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Memorial Hospital’s first 2018 baby Jaxson Wrigley Erdel with his parents, Samantha Wrigley and Jacob Erdel of West Ossipee, and sister, Angel, age 7 get a visit from Memorial Hospital President & CEO Scott McKinnon and Peter Waugh, Volunteer & Communications Coordinator, were presented with First Baby 2018 congratulatory gifts from local businesses. ~ Photo Courtesy of Rachel Andrews Damon
NORTH CONWAY, NH – Memorial Hospital has welcomed their first baby of 2018. Weighing in at nine pounds, one ounce and stretching 21 ¼ inches Jaxson Wrigley Erdel came into the world at 6:45am Tuesday.
Jaxson was welcomed into the world by his mom Samantha Wrigley, dad Jacob Erde, and big sister Angel of West Ossipee.
He was also visited by Memorial Hospital President & CEO Scott McKinnon and Volunteer & Communications Coordinator Peter Waugh who presented the happy family with First Baby 2018 congratulatory gifts from local businesses.
First Baby gift were donated by Elvio’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, Hannaford Supermarket, Ruthie’s Flower Shop, Vito Marcello’s Italian Bistro, White Mountain Hotel Resort, Storyland, Rachel Damon Photography, Memorial Hospital Volunteers, Sutton Luxury Limousine, Hazardbaby.com and Michelle O’Donnell dba Skinny Towel & Washcloth Co.
Cob Farm Road was one among many that were overcome by flood waters during the October storm in 2017 ~ Photo courtesy of Greg FrizzellCONCORD, NH – Several New Hampshire Counties will be getting Federal help after the devastating October storm. Governor Chris Sununu announced today that President Donald Trump has granted his request for a major disaster declaration for Belknap, Carroll, Coos, Grafton and Sullivan counties in response to the severe windstorm and flooding that occurred between October 29 and November 1, 2017.
A preliminary damage assessment by The Federal Emergency Management Agency along side state and local officials found the statewide cost exceeded $5,889,549.
President Trump’s declaration allows FEMA to fund up to 75 percent of the eligible costs of approved projects. It also makes federal support available though the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. Federal assistance will be available to government entities and some private non-profits providing critical services.
Governor Sununu said in a press release “Through this major disaster declaration, those most heavily impacted by the storm can have access to federal support for response efforts. I thank President Trump for his timely response to my request.”
The New Hampshire Delegation also released statements commending the presidents disaster declaration approval.
“This announcement is welcome news as New Hampshire continues to recover from this disaster,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “As Granite State communities rebuild, this declaration will help ensure they receive the resources and assistance they need to fully recover.”
“New Hampshire suffered a significant financial toll as a result of the storms and flooding last October, and this declaration will provide critical support for Granite State communities as they continue to recover,” Senator Maggie Hassan said. “I am glad that the Trump Administration heeded our call for a Major Disaster Declaration to support Belknap, Carroll, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan counties.”
“This declaration will provide critical resources to help Granite Staters complete the recovery from October’s storm, and I am pleased that FEMA is assisting in this effort,” said Congresswoman Carroll Shea-Porter. “This is why the federal government needs to be properly funded, so it can help states recover from and repair the damage caused by natural disasters and other events.”
“Communities throughout the state were devastated by the damaging storm last fall and as communities rebuild it is critical that they have the support necessary from the federal government,” Congresswoman Ann Kuster said. “This Emergency Declaration will not only help communities rebuild, but also improve their infrastructure so that they are better equipped to face future storms.”
“We are very pleased to receive this declaration,” Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Perry Plummer said. “We will be reaching out to emergency management directors within the eligible counties to provide meeting dates, information about the application process, and to assist with applications.”
In response to the storm, Governor Sununu executed the State Emergency Operations Plan with an activation of the State Emergency Operations Center on October 29 through November 3, 2017. The combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds caused severe damage to hundreds of miles of local and State roadways, dozens of bridges and culverts, and left more than 270,000 electrical utility customers without power.
For more details on the Governor’s request, the major disaster declaration and available resources, visit http://www.governor.nh.gov.
WOLFEBORO, NH – Wolfeboro Fire Rescue saw an increase in calls this past year. Officials with Wolfeboro fire-rescue said that in 2017 they had a 2% increase in emergencies calls compared to 2016. The department reported that they responded to 1,342 calls in 2017.
Of those calls the largest amount were for medical emergencies, which accounted for over 45% of calls.
over 43% of their calls were classified as other incidents which includes hazardous materials responses, lift assists, and carbon monoxide emergencies among other things.
5% of calls were for fire related incidents. The “Fires” category includes actual building, chimney, vehicle, and wildland fires.
The final 5% of calls being motor vehicle accidents. “Motor
vehicle accidents” includes those with injury and without.
“This level of activity is a challenge for our staff,” said Fire-Rescue Chief Jim Pineo. “But the hard work and dedication of our personnel has resulted in a high-quality service for the residents and visitors to Wolfeboro.”
“I would like to thank our members for their selfless dedication during the past year,” said Pineo. “We also wish to acknowledge the support of the Board of Selectmen, Budget Committee, Town Manager, and other town departments. And we must also thank the residents and visitors to our town, who support us financially and in many other ways.”
CONCORD, NH – New Hampshire lawmakers are back to work and finishing up old business. The House and Senate start their second half of the two-year Legislative session today. They will meet to vote on more than 100 bills they delayed action on last year. The House is expected to take at least two days to plow through its list, while the Senate calendar is considerably shorter.
Among the bills up for consideration in the senate are two related bills one that would eliminate the statute of limitations on prosecuting any sexual assault or incest case and another that would remove the limit in cases when the victims were under age 18. The Senate Judiciary Committee is recommending that the first bill be killed and the second be amended to create a commission to study the issue.
The Senate Committee on elections law is recommending passage by the full Senate of a bill aimed at ending confusion over the terms “residency” and “domicile” for voting purposes by making them synonymous. Supporters argue doing so would reduce election fraud and ensure that only New Hampshire residents vote in the state, but opponents say it amounts to a poll tax because college students would have to declare residency in order to vote, thus becoming subject to residency requirements such as obtaining a driver’s license and registering their cars.
When it comes to the House they will consider a bill requiring blood testing for lead in all children age 2 and under, bringing the action level for lead in a child’s blood in line with federal standards and providing $6 million in loan guarantees for property owners for abatement projects. The Senate-passed version would have provided grants instead of loans. Governor Chris Sununu recently voiced his support of the bill.
One major bill up for consideration in the House is an overhauled version of a senate passed bill that would provide parents with the state’s basic per-pupil grant of roughly $3,000 to be used for private school tuition or home schooling. To qualify, parents would have to have a household income less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty limit, live in an under performing school district, have a child with an individual education plan or tried unsuccessfully to enroll a child in a charter school or get an education tax credit. Opponents argued the program would violate the state Constitution, which says no person, shall be compelled to pay to support a religious school.
Lawmakers will also be looking at a bill that seeks to create a family and medical leave insurance program. The bill insurance would providing leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child or serious illness, including substance use disorders, of a spouse, civil union partner, child, parent or grandparent. Supporters say it will address key challenges in the state, including maintaining its workforce and helping the state recover from the opioid crisis. Opponents say it is just a tax disguised as an insurance premium.
BERLIN, NH (AP) – The daughter of a New Hampshire police chief has been charged with possessing and selling heroin. Berlin Police Chief Peter Morency says he is devastated by the news and never saw it coming.
WMUR-TV reports 31-year-old Christina Morency was arrested just before Christmas on heroin charges. The Berlin Police Department received a tip that Christina Morency was involved in drug activity. Police investigated without making the chief aware.
Morency faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the felony charge. The police chief says he’s grateful that officers worked to protect the integrity of the agency during the investigation by working with state police.
Chief Morency said his daughter has been released from jail and that the family is focusing on getting her treatment and help.
