Windham News : Salem

Windham, Salem trail areas ripe for recreation and development, say proponents

Salem Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:21:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

When Kay and Jon Normington turned an old Victorian home not far from the long since abandoned Manchester and Lawrence Railroad line into a country store five years ago, they had no idea what would be coming down the tracks.

Since then, much of the former railroad line, which at one time brought passengers, mail and freight loads into Windham, has been put to a new use – a 4.1-mile paved bicycling and pedestrian path that will someday link Salem with Derry.

Though folks using the path were already stopping by for a bite to eat, the Normingtons said plans to rehabilitate the exterior of the town’s two decaying depot buildings and turn the area just around the corner from their Kitchen at Windham Junction into a trailhead have got them excited.

“It used to be the heartbeat of the town,” Normington said, standing beside a collection of photographs and postcards from a time when the now quiet intersection just around the bend from the railroad station was home to a sawmill, cider press, post office and general store.

“(With the buildings repaired) this will become a destination again. It’s an asset to the rail trail. This brings business to the rail trail just as they bring customers to us. It works both ways,” she said. “This is a jewel in our town. It’s different and unique, and we’re lucky to have it.”

Using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Mark Samsel, chairman of Windham’s Depot Advisory Committee and a member of the Windham Rail Trail Alliance, expects stabilization work on the exterior to begin sometime late fall or early next spring. That will include removing several additions put onto the buildings in the 1960s, doing some electrical work and putting on a new coat of paint. Samsel envisions the Windham Depot and the railroad line returning to a transportation connection with commuters, tourists and residents flowing back and forth from Derry through Windham and into Salem.

“It was an asset that I don’t think many people in town realized was there. They weren’t aware of it,” he said. “When the trail was developed, the trailhead (was) where people parked and that’s where we draw people to now, they’re recognizing the buildings ... Now it’s gained importance and awareness. There is a lot more interest in that area.”

Spreading to Salem The project in Windham to revitalize the railroad line and the depot buildings has been successful enough to spur on similar efforts in neighboring Salem. Standing outside the once deteriorating Salem Depot building, nestled between a restaurant and a strip mall on the busy corner of Main Street and Route 28, Beverly Glynn points to the Normingtons’ store as an example of what she would like to see develop around the train station once Salem’s section of the rail trail is complete.

“With the help of the rail trail, I think the depot will revitalize some of the businesses here. We’re hoping people will stop by for an ice cream cone and do a little shopping or go to Sal’s for a pizza,” she said. “This was the focal point of Salem at one time, and we’re hoping it will revitalize this area and bring more people into town.”

To date, the town’s Historic Commission has raised about $170,000 of what is estimated to be a $210,000 restoration project, largely through private donations, contributions from local businesses and charity groups and games of chance at the Rockingham Park race track, according to Henry LaBranche, spokesman.

The group is hoping to raise a further $70,000 from local businesses in the next six months through a state tax credit program.

LaBranche hopes the twoyear long project will be done this fall, but said that the work was completely dependent upon donations. When finished, the depot will house a transportation museum highlighting the town’s history, space for a second tenant and a public restroom for the bikeped corridor.

While the intersection still retains the “depot” name associated with the railroad – which once took hundreds of spectators to the races at Rockingham Park – the rail line stopped carrying passengers in 1953 after more than 100 years of operation.

All that remains now are a few feet of partially buried trolley car tracks and rusted nails, but the depot intersection retains notoriety as one of the most highly trafficked roadways in town.

Supporters of Salem’s Bike-Ped Corridor believe – as do their counterparts in Windham – that the paved path along the railroad will eventually serve as a transportation conduit through the region, replacing the old railway while taking cars off of the road. To that end, the group has partnered with Windham and Derry rail trail advocates to apply for a state transportation enhancement grant that would fund a 10-mile path connecting the three towns and running right through the Windham and Salem depots.

“We’ll have a very nice transportation corridor tying two major park and ride locations at Exit 2 in Salem and Exit 5 in Derry, and a lot of people could commute short distances by bike,” said David Topham, spokesman for the Salem group. “If this was developed from Salem to Derry and then on to Manchester, this becomes a tourist-type destination and money comes into the state and the town. People will travel to ride a bicycle on a rail trail because they feel a lot safer there than on the road and with that comes money – they have to eat.”

Oddly enough, Topham said most of the opposition to the bike-ped corridor plan has come from “railroad buffs,” people who want to see the trains running from Lawrence to Manchester once again and are concerned the project could derail any attempts to bring the railroad back. He believes that the bikeway – which runs parallel to Interstate 93 – will preserve the once vital railroad bed for any future use.

“There are the railroad buffs out there who say the only use for an old rail corridor is to put trains on it again ... By using the corridor for bike-ped use, the corridor is being kept in (condition),” he said. “If trains came back, it is right there.”

Jet skis collide on Cobbetts Pond

Salem Editor — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:02:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Fire Department Marine units were in the “right place at the right time” to help a Goffstown man after he collided with another jet ski on Cobbetts Pond in Windham on July 5, according to Fire Chief Thomas McPherson.

Two firefighters and a deputy chief had been deployed on the pond in the department’s 14-foot boat with a third firefighter on a jet ski in advance of the town’s annual fireworks display when reports began coming in around 8 p.m. that two watercrafts had collided and left multiple victims in the water, McPherson said. Originally scheduled for Friday, July 3, the town’s Fourth of July celebration was postponed until July 5.

“Every year for the fireworks we have a detail on the water to go around and promote boater safety during the fireworks,” McPherson said. “Certainly in this instance it’s proven to be an asset to have that unit. We were able to be in the right place at the right time to immediately render medical assistance.”

Firefighters already on the pond responded to the scene and found 23-year-old Jeffrey LeMay of Goffstown in the water without visible injuries. 19-year-old Jonathan LeMay, also of Goffstown, had already been pulled up into a waiting pontoon boat, according to officials.

McPherson said the younger LeMay was semiconscious and vomiting, suffering from a severe laceration to his head.

Though emergency responders began immediately performing first aid, officials had LeMay transported by ambulance to nearby Griffin Park where he was flown to the Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

Jeffrey LeMay was evaluated, but refused treatment at the scene, according to officials. Authorities have not confirmed whether the two men are related.

According to Sgt. Joshua Dirth of the New Hampshire Marine Patrol, LeMay is in stable condition. The accident remains under investigation and authorities have not yet ruled out alcohol or drugs as a factor in the collision, he said.

The collision is the first accident involving a personal watercraft on record in the state this year.

McPherson said this is the second time the department’s marine unit has responded to an emergency on the pond.

About two years ago a firefighter on the department’s personal watercraft was able to retrieve a young girl struggle in the water and bring her to shore, he said.

The jet ski is kept docked on the town beach during the summer months. According to McPherson, both the boat – fully equipped with medical supplies – and the personal watercraft are inspected on a weekly basis and tested on the water once a month.

Salem officials struggle to solve budget shortfall

Salem Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:06:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Looking between a projected budget shortfall of nearly $400,000 and hopes of keeping the tax rate flat this year, at least one selectman is keeping the possibility of layoffs on the table.

Gov. John Lynch may have backed away from a budget proposal that would have cut state funding to Salem by as much as $1.7 million, but reductions in the level of funding from Concord for retired firefighters and police officers continues to be a concern for local officials as they look toward setting the town’s tax rate in October.

While about $1.3 million has been restored to the town in state funding in the form of a portion of the rooms and meals tax, officials are still trying to find ways to make up the difference. Since learning about the potential shortfall, the town has maintained a hiring freeze, according to Town Manager Jonathan Sistare.

The move has kept four vacant positions open and freed up $317,292 that would otherwise go toward salaries and benefits, but that still leaves the town with an unanticipated shortfall of roughly $100,000 and puts into doubt whether a commitment made by officials to keep the town’s tax rate flat this year is still a possibility.

“My main thing is find that $100,000 and we don’t want to do layoffs, but if we have to look at it, we have to look at it,” said Selectman Patrick Hargreaves.

Though Hargreaves would rather see the town cut hours or minimize the amount of overtime pay – by hiring more parttime town employees without benefits – layoffs in the future remain a possibility.

“If we don’t cut our overtime and if we don’t come up with the shortfall, then we have to look at layoffs,” he said. “It’s a last resort.”

The shortfall also prompted board Chairman Arthur Barnes to call on the town manager to review the current staff level and evaluate the importance of the four open positions to determine whether cuts should be made elsewhere to support new hiring.

“Maybe some of the full-time positions need to become part time so we can staff where we need to staff,” Barnes said. In the meantime, officials are also turning to stimulus funds as a way to make up for the missing funds or offset anticipated expenses. About $130,000 in funds have been made available to the town in the form of a grant for energy-efficient improvements around Salem, according to Sistare.

Officials are hoping potential stimulus money will fully finance the cost of one of two bridges in town slated for reconstruction this year, Sistare said.

Selectmen are also considering applying for a program that would support the hiring of three new police officers for three years, with the stipulation that the town retain those officers for one full year after the funding runs out.

Windham-Salem sewer partnership proposed

Salem Editor — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:38:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

A Windham resident and an engineer proposed the town look into working with Salem on sewer lines before making a definite decision on where to install a utility conduit along I-93. Windham’s Board of Selectmen has been pondering whether to install a conduit for future water, sewer, electricity and telecommunication lines.

The state Department of Transportation is in its final design phase for the I-93 project in Windham, and has asked the Windham Board of Selectmen to decide whether they want the conduit installed across the highway or along it before the final design is solidified.

Engineers from the DOT have said the project could cost about $300,000, and has not said they would pay for it. The DOT’s plan would be to install the conduit between the weigh station and Exit 3 on I-93. The town could also wait and bore through the highway themselves, should they so choose, for around the same price.

The area that would benefit the most economically from the utilities would be in the Route 111 corridor area, south of where the DOT has proposed installing the conduit.

Resident Karl Dubay attended the board’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 15, and brought engineer Frank Underwood of Underwood Engineering to discuss with selectmen the possibility of working with Salem in the future to connect their sewer lines with the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District in Lawrence. Dubay said this is something the town should look into before deciding to have the DOT install the conduit.

“We know that there is a connection possibly to Salem. We know that there is a potential tax base there that could benefit from that, but we don’t know a lot behind it,” said Dubay.

According to Underwood, who worked on Salem’s proposed plant expansion in the 1970s, said the agreement between Salem and Lawrence at that time left it open for Windham to possibly connect as well. While doing the study, it was found that expanding Salem’s plant would not be a total solution. Instead, the town decided to connect with Lawrence. At the time, Underwood said, the Lawrence plant was running at less than half of their total capacity.

“Even back in the ’70s, you guys may not have known about it, but there was a study that took a look at regionalization,” Underwood told selectmen. “Salem used that study as the basis to design their advanced treatment plant.”

The agreement between Salem and Lawrence specified lands along the Spicket River watershed, and Salem signed on for 5 million gallons per day worth of capacity. The study concluded their flows would be at about 3.6 million per day, but knowing the Lawrence plant had a total of 5 million available, they signed the agreement for the extra capacity.

According to Underwood, the wording of the agreement, in which Cobbetts Pond, Canobie Lake and Shadow Lake were mentioned, there is about 300,000 gallons worth of capacity factored into the 3.6 million flow calculation that Windham could potentially tap into.

Selectmen Charles McMahon said he would go to Salem on Tuesday, Sept. 16, on a fact-finding mission to explore this as an option.

Underwood said Salem is currently in the design process for phase two of the sewer system on Canobie Lake. Half of the lake is in Salem, and half is in Windham. It would be an ideal time to pursue such a municipal agreement with Salem, he said.

If Windham did go forward and connect sewer lines in that part of town to the Lawrence lines through Salem, the town could qualify for grants associated with protecting the water bodies in that area.

Underwood suggested the board examine the study for themselves, find any information the state may have on the subject and look at their master plan again to see where the need for the conduits really is, and then decide where they should go, and whether a sewer agreement with Salem would work.

“You do concept planning. The idea is that you’ve got enough information where you can actually develop a framework where you can start on a fact-finding approach,” Underwood said.

The board decided to begin studying the project, saying they would look for the money from CTAP funds and would also explore whether the DOT would be willing to fund it.

After transfer, Windham man reaches Olympic trials

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Two years ago, Steve Miller didn’t have a team to swim for. Now, with a strong performance in Omaha, Neb., the Windham resident could find himself with a spot on the most elite team there is.

Miller takes part in the Olympic trials for the United States swim team June 29 through July 6, with an outside chance at finding a spot on the team in the 50-meter and 100- meter freestyle events.

Two years ago, however, the outlook wasn’t as good for Miller, a scholarship student at Rutgers. The school announced it was cutting the men’s swim team, and Miller had to decide whether he should finish his education there – without the water work.

Instead, he transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he quickly became a contributor.

“It would be so hard to walk away from something I put so much time into,” said Miller, who turns 21 June 30. “I think going through an experience like that makes you stronger. That can translate to work in the pool.”

That work in the pool translated to times of 23.34 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle and 51.29 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle, making him eligible to try out for the United States team.

According to Dennis Dale, Minnesota’s head swimming coach, those times indicated Miller’s marked progress.

“He has improved so much over the last year. It’s very impressive,” said Dale of the 2005 New Hampshire state swimmer of the year. “He’s gone from a swimmer who didn’t have times that would score at the Big Ten Championships, and now he’s at the Olympic trials. He has a great work ethic, and obviously talent to go with it.”

Dale said landing Miller from Rutgers was key for his team.

“We were happy when he made the decision to transfer, and even happier when we got to know him better,” said Dale. “He seems to have found a home in Minnesota, and it was a big boost for our program. It was a good pick up for us.”

Recently, Miller and other competitors were in Omaha for a test run of the pool, set up in an arena that holds 12,000 people.

“In other sports at the top end, it’s a little more common to have larger crowds. You’re in the spotlight a little more,” Miller said. “Once every four years we get our time. I’ve obviously never been to a meet of this caliber, so it’ll be amazing and special to be a part of.”

In most qualifying events, the top two finishers earn a spot on the Olympic team, but in the 100 free, the top six earn a roster spot.

Miller knows he faces a difficult challenge, and is trying to remain realistic.

“I’d say my chances are kind of low, but I am really excited to go and do my personal best. I’ve been having a great summer of training and competing,” he said. “I have some time and placement goals I’d like to reach, not really thinking about making the Olympic team per se, just doing my best and getting caught up in that atmosphere.”

Dale has 21 members of his team traveling to Omaha, and he wants to see Golden Gopher swimmers reach the event finals.

“For any of them, it would be a jump to make (the Olympic team), but we have kids who should make the finals,” said the coach. “There’s always people who do things no one ever expected them to do.”

One of Miller’s goals is to simply be able to recall the trials.

“I hope I remember it. Sometimes in such an amazing experience like that, it happens so quickly you don’t have a chance to take it all in,” said Miller, who’ll soon be a senior. “It’s going to be pretty amazing. I can’t imagine – when NBC is there and the house is packed – what it’ll be like.”

Even if he doesn’t have a chance to earn a gold medal with the United States swim team this summer, he knows he still has a team to swim with next year.

“It’s amazing,” said Miller, a Salem High alumnus. “I think when I was back at Rutgers, if you told me I’d be at this level, being there and competing, it’s pretty much just a dream come true to be able to be out there with the big boys.”

Salem, Windham reach tuition agreement

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:31:00 GMT

BY JIM DEVINE

School officials have agreed to tuition terms that would allow Windham to send its junior and senior classes to Salem High School in the fall when it opens its own high school in 2009.

At the Salem School Board’s meeting on April 22, four members ratified the contract that set a tuition formula for the Windham School District to send two high school classes to Salem High after the opening of its own high school in 2009. School Board member Bernard Campbell was out of town at the time of the meeting, according to Superintendent Michael Delahanty.

Windham’s School Board adopted the tuition agreement at a meeting early this month. The tuition formula for school years 2009-10 and 2010- 11 would revert to prior tuition rates reached in past Authorized Regional Enrollment Area agreements between the school districts.

Last year, both boards agreed to terms that assessed a 5 percent premium on per-pupil costs for Windham students to be sent to Salem High during the 2008- 09 year, due to Windham’s delay of opening its high school. The 5 percent, which is expected to total between $500,000 and $600,000, was meant to go toward high school renovation planning costs that was denied by a 2-1 majority at the polls last month.

Since the renovation was delayed, Delahanty said the new agreement went without the added premium but now allows Salem to keep 12 portable classrooms initially owned by Windham for an indefinite time period.

After last year’s tuition negotiation, Salem was obligated to return the portables to the Windham School District if a renovation plan had not been adopted by 2011, Delahanty said. The portables would have possibly allowed renovations to occur more quickly if voters adopted plans in the future.

“Now with the defeat (of the renovation plans), we thought it best to look at an indefinite timeframe to keeping the portables,” Delahanty said.

The final tuition fees are still to be determined when future operational budgets are made final, but it is expected that Windham will save money between opening its high school with two classes while sending the other two to Salem High School, Delahanty said.

Tuition agreement reached in Windham

Salem Editor — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:07:00 GMT

BY JIM DEVINE

School officials have reached a tuition deal for the final classes to attend Salem High School.

In a 4-0 vote on Tuesday, April 1, the new School Board ratified an agreement with Salem that would ensure a tuition contract that would allow next year’s sophomore and junior classes to graduate from Salem High School.

In February, board members voted to open Windham High School in 2009 with just a freshmen and sophomore class while allowing the classes of 2010 and 2011 to finish in Salem. Opening with half the student body in 2009 offers some cost savings on faculty and operation costs, Superintendent Frank Bass said.

In the first school year of 2009-10, the school district would save $642,000, Bass said. In the 2010-11 school year, the school district would show a savings of $337,000.

New School Board member Mark Brockmeier was not present for the meeting, but sent a statement affirming the School Board’s decision to work out a tuition agreement as planned. Bass said the new contract decreases tuition by 3.8 percent from the 2008-09 tuition extension agreement.

Next year’s base rate of $9,275 per pupil would lower to $8,917 per student in the 2009- 10 school year.

The reduction comes from the elimination of a 5 percent penalty Salem enforced after Windham delayed its departure until fall 2009.

Salem argued that the penalty, amounting to about $600,000, would offset increased materials costs for delaying its high school renovation, which would coincide with Windham’s departure.

The additional funds offered little help with the approval of Salem’s renovation project since it failed by a two-to-one majority in last month’s election.

Windham School Board Vice Chairman Bruce Anderson supported the contract but hoped for another agreement to prohibit Salem from approaching next year’s freshmen with an additional tuition deal.

“There’s no way as a board member that I’d support next year’s freshmen to go there,” Anderson said.

School Board member Michael Hatem suggested the board should just agree to not enter tuition agreements beyond 2011.

Man barricades himself in police station bathroom

Salem Editor — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:16:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

A Salem man who barricaded himself in a Windham police station bathroom for more than an hour eventually surrendered to police and was charged with reckless conduct.

Around 6:25 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, James Golden, 40, of 29 Joseph St., Salem, reportedly told a Windham police dispatcher over the phone that his life had been threatened by the mob and that he needed to speak with an officer.

Within minutes, Golden was in the station’s lobby and wanted to enter the building, according to police.

He locked himself in the lobby’s bathroom and told police he wanted to speak with Sgt. Carl Wagner, according to Capt. Patrick Yatsevich.

Yatsevich said Golden had spoken with Wagner a week ago but Yatsevich did not know why. Wagner was called into the station and helped respond to the situation.

Golden could be heard talking on a cellular phone and telling someone that he had a 9 mm handgun in his possession, according to police. Yatsevich said he may have been talking to a coworker.

Several officers secured the lobby and station parking lot so the public was not put in danger. Emergency workers at the fire station were on standby to help in the event of a medical emergency.

Golden, who barricaded himself in the bathroom at 6:28 a.m., surrendered to police at 7:52 a.m. There were no injuries.

A 9 mm gun, magazine and bullets were recovered from the toilet. Golden had tried to flush them, Yatsevich said.

Golden was arraigned in Salem District Court and transferred to Rockingham County House of Corrections where he is being held on $25,000 bail.

It’s your right to know – Not all officials comply with requests for public documents – Windham does best, Pelham, Salem close

Salem Editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:03:00 GMT

BY GINGER KOZLOWSKI

Have you ever wondered how much your child’s teacher is paid? How about what happened at the last school board or selectmen’s meeting? Or whether your neighbor was arrested in that commotion last week?

You have every right to get that information, but it may not be easy to do so.

Neighborhood News investigated accessibility to such public documents by having staffers ask for town and school minutes and salaries as well as the list of arrests and police calls in the previous week.

We did not identify ourselves as reporters in order to see how the general public would be treated when making such requests.

Adhering not only to the letter but also the spirit of the Right to Know Law are Windham and Candia, where town hall workers went out of their way to make sure we had everything we asked for and more.

Overall, the 16 towns in our coverage area do well at releasing minutes of town and school meetings. Ask for salaries or arrests, however, and public servants are protective of this information, some to the point of refusing to release it at all.

The towns which complied immediately with all our requests for town and school minutes and salaries plus a list of arrests were Windham, Pelham, Dunbarton, Hopkinton and New Boston.

Failing our requests were the police departments in Allenstown, Auburn, Bedford, Bow, Goffstown, Hooksett, Pembroke and Weare. The town halls in Allenstown and Bow refused to release town salaries at all, while Bedford, Hooksett and Salem put us off with having to make a request in writing. All 16 town halls immediately gave us minutes for their town council or selectmen meetings.

At the school district offices, all gave us the school minutes we asked for. The Bow, Bedford and Weare SAUs refused to release school salaries, while SAU 66 (Hopkinton), SAU 19 (Goffstown, New Boston and Dunbarton) and SAU 28 (Windham/Pelham) complied. There seemed to be confusion over what we asked for at SAU 15 (Hooksett, Candia and Auburn) and SAU 53 (Pembroke, Allenstown and Epsom), so we did not receive salary information by press time, but they both seemed to be working on the request.

Sentence increased in fatal DWI case

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:06:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

A Salem man who was drunk when he caused the 2005 collision in Windham that claimed the life of a young Derry woman recently had his prison sentence increased.

The New Hampshire Superior Court’s Sentence Review Board increased Jack Webb’s sentence on a negligent homicide charge from five to 10 years to seven-and-a-half to 15 years.

Webb pleaded guilty last year to three felony charges related to the Oct. 30, 2005, collision that claimed the life of
Katelyn Contraros.

Webb’s blood-alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit when his pickup truck crossed the center line on Route 111 near Rocky Ridge Road in Windham and struck the car being driven by Contraros.

Contraros, who was 19, died from severe injuries the following day at a Boston hospital. Two friends riding in her car were injured.

“We were happy. We were worried he’d get a reduction,” said Debbie Contraros, Katelyn’s mother. But she said the sentence increase “doesn’t bring our daughter back.”

Last November, Superior Court Judge Patricia Coffey sentenced Webb to a total of seven to 18 years in prison: five to 10 years on the negligent homicide charge, and one to four years each on two counts of second-degree assault for injuring the passengers.

Prosecutors had dropped three other charges.

Appearing before the sentence review board in June, Webb’s lawyer, Phil Desfosses, argued for a reduced sentence.

According to a published report, Desfosses said that similar cases resulted in less prison time and cited Webb’s lack of a criminal record.

But the board, instead, increased the sentence. Although Coffey was constrained by a capped plea, the sentence review board is not, Judge Peter Fauver wrote in the panel’s June 21 order.

“The board has determined that the increased sentence as indicated above is warranted under the circumstances of this case,” Fauver wrote.

Fauver joined Judge Larry Smukler in the ruling. Judge William Groff, who would have left the sentences as originally imposed, dissented.

The panel did not change the sentences for assault. Webb will lose his driver’s license indefinitely. With the increased sentence for negligent homicide, Webb’s total sentence is between nine-and-a-half to 23 years.

Contraros said her family wasn’t happy they had to go to the sentence review hearing in Concord to “rekindle everything.”

She said she and her family and the two young men injured in the collision will “never be the same again.”

Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams, whose office argued against a reduction, was happy with the ruling.

“For the family, we’re glad the legal process is over and they can pick up the pieces of their lives and they don’t have this hanging over them,” he said.

Desfosses is on vacation and was unavailable for comment.

At the November sentencing, Webb expressed remorse for the pain he had caused.

During the hearing, Katelyn’s friends and relatives described her as fun, caring and loving. Friends of Webb’s described him as a charitable and goodhearted man who helped provide food baskets to the needy and helped send underprivileged kids to camp.

Tuition agreement reached – Amount Windham will be charged for extra year in Salem district to be announced

Salem Editor — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:38:00 GMT

BY MATT HERSH

A high school tuition deal between Salem and Windham has been reached, allowing Windham’s students to stay in Salem for the 2008-09 school year.

Superintendent Michael Delahanty said he and Pelham-Windham Superintendent Elaine Cutler recently formalized a one-year agreement.

The details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed but will be after the School Board votes to approve it later this month.

Though Windham has been moving toward constructing its own high school for several years, progress has been delayed multiple times.

Last school year, the number of Windham students at Salem High School hit an all-time high at 663.

Delahanty said he expects the number to decline over the next few years, citing enrollment projections.

The current agreement between the two towns is set to expire in June 2008. Salem receives $4.6 million per year from Windham.

When construction was delayed last September, the School Board voted to extend Windham’s stay for the 2008-09 school year but agreeing on a tuition amount has been a concern of school officials.

Delahanty said he was glad to finally complete the agreement, especially now that the new fiscal school year has begun.

“I’m pleased that it is behind us,” he said. “We needed to get an idea of what resources will will have to continue to provide for Windham students.”

Delahanty said this process involved looking at population trends and making sure the district would be able to adequately serve the incoming students.

Cutler officially retired at the end of last month, but will remain on duty for a brief time as an adviser to the district’s new superintendent.

Members of the School Board also were relieved to be finished with the agreement, since it has taken many hours of staff time.

“It made a lot of sense to try and get it done now,” said board member Peter Morgan. “It’s good that we finished it now rather than start negotiations again with a new superintendent.”

Morgan said the the board plans to sign the agreement at their next meeting on July 17. He doesn’t anticipate much discussion on the matter since the board has already reviewed the agreement.

“Unless (Windham) changed anything, I would say it is just a formality to sign it at this point,” he said.

Drive for Knight – Hundreds turn out to raise money for Windham officer

Salem Editor — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:13:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

While the lights of his Windham police motorcycle flashed, officer Scott Rogers led a long line of motorcycle riders in the “Knight Ride.”

The trip – from Windham to the seacoast and ending in Salem – was part of a benefit to help Windham officer Mark Knight, who is battling liver cancer.

The morning ride and an afternoon barbecue drew hundreds of supporters on Saturday, June 23.

“It was truly an amazing turnout,” said Windham officer Jessica Flynn, one of the event organizers. “I was very happy about it.”

Knight was diagnosed with cancer in July 2006. He underwent surgery to have a cancerous tumor removed, then spent several months receiving chemotherapy and radiation.

He recently ended his treatments but learned the cancer had spread to his liver. Knight, a former Salem resident, has been a patrolman for Windham for seven years. He and his wife, Jennifer, have a 6-year-old daughter.

“He’s highly respected and liked,” Flynn said. “We wanted to do something to show how much he’s respected and loved, and we want him to get better.”

The ride started at Park Place Lanes in Windham, and concluded at the Derry-Salem Elks Lodge in Salem, where the barbecue was held. Many of the people there wore “Knight Ride 2007” T-shirts.

“This is the best run I’ve been on my whole life,” said Mike Hanson of Salem who’s been biking 35 years. “I’ve been on a ton of runs, and this was one of the biggest.”

Tom Lannan of Derry drove Knight for about 40 miles of the trip in a blue Corvette. Knight later spent some time at the barbecue. Lannan said he thinks his friend was overwhelmed by the number of people who came to show their support.

The bike ride drew nearly 350 riders and approximately 200 people attended the barbecue, according to Flynn. A portion of the money raised will benefit the American Cancer Society.

The benefit drew fellow police officers from several communities, local firefighters and elected officials, friends of Knight, and people who have done business with him.

Several people praised Knight as an exceptionally nice person.

“That’s why you see the turnout you see here,” Rogers said. “He’s touched so many lives in so many ways. A great, stand-up guy.”

The barbecue featured a performance by the New Hampshire Police Association Pipes and Drums and a silent auction.

“Grab a pen, put a bid in,” DJ Butch, the deejay for the event, urged the crowd. “Great stuff.”

Among the items up for bid were a New England Patriots helmet signed by player Rodney Harrison, 18 holes of golf for four players at Windham Country Club, an autographed photo of Red Sox player David Ortiz, passes to Canobie Lake Park, a limousine ride to a Godsmack concert for four people and a Coca-Cola clock.

Salem Sgt. Steve Malisos was the highest bidder, at $250, for a framed set of photographs, “Boston’s Greatest Sports Brawls.”

Malisos graduated with Knight in 1985 from Salem High School where they played baseball together. His brother, Greg, is a colleague of Knight’s at the Windham Police Department.

Malisos said he attended the benefit to support Knight and his family.

“I know this money was going to help him,” Malisos said. “The police community – we rally around each other and help out.”

Charge dropped – Shooter acted in self-defense, prosecutor says

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:45:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Prosecutors have dropped an assault charge filed against a Salem man, saying he acted in self-defense when he shot his Windham stepbrother last month.

Frank Meisel, 42, of 7 Cluff Road, Salem, fired a single shot from a .38 revolver when David E. Richardson swung a club at his head, according to a statement issued by Rockingham County Attorney James Reams.

Richardson, of 22 Roulston Road, Windham, had earlier made threats to harm Meisel, said Reams.

The shooting occurred on March 1 at Windham Auto Body at 47 Roulston Road in Windham.

Earlier in the day, Richardson was drunk when he went to the auto body shop and got into a fight with Meisel, said Reams.

Neither man suffered injuries and did not want to press charges against the other when Windham police responded to the first altercation, according to Reams.

A witness at the auto body shop saw both fights. Richarson, who underwent surgery at a Boston hospital, has refused to release medical records and was uncooperative with investigators, according to the statement.

“As the details began to emerge from the interviews, the Windham Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police worked tirelessly to reach the truth of the shooting, and the preliminary conclusion was that the evidence and the witnesses corroborate that Meisel acted in self-defense,” Reams said in the statement. “However, given the refusal of the victim to cooperate, we can not justify putting further resources into this case.”

Trial set for Windham shooting case – Salem defendant faces assault charge

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:30:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

A Salem man accused of shooting his stepbrother at a Windham auto body shop is scheduled to go on trial next month.

Frank Meisel, 42, 7 Cluff Road, Salem, faces a misdemeanor simple assault charge for allegedly shooting David Richardson in the chest with a handgun on March 1 at Windham Auto Body on Roulston Road.

Richardson, of 22 Roul-ston Road, Windham, underwent surgery at a Boston hospital.

The trial is set for Tuesday, May 8, in Salem District Court. Meisel has pleaded not guilty.

Windham police said they responded to an altercation between the men at the auto body shop prior to the shooting. Meisel asked police to order Richardson to stay off his property.

Richardson returned later in the day and was allegedly shot by Meisel, according to police.

The case is under review by the Windham Police Department and the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office, and Meisel could face more charges, said Heather Newell, police prosecutor.

‘A great season’ – Windham, Salem players lead Guertin to title

Salem Editor — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:29:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

The Bishop Guertin hockey team was a haunted bunch.

Shouldering the expectations to win a Division I state title after a second consecutive 15-1 regular season, the Cardinals were well aware of their past – three straight quarterfinal exits – and how a run to the state championship could change all that. But, Cardinals coach Gary Bishop said, it wasn’t just about getting there.

“This year, from the beginning, our goal was to win,” he said. “We weren’t going to be happy just being there. We wanted to win it. The difference between a good season and a great season is this victory.”

Chalk this up as a great season.

Behind 21 saves from senior goalie and Windham native Taylor Wood and two first-period scores, including one from Salem native Zach Bradanick, the Cardinals exorcised their playoff demons on Sunday, March 11, beating Bishop Brady, 2-1, in the Division I title game in front of more than 1,500 fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The top-seeded Cardinals, finishing 23-1 overall and 18-1 against New Hampshire opponents, scored twice in the first 6:46 of the game before settling in defensively in the final p eriod to hold off Brady.

The Giants scored their lone goal 1:30 into the second period and controlled play throughout the final two frames,
outshooting Guertin, 18-10, in the span and nearly tying it 4:47 into the third when Chris Hickey’s shot snuck past Wood and off the post.

But, with Brady’s goalie pulled for an extra skater, Guertin to capture its first state crown since 2001 and third this decade. As importantly, it helped erase the memory from last year’s quarterfinal loss to Berlin, perhaps the most painful of Guertin’s early round losses in recent years.

“That game haunted us this year,” said Wood, who earned Division I Player of the Year honors but will play baseball, not hockey, at Cornell University . “This was a good way to go out for hockey.”

It was sweet redemption for Wood especially, who in years past has watched opposing goalies spell the end of the Guertin’s season. This year, however, it was he who ultimately stole it from No. 2 Brady.

“It’s different,” Bishop said. “We always have had a pretty good goalie, but I think this year he was the difference. He didn’t have to make a ton of saves (on Sunday), but when he had to, he made them.”

Helping matters was Bradanick, a first-team all-state defenseman who led all Division I blueliners in scoring during the regular season with 23 points.

Playing up into the Brady zone early in the first period, Bradanick picked up the puck left by teammate and Salem Saints product Zach Musgrave, slid through the left faceoff circle and wristed a low, hard shot past Giants goalie Tyler Ingerson for a 1-0 lead.

A period later, the BG junior saved a potential score, diving across his own blue line to pull back a pass, foiling a sure Brady breakaway with 1:10 left in the second frame.

“He anchors the team,” said Brady coach Clint Edinger of Bradanick.

It’s a team, no doubt, that just finished a great season.