WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 16
No money in federal budget agreement for Berlin prison BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN – The federal budget agreement does not contain funding to activate the federal prison in Berlin, meaning its opening is delayed until U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen yesterday reported that the budget agreement does not contain money to operate the Berlin prison, which was scheduled to begin hiring correctional officers this month. The agreement runs through Sept. 30 – the end of the federal 2011 fiscal year. Shaheen said she will work to get the funds in the 2012 fiscal budget. “I am committed to seeing that
funding for the Berlin prison is included in next year’s budget,” Shaheen said. “Right now, we have a $276 million state-of-the-art prison already built. Now we’re spending an additional $4 million a year to keep the empty building open. That’s not fiscally responsible,” she said. While disappointed, local officials said they will use the time to get people and businesses ready to work for and do business with the Bureau of Prisons. “This is bad news for the entire region. We were looking for more jobs there. We’ve been waiting and see MONEY page 15
City close to PILT agreement with Laidlaw BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN -- The city and Laidlaw Berlin BioPower/Berlin Station LLC are close to finalizing a payment in lieu of taxes agreement for the proposed 75-megawatt biomass plant. The 20-year agreement would include annual payments in lieu of property taxes as well as annual fees for use of city water and sewer systems Mayor Paul Grenier told the
city council Monday night the city has “a blueprint of an agreement with Laidlaw” and expects it will be completed in one more session. Once the agreement is finalized, it must then go to the city council for approval. The water commission must also approve the water fee. Payments in lieu of taxes (or PILT) agreements are not uncommon for large renewable energy projects. Coos County signed one with Granite Reliable Power for see PILT page 8
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Photographer Mark Ducharme has produced this collage for the middle of the local Monopoly Game being produced by CAP Transportation as a fund-raiser.
Get ready for Androscoogin Valley Monopoly BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN – Monopoly is one of the most popular board games in history and soon an Androscoggin Valley version will be on the market. Tri-County Community Action Program’s Transportation Program is developing the localized version as a fund-raiser for its transit operation. Overseeing the effort are CAP Transportation Director Beverly Raymond and Administrative Assistant Gayle Lawhorn. For those unfamiliar with Monopoly,
the game has as its goal forcing opposing players into bankruptcy by collecting ‘monopolies’ of certain properties. Instead of names like Marvin Gardens and North Carolina Avenue on the 40 squares that make up the board, CAP is selling naming rights to local businesses and organizations at a cost between $200 and $500 per square. Both the square and title card will bear the name of the local business. The higher priced properties on the board (i.e. Park Place) will cost more than low priced properties such see MONOPOLY page 8
State releases yearly assessment Fire, EMS depts restarting Explorer program reports for area public schools BY CRAIG LYONS
BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN — The annual assessment reports for New Hampshire schools yielded mixed results for schools in the Androscoggin Valley. The Ed Fenn Elementary School, Gorham Middle School, Milan Village School and the Errol Con-
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solidated Elementary School meet adequate yearly progress in reading mathematics; Gorham High School and Berlin Junior High met requirements in at least one area; and Brown Elementary School, Hillside Elementary School and Berlin High School didn’t meet see ASSESSMENT page 14
THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM— The Gorham Emergency Medical Services and Fire Department are opening their doors to youth from the Androscoggin Valley for a chance to see what it’s like to work as a firefighter or paramedic. The two departments are restarting the Explorer program that gives youths between the ages of 14- 20 a chance to
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work with the departments and possibly pursue a career in those fields. The departments will host an informational meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the fire station to introduce anyone interested to the program. Derek Palmeri, who’s helping coordinate the program, said he’s looking forward to getting Explorer Post 60 going again. see EXPLORER page 14
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