www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com Publishing news & views of Lancaster, Groveton, Whitefield, Lunenburg & other towns of the upper Connecticut River valley of New Hampshire & Vermont [email protected] VOL. CXLIV, NO. 13 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011 LANCASTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE TELEPHONE: 603-788-4939 THIRTY TWO PAGES 75¢ Eminent domain bill goes to House floor today or tomorrow Could halt hoped-for its way through a lengthy permit- ting process. Coös Loop upgrade Northern Pass spokesman Martin Murray explained, howev- By Edith Tucker er, that the bill’s dependence on [email protected] “reliability” as its key element could also have the unintended CONCORD — The amended consequence of stymieing a re- eminent domain bill (House Bill build of the Coös Loop. Business 648) designed to stymie the $1.1 leaders and elected officials have billion Northern Pass Transmis- been enthusiastic about making sion project as proposed will be Coös more robust — capable of brought to the House floor today exporting “green” electricity — or tomorrow for a vote by the Sci- biomass or wind — to Massachu- ence, Technology, and Energy setts and Connecticut from re- PHOTO BY EDITH TUCKER PHOTO BY EDITH TUCKER Congressman Charlie Bass said at his March 22 town hall meeting in Committee, explained the bill’s newable energy projects in Berlin, Congressman Charlie Bass mingled with the 55 constituents on hand prime sponsor, Rep. Larry Rappa- at the March 22 town hall meeting in Jefferson, including WMRHS Jefferson that he plans to meet with Coös constituents once a month, the Unincorporated Places, or freshman Adam Noyes. thanks to the new schedule adopted by the House of Representatives. port of Colebrook, in a Sunday elsewhere. telephone call. Rappaport, however, dis- Work on House bills must be counts his concern. He wrote the completed by the end of March 33. Committee’s recommendation: Bass discusses Berlin prison, NPT, HB 648, designed to limit emi- “This bill, as amended, will pro- nent domain petitions by public hibit public utilities from petition- utilities only to those being built ing the Public Utilities Commis- to bolster “reliability,” received an foreign policy at town hall meeting sion (PUC) for permission to take “ought to pass with amendment” private land or property rights for By Edith Tucker Tuesday, March 22, at town hall. that the horrific events in Tucson, Bass said he is not fearful and on an 11 to 4 vote, apparently be- construction or operation of an [email protected] The congressman said he ex- Ariz., in which Rep. Gabrielle Gif- will not change how he interacts cause Committee members em- electric transmission facility so pects to come to Coös every fords was severely wounded and with the public in any way. Earli- pathized with constituent and long as the transmission facility is JEFFERSON — Rep. Charlie month, thanks to a new schedule others killed or wounded, would er that afternoon Bass strolled community concerns about being not needed for system reliability.” Bass, a Republican of Peterbor- adopted by the House of Repre- make elected officials and their through Shaw’s Supermarket and in limbo for two or more years Bill, PAGE A10 ough, brought his “Democracy on sentatives in Washington. constituents too fearful to mingle F. B. Spaulding in Lancaster. while the proposed project winds the Road” to 55 constituents on He had feared, Bass explained, informally. Coös County Sheriff Gerry Marcou and Deputy Sheriff Keith Roberge were, however, at the WMRSD towns lead Coos in population growth back of the room. Right up front, Bass ad- By Edith Tucker tween these two, increasing its pop- 1990. Grand Hotels in which deep-pocked in population or minus 6.2 from [email protected] dressed two topics of high local ulation by an even 10 percent to Whitefield’s population rose by investors “from away” have invest- 2000 to 2010, reaching a 50-year low interest: the federal prison in rise from 1,006 to 1,107. 13.2 percent in the last decade, ris- ed millions of dollars to attract new of 2,288 in 2010. Berlin for which there currently CONCORD — The long-awaited Lancaster, the county seat, rose ing by 268 to climb from 2,038 to clients, and this could well have Stratford experienced the high- are no activation or operating 2010 census numbers for the by 6.9 percent and just barely broke 2,306. This is the second-highest made the difference. est percentage loss in Coös at mi- funds available; and the pro- state’s cities and towns are now the 3,500 mark. Its population rose percentage population increase in Towns that have experienced nus 20.8 percent. The town lost 196 posed Northern Pass Transmis- available. by 227, rising from 3,280 to 3,507. Coös County over the decade 2000 population losses are those most people, dropping from 942 in 2000 sion project to bring a $1.1 billion Coös County’s population was This is almost as many people as to 2010. closely tied to the now-shuttered to 746 in 2010. 1,200 megawatt high-voltage line virtually stable during the past lived in Lancaster at its 50-year Both towns have one economic mills and manufacturing jobs. WMRSD, PAGE A10 from Pittsburg to Franklin and decade, 2000 to 2010. Its percent- high-water mark of 3,522, tallied in factor in common; they both boast Northumberland dropped 150 Deerfield. age share of the state’s population The correctional facility was continues to decline, however. constructed at “an inopportune Fifty years ago in 1960, six per- Caught after falling through the cracks time,” he said, because there is cent of the state’s population lived no appropriation for it under the in the northernmost county; but By Jonathan Benton schrodt. “There’s no homeroom, [email protected] Continuing Resolution (CR). today, less than three percent live no in-between periods, no study Without a 2011 budget, the CR is there the state the Office of Energy LANCASTER — While the ma- halls and no lunch periods. “They based on a continuation of pro- and Planning pointed out in a re- jority of people went to public go to work for three hours show grams in the 2010 budget. Since cent press release. school or a least a similar type of up on time work hard for those the Berlin prison was then under Coös County’s total population learning format there are still three hours and then you’re off.” construction, only capital funds rose by a mere 50 people in the those of us that don’t fit into the The NCCA has two sites, one for it were in that budget. decade 2000 to 2010, rising from model even if they are competent in Lancaster and one in Littleton Bass pledged to work with the 32,936 in 2000 to 32,961 in 2010. members of society — and that’s each with two sessions per day, rest of New Hampshire’s Con- The five towns that make up the where the North Country Charter 8:30-11:30 and 11:30-2:30, and gressional delegation to find a White Mountains Regional School Academy (NCCA) comes in. take in students from all over the way to secure the needed funds District have all increased in popu- An onlooker to the NCCA in North Country. as quickly as possible. lation over the decade, 2000 to Lancaster will notice as they first Most students that the NCCA “There’s a changing chem- 2010, even though the school pop- enter the lack of noise save for helps have a risk of dropping out istry in Washington,” he said. ulation has dropped. the clicking of a mouse of the the and are referred by a school guid- Twice Bass dubbed that change The town of Carroll’s popula- tapping of a keyboard. There are ance counselor, unless already “a marathon” rather than “a tion shot up 15.1 percent, rising by up to 15 students looking intent- dropped out. As long as a sprint.” an even 100, to 763 up from 663. ly at computer screens with every prospective student applies be- Bass predicted that the North- This was the largest percentage in- student working on something: fore their 22 birthday they have a PHOTO BY JONATHAN BENTON NCCA student Lana Desgroseilliers gets some helpful aid from Debbie Reynolds crease of any town in Coös County. art history, biology, English or chance to learn. Bass, PAGE A18 Dalton’s population rose by 5.6 even chemistry. “The majority of students are was at the high school realized he “You don’t have the hassle or the percent, rising by 52 from 927 to “Basically what we’ve done is older and need just 8-10 credits,” wasn’t going to pass English, but drama of who’s with this guy 979 — still did not quite reach sugared off all of the social pieces said Debbie Reynolds who works is scheduled to graduate in June. who’s with this girl.” How the 1,000. of high school,” said Lancaster at the NCAA. “Our high school “The academy was another According to Kleinschrodt the Jefferson split the difference be- NCCA Director Scott Klein- diplomas go by NH regulations so option to me, a better option for the biggest difference from pub- week went they have to earn 20 credits. The me because I personally like the lic school is seat time versus com- WMRHS requirement is 24 cred- situation here it’s like a job you petency based time. March madness! Facebook photo contest winner its. What they do is come in and come in, you clock in and you do see what credits they need, Joe’s your work,” said Joe Roberge.