BY DERRICK PERKINSWhen it comes to adopting an overarching set of guidelines on whether town property could play host to political events, local political parties are reaching across the aisle. According to Laurel Redden, chairman of the Salem Democratic Town Committee, her organization received varying responses from town officials when they ...

BY DERRICK PERKINS Republican Marilinda Garcia handily defeated rival Democrat Sheila Murray in the April 28 District 4 special election for the vacant seat in the state House of Representatives. Garcia secured 2,050 votes in District 4 – comprising Windham and Salem – to Murray’s 1,250, according to polling results ...

BY DERRICK PERKINS Sarah Palin, Republican nominee for vice president, wrapped up her first trip to New Hampshire before a crowd of several thousand supporters and onlookers filling almost half of Salem’s high school football field on Oct. 15. Introduced by Sen. John Sununu, congressional candidate Jennifer Horn and Shonda ...

By Darrell Halen  A $7.3 million proposal to build a new police station was unanimously backed by Salem selectmen and appears to have the support of most Budget Committee members. Plans call for a 26,000-square-foot building that would be constructed behind the current station. The new facility is being requested to accommodate a ...

BY MATT HERSH Salem voters have approved the school district’s $49,849,647 budget and more than $1 million in additional warrant articles. Despite public criticism of the district’s budget by some members of the public, voters passed it by a 1,824-1,234 margin. “Obviously, I’m grateful to the voters of Salem who ...

BY MATT HERSH Salem’s Election Day may be over but there are still several issues for residents to consider at the town’s second deliberative session. Planned for 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, at Salem High School, the session will give voters a chance to weigh in on a number of warrant articles that were not on the ballot. Like ...

BY MATT HERSH After the filing of a petition warrant to change the Salem Zoning Board of Adjustment to an elected body rather than appointed, several members are saying they would not run for a position. Dan Norris, the vice-chairman of the board, said if voters change the member process, his name will not likely appear on the ...

By Matt Hersh Staff Writer After a unanimous vote by selectmen, Salem’s tax rate will jump 6.6 percent from last year. The rate, which was set by the state Department of Revenue Administration at $12.62 per $1,000 of assessed value, is a decrease from last year’s $22.06 but it won’t lower tax ...

By Matt Hersh Staff Writer Observer/Matt Hersh Salem Board of Selectmen Chairman Michael J. Lyons discusses the issue of membership fees with senior citizens at the Ingram Senior Center on Wednesday, September 27. After a complaint by a Budget Committee member, more than $9,000 in Salem Senior Center ...