. lenges and privileges is to Littleton High School, The most visible example recruit new physicians – a Eames won a coveted of this is the completion of task that is made simpler by appointment to West Point the new medical office wing, the positive work environ- and went on to receive a which held its grand opening ment that LRH has. Bachelor of Science degree. in November. The new $12 There is a “small army” of He said he wanted to “get million facility adds 63,000 almost 200 volunteers that out and see what the world square feet to the hospital, also contributes to hospital had to offer.” It was during and harnesses geothermal care at LRH, said West. energy from the ground to “When I look around, heat and cool the building in they’re everywhere,” said a revolutionary system that West. should save the hospital sig- In addition to manning the nificant energy costs. SEE LRH, PAGE A14 West also pointed to the new health care information system, still being installed throughout the facility. The hospital is investing more than $4.8 million over three years for a system that will SLEIGH RIDE—Students from Lafayette Elementary school going on a sleigh ride in Franconia, recently, allow clinicians to enter real- with "Charlie" driving "Charlie". time data at a patient’s bed- Littleton, N.H., 38 pages INSIDE LOCAL INSIDE Dr. Hugh’s Dental PC 33 Main Street Hubert W. Hawkins IV MPH DDS LOCAL NEWS . .A2 CLASSIFIEDS . .B10 Northern Pass 209 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH SPORTS . A17, B1 COURT . .A6 School board (603) 444-4141 EDITORIAL . .A4 FROM THE FRONT . .A10 puts teacher related House CARTOON . .A4 SPOTLIGHTS . .C1 back in hearing Beautiful Ceramic Crowns REAL ESTATE . .B7 OBITUARIES . .A18 in One Visit. LETTERS . .A4 AREA NEWS . .A8 budget A2 Tuesday A3 DrHughsDental.com POLICE . .A6 CALENDAR . .C8 A2 THE COURIER, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 Local News One teacher Town budget cuts returned to budget estimate level tax rate Board agrees to return teacher to Lakeway Police captain warrant article deemed unenforceable By KAYTI BURT ment, the budget for part- supported by both Bolt and By ART McGRATH ting the alpine ski program, When he first arrived for a [email protected] time workers in the highway Seymour when it was pro- [email protected] which Superintendent tour there was a student LITTLETON — Following department, the budget for posed last year as a cost-sav- LITTLETON — Parents Tommy Stephens said had banging his head on a floor, a final clarification of cuts, part-time workers and over- ing measure by Chief of last week convinced the SAU only five children in it, as which prevented learning the selectmen have more time in the police depart- Police Paul Smith. The 84 school board to return one well as finding a way to from going on in that class- than met the budget com- ment, and the legal budget restructuring did not of the K-6 teachers back into streamline purchases for 610 room. In yet another several mittee’s goal to keep the tax for the Planning Board and increase the number of the $budget which had been Accounts throughout the teachers were dealing with rate level from last year, the Zoning Board of employees at the depart- cut several weeks ago.