Local and regional news

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CAHS Executive Director Stepping Down

Soon to be former Executive Director of the Conway Area Humane Society Virginia Moore has announced her resignation of the non-profit. Moore made first mention of the decision in a social media post this past Saturday saying, “The shelter and I have decided that we are going in different directions and it is best to part ways.” She also made note of all the people she wanted to thank for the 14 year journey and stated that she wished the best to all the staff who, “dedicate their lives to walking, cleaning up after, feeding and loving the cats and dogs who end up in the shelter’s care through no fault of their own.” Today the Conway Area Humane Society’s facebook page made its own announcement thanking Virginia for her tireless dedication and explaining they didn’t announce her resignation until now so that she could make the announcement on her own in her own way.

 

 

 

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Conway Resident Shuts Down I-93

New Hampshire State Police report a Conway man accidentally crashed a dump truck into an overpass on I-93. Police say the man was southbound on Interstate 93 around Exit 17W when the dump truck he was driving lifted the dump body into the upright position. The reason for it lifting into the upright position remains unknown. The raised dump body then struck the Hoit Road Bridge and scattered debris, including the dump body, across the road. Three other vehicles were impacted by the incident. No serious injuries were reported but several people were taken to the hospital as a precaution and the Interstate was shut down for bridge repairs. The event remains under investigation and the Conway Driver has been issued a summons for negligent driving.

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Chocorua Fire Closes Route 16

 

Firefighters worked to combat a fire at 11 Runnells Hall Road in the early afternoon today. Route 16 had to be temporarily shutdown so that firehoses could be run across the road. The building appears to be the former location of Mari’s Treasures in Chocorua. American Red Cross New Hampshire and Vermont reported having trained volunteers on scene to assist and promised to provide food, shelter, clothing, mental health counseling and referral services as needed.

Picture Contribution from local resident and Innkeeper of The Farmstand: Kimball Packard.

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Daylight Savings Time

Daylight savings time begins this Sunday bringing back the recurring discussion: Why do we even do this? The concept of daylight savings can be observed going back into ancient times in various forms to address the fact that with the shifting seasons comes different lengths of daylight. Livescience reports that modern daylight savings was first suggested by Benjamin Franklin to merge the changing daylight hours with mechanical clocks that always kept the same schedule. Today’s daylight savings time goes back to the Uniform Time Act of 1966 but as everyone’s sleep becomes disrupted twice a year in a time when electric lighting is available at any hour, people debate the necessity.

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Executive Order on Veteran Suicide

Yesterday President Trump signed an Executive Order called the ‘National Initiative to Empower Veterans and End Veteran Suicide.’ It creates a task force to identify ways the government can help cut down on the number of veterans committing suicide every day. The transition from being in the service to being a civilian can be a daunting one. Veterans often go into the military at a critical time for job training, spend years acquiring skills that are hard to translate to civilian life, and sometimes even experience traumatic events that will stay will them for the rest of their lives. A veteran commits suicide once every 65 minutes. That’s an average of 22 veterans a day and it’s a statistic a lot of people want to put a stop to. Valley resident and former Army Captain Ray Gilmore recently spoke on his personal experience. Gilmore says his best friend and roommate committed suicide in 2013. “You know, sapper qualified ranger, qualified combat advisor just like me. Did his stuff, five kids- six kids. Six kids, he was an overachiever. It was just, it was a shock. When 22 soldiers a day are committing suicide, there’s no such thing as ‘not that guy,’ that guy is everywhere.” If you’re a veteran contemplating suicide, you are not alone. You can find help by calling 800-273-8255 ext. 1, or by going to mentalhealth.va.gov

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Prevent Government Shutdowns Act

US Senator from New Hampshire Maggie Hassan has sponsored a bill to end government shutdowns. Hassan, and Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, have introduced a bill called the, “Prevent Government Shutdowns Act,” which does one thing: requires all appropriations bills to be completed by both the House and the Senate and signed by the President by October 1st. After that date, the bill cuts off all travel allowances and reimbursements for all legislators, their staff, the President, and his cabinet, except for one trip- which has to be to Washington DC. The bill would also prohibit any recess of the Legislature for more than 23 hours and would prohibit votes on any bills not pertaining to appropriations unless a two-thirds majority is found to vote on another item during that punishment. Commenting on the bill in a press release Senator Hassan said, “It is the height of irresponsibility that government shutdowns are becoming a frequent occurrence, and we need to come together across party lines to end this madness.”

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How to Pay for Family Medical Leave?

As the State of New Hampshire considers passing reforms for Family Medical Leave, two overall plans have emerged between Governor Chris Sununu and the State Legislature and the primary point of contention is funding. Governor Chris Sununu has teamed up with Vermont Governor Phil Scott to propose a voluntary paid Family Medical Leave plan, utilizing contributors from both New Hampshire and Vermont to grow the pool of insurance revenue to reduce the cost of insurance. New Hampshire’s Legislature is lining up behind a different proposal that may prove more controversial for the Live Free or Die state. In debates before House Bill 712 was passed in that chamber, Representative Jack Flanagan of Brookline said, “The funding mechanism is an income tax. I mean, some people will like to say it’s a payroll deduction, but it is truly an income tax and currently it’s at one-half of a one percent. Paid by the employee unless the employer is willing to pay on their behalf.” North Conway Representative Harrison Kanzler rose in defense of the bill before the house and said he disagrees. Representative Kanzler explained that an income tax bill would apply to the total income of an individual, whereas this bill would only institute a ‘premium,’ against an individual’s wages and not the total income. The bill passed the house yesterday but with just under 200 votes for the measure, it falls well below the three-fourths it will need to override the Governor’s likely veto.