www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com SERVING THE NORTH COUNTRY SINCE 1889 [email protected] 122ND YEAR, 17TH ISSUE LITTLETON, N.H., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2011 75¢ (USPS 315-760) Bass visits with county commissioners Town By KAYTI BURT [email protected] meets NORTH HAVERHILL- U.S. Representative Charlie reduction Bass visited the Grafton County Complex to hear from the commissioners of goal his district. Among the issues raised: the Northern Pass transmission project, Parks and Rec. the health care system, and energy costs. budget restored “If there’s anything I can do at the federal level for a By KAYTI BURT start, I’m here for you,” said [email protected] Bass to the commissioners, LITTLETON- The select- and they took him up on the men took the final step in the offer. $745,000 budget reduction Health care determined by the voters at Commissioner Ray Monday’s meeting, while Burton started the conversa- managing to find an addi- tion off by asking Bass to do tional $19,000 to add back to what he could about what the struggling Parks and he called over-regulations Recreation Department. on nursing homes by the KAYTI BURT/THE LITTLETON COURIER The largest of the final Commissioner Michael Cryans, Commissioner Omer Ahern, Representative Charlie Bass, and Commissioner Ray Burton gather for a meeting at Centers of Medicare and round of cuts will come from the Grafton County Complex last Tuesday. Medicaid Services (CMS). the elimination of a police Burton called the regula- officer position through attri- tions – that can even dictate is appointed by the presi- and Kelly Ayotte that they do on the matter. those who have a better tion. Police Officer David the color of a resident’s dent, and confirmed by the would be asking some Bass said he is in favor of understanding of – and Wentworth has accepted a room – “very burdensome” Senate. Burton said he had tough questions come con- shifting much of the respon- greater concern in – their job with the Bethlehem on the county nursing home already been assured by firmation time, but he want- sibility of Medicare and own residents’ needs. Police Department, and sub- facility. The director of CMS Senators Jeanne Shaheen ed to know what Bass could Medicaid to the state level to SEE BASS, PAGE A10 mitted his resignation to the town last week. At Monday’s meeting, the selectmen voted unanimously not to replace Lisbon student wins letter-writing competition Wentworth. “I am inclined not to By KAYTI BURT wrote Elizabeth in her letter “Your book made me [email protected] replace him, unless there’s a to author Patricia Reilly Giff. realize that I wasn’t the compelling reason to replace LISBON- Letters About “Thank you for giving me the only one that felt all alone him,” said Selectman Mike Literature is a national read- opportunity to realize that I and scared. Reading, ‘A Gilman, to which Selectman ing-writing contest that sees am more than that dusty old Child Called It’ helped me Marghie Seymour agreed. thousands of students across doll who had been thrown to not be embarrassed Captain Chris Tyler – who the country write letters into an extremely dark clos- about what happened to is representing the Police every year to the authors of et.” me.” wrote Erin in her let- Department while Chief Paul the books that changed the Like Elizabeth, classmate ter, which was selected last Smith is away – said that the way they think about the Erin Choate chose to write week as the state winner in department needs six patrol world or themselves. This about a book that related the 7th and 8th grade age officers and two patrol year, a state winner and state directly to her past: David group. This is the first time supervisors to keep the pub- semi-finalist hail from the Pelzer’s “A Child Called It.” someone from the Lisbon lic and officers safe. With the Lisbon Regional School – two “I could connect to it,” said School has been named as a elimination of Wentworth’s girls both with deeply per- Erin, also 13. “I was abused, state winner. position, and the permanent sonal connections to the sub- just like he was.” As a state winner, Erin reassignment of the police ject material of the books they KAYTI BURT/THE LITTLETON COURIER “A Child Called It” is an was awarded a $100 check, detective to patrol officer, chose to write about, and the Erin Angel Choate and Elizabeth Higgins, both seventh graders at Lisbon autobiographical account of and a $50 gift card to there will be six patrol offi- strength to tell their own sto- Regional School, stand with the letters they submitted to the Letters the author’s childhood abuse Target. If chosen as a cers. The elimination of the ries. About Literature national competition. Erin’s submission was selected as by his alcoholic mother. Erin national winner, Erin position will cut $38,861 “The reason I picked the the winner in her age group for the state – a first for the Lisbon school went through an abusive would win a $500 Target from this year’s budget. book was because I never – while Elizabeth’s was declared a semi-finalist. experience with a male gift card for herself, as well Other reductions from the really thought I would find authority figure in her life for as a $10,000 grant for the someone who felt the same “What I did not attain until now with the family that several years until she found Police Department will come in reductions to the uniform way I did. And then I read I read this book was that I am loves and cares about me,” the courage to tell her mother. SEE LETTER, PAGE A11 that book, and I didn’t feel line ($1,200), and Halloween that way anymore,” said 13- overtime line ($2,011). year-old Elizabeth Higgins, Selectmen appoint Zoning Officer, ZBA alternate The selectmen also voted whose letter was chosen as a to reduce the Transfer Station as Zoning Officer. It is a Among his qualifica- borhood stabilization proj- and Welfare budgets by state semi-finalist in her age Look to fill Health legal requirement that the tions, Hodge is overseeing ects currently underway group. $10,000 each – decisions of Officer position town have a Zoning Officer compliance issues for the 57 across the state. His work which department directors Elizabeth wrote about to enforce the town’s zoning Community Development for Eastern Construction, “Pictures of Hollis Woods,” a By KAYTI BURT were a part. Another $9,000 ordinances. Finance Authority neigh- SEE SELECTMEN, PAGE A10 contemporary novel that tells [email protected] will come from the further the story of a girl in the foster deferral of a pay increase for LITTLETON- The select- TURKEY SEASON non-union municipal care system who has trouble men voted to appoint local finding a home. Elizabeth can employees for another two construction manager Chris quarters. The selectmen relate because she, too, was in Hodge to the position of the foster care system. already voted to defer the Zoning Officer at Monday’s pay increase for the year’s “I was in a lot of foster meeting. Hodge, President homes with my sisters. We of Eastern Construction SEE REDUCTION, PAGE A11 just wanted the home that we Management, was the only would enjoy,” said Elizabeth, one to volunteer for the posi- who has two older sisters and tion, which was formerly an older brother. Their aunt, held by the town manager. since, has adopted them and “In an effort to keep down brought Elizabeth to Lisbon. the size and cost of local gov- ernment, the Town of Littleton is looking for a vol- unteer to serve as Zoning Officer,” read the town’s posting for the position. The Zoning Officer’s duties had Dr. Hugh’s Dental PC previously been taken over Hubert W. Hawkins IV MPH DDS by former town manager 209 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH Chuck Connell. When (603) 444-4141 Connell was laid off last month, and replaced by an Beautiful Ceramic Crowns Youth season for Turkeys begins this Saturday. This Tom turkey shows off for a group of hen turkeys interim town manager who in One Visit. Sunday morning in Sugar Hill. works only 24 hours per DrHughsDental.com week, no one was appointed Littleton, N.H., 40 pages INSIDE 33 Main Street LOCAL INSIDE LOCAL NEWS . .A2 POLICE . .A6 Redington Investigation SPORTS . .B1 CLASSIFIEDS . .B13 EDITORIAL . .A4 FROM THE FRONT .A10 Street Bridge launched into CARTOON . .A4 SPOTLIGHTS . .C1 taken down A7 boycott A2 REAL ESTATE . .B9 OBITUARIES . .A16 LETTERS . .A4 CALENDAR . .C6 A2 THE LITTLETON COURIER, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2011 Local News Business owner plans to sue town for right to know made it to the state level there.” Town Manager Fred tions. The investigation, and an SEA attorney stating Town launches where the SEA’s board of Sourgiadakis submitted a Moody said Monday that the which is being led by that if the town released directors voted on the meas- “right to know” request at investigation is specifically Captain Chris Tyler, is these documents, they investigation ure. the April 6 selectmen’s meet- regarding the police depart- already underway, he said, would sue. “We know that it originat- ing, asking the town to initi- ment’s involvement in the and should take a few “You’re telling me that the into police ed from here,” said ate an independent investi- boycott, and will not look weeks. The results of the SEA union is running our Sourgiadakis, who believes gation into the conduct of further into the Facebook investigation will be town,” he said.