FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012
VOL. 20 NO. 190
BERLIN, N.H.
752-5858
FREE
Snowmobiler dies in Committee cuts budget, accident in Milan but doesn’t say where
MILAN -- A Massachusetts man died in a snowmobile crash in Milan, N.H., at approximately 10 p.m. Wednesday, February 8. The crash occurred on trail 109 in Milan near Hagar Road. Kenneth Smalley, Jr., age 51, of North Billerica, Massachusetts, lost control of his snow machine on a corner, causing him to go off of the trail and hit several trees. Smalley was the last rider in a group of four snowmobiles. The third rider noticed the lights of Smalley’s snow machine in some odd angles in his rearview mirror, and turned around to investigate, along with the others in his party. They found Smalley in some trees in criti-
cal condition. They immediately called 911 and, following instructions from the 911 operator, started cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Smalley’s injuries were too extensive, however, and he died on the scene. Smalley was wearing a helmet. New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers and Milan Fire and Rescue, Milan Ambulance, Stark Fire and Rescue, and Groveton Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the accident. The accident is still under investigation by N.H. Fish and Game. There did not appear to be any obvious contributing factors.
BY MELISSA GRIMA THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM — The Gorham Budget Committee did not present their proposed budget to the voters on Wednesday evening. Instead, they tasked each department head with presenting their department’s budget as presented by the selectmen in a move that stretched the annual budget hearing to six and a half hours. As a result of those votes, the budget presented to the voters at town meeting will reflect decreases beyond the preliminary cuts the committee had recommended to the selectmen’s proposed budget. The board agreed to cut the budget to $3,614,918 — taking an additional $145,530 from their
own preliminary budget — on a vote of 6-4 on a motion made by committee member Jeff Schall. No recommendation or explanation was offered as to where the committee felt the cuts could responsibly be absorbed or what services or personnel would suffer the cut if passed. It was around 1 a.m., when the committee cast their final vote on the warrant articles to an all but empty room that had been filled with around 130 residents at the start of the session. The public hearing lasted until 11:18 p.m., and the committee reconvened their meeting at 11:31 to take their votes to recommend or not recommend. While they went down each article on the warrant for see BUDGET page 18
Reading strong, writing lags in SAU 20 NECAP results BY MELISSA GRIMA THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM — The State Department of Education has released the results of the annual New England Common Assessment Program and schools in SAU 20 performed well, with a few areas for improvement identified. “I’m pretty pleased across the board with how we did in the SAU,” said superintendent Paul Bousquet. He noted that math scores at the high school and writing scores overall showed room for improvement, but district-wide reading and math
scores showed a majority of students testing at proficient or above proficient levels. Sixth graders at Ed Fenn School stood out in math with 96 percent of those students scoring proficient or above. Students in grades 3-8 and grade 11 take the NECAP tests in reading, and mathematics in October. At this time, students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are also tested in writing. Their scores are rated as indications of proficiency in the subject tested. Scores are reported as Substantially Below Proficient, Partially Proficient, Proficient, and Profisee NECAP page 19
Commissioners finalize budget for delegation’s approval BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
Kloey Valliere, 10, recently chopped off 10.5 inches of her hair and donated it to Locks Of Love. This is the first time she does this and has been waiting for her hair to reach the required length for almost a year now.
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WEST STEWARTSTOWN –- The Coos County commissioners made their final 2012 budget revisions Wednesday and will present to the delegation for its approval a $31.6 million budget. The amount to be raised by taxes is up $1,018,160 or 7.7 percent.
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The commission managed to reduce the amount to be raised by taxes 1.1 percent from the 8.8 percent figure presented at its public budget hearing in December. The delegation is scheduled to meet on Saturday, March 10 at the Coos County Nursing Home in Berlin to approve a final budget.
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