Salem Community Patriot | January 6, 2012 - 9 Thumbs Up? Thumbs Down?


Comments expressed in this column are the sole views of those callers and do not reflect the views of the Area News Group or its advertisers. Town and school officials encourage readers to seek out assistance directly to resolve any problems or issues. The Area News editorial staff holds the right to refuse any comment deemed inappropriate.


“Thumbs down. Once again for the police department, if you weren’t doing anything wrong, nobody would be calling you out. I feel sorry for the chief, I really do. Except for a few of the old timers, you’ve really got some dead-heads on there. As far as the school board, I watched the meeting, and they’re a bunch of stiffs, they should be holding that meeting in a morgue. You see them talk, and their faces don’t move, so let’s paint a smile on there so people will at least think that you’re thinking about them. I just don’t know. I’ve been in this town over 47 years, I’m in my senior years, and this town is going to pot and it’s not because of the real people. There are some great people here. It’s the malcontents. School board, see you later! Except for Mr. Morgan, he’s great.”


“Thumbs up. I want to give


Pat McDougal a lot of credit for standing up against the selectmen and putting them down, and I guarantee he will stand up against anyone of the boards (zoning, budget, etc.) and none of them could ever beat Pat McDougal. He is a very, very good representative for the town of Salem.”


“Thumbs up to all the republicans who will vote for Mitt Romney in the primaries. I call on you to encourage other primary voters in other states to do likewise. If there is any candidate more irrelevant than Mitt, it has to be all the other candidates in alphabetical order. 2008 was McCain’s demise. 2012 will be one that the republicans select. Bring on an Obama second coming.”


“Thumbs down to


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Salem. The department of transportation in NH has no money to fix a bridge in Salem. We can thank the Republicans, and especially Salem’s very own David Bettencourt for this fiasco. They felt smokers deserved a 10 cent cut in taxes on a pack of cigarettes. This was supposed to create more revenue. Instead, the complete opposite has happened. The state has lost millions of dollars in this economic scam. Republicans are great at expanding gun rights and using gay marriage as a smoke screen because


an item at Best Buy in Salem, having lugged it from a ‘legal’ parking place. In line at the service desk was a Salem cop, in uniform, returning an item. We went outside and saw a second Salem cop, in uniform, sitting behind the wheel of a cruiser parked in the coveted ‘fire lane.’ He must have been waiting for his buddy inside. We had no camera phone, but wonder if we would have had the guts that S.K. had even if we were able to take a pix. It took nerve and then to have the cop


Salem High Graduate


Found Dead in Windham Home, Police Make Arrest


by Andrea Ganley-Dannewitz Ellie Morin, 20, of Windham was a student at University of New


Hampshire home on Christmas break when she passed away on December 21. Her life was sadly cut short, mysteriously as of now and an investigation into the circumstances of the cause of her death and what EMTs and police officers found when she was discovered has resulted in the arrest of a friend of hers. On December 21 at about 11:30 a.m. a 911 call was made from 8


Bear Hill Road in Windham, the home of Robert and Mary Ann Ida as well as their 23-year old son Joseph. The call reported an unknown medical issue involving an unresponsive 20-year old female. Police and medical personnel from Windham Fire and Police Departments located Morin in a basement family room. She was unfortunately deceased. Police have remained fairly tight-lipped about how they found suspicious items at the scene, but have said that medical personnel at the scene on December 21 reported some type of a chemical at the scene. The result was the activation of the Southeastern New Hampshire Hazardous Materials Mutual Aid District. The regional HAZMAT team was at the home for many hours on December 21 after Windham police obtained a search warrant and searched the residence as part of the beginning of the investigation. According to Windham Police Captain Mike Caron it was a result of what was found when the warrant was executed at the Ida’s home that caused them to deploy the HAZMAT Team as a precaution. Neighbors were assured at the time of the incident that there was no danger to them. During the search of the residence detectives found a portable drug manufacturing lab in an attic room. The substance located is known as Dimethyltryptamine, or, DMT, a hallucinogenic drug. “We found what we would call a small lab in the attic. DMT is a poor man’s ecstasy or LSD. We believe it was being manufactured and packaged in gel caps,” Captain Caron said. According to Caron this is the first case he has seen in his 19


years with Windham police that he has encountered DMT. The lab that was seized by Windham detectives was small and could be set up in a car or on a desk. Police also seized heroin from the home in addition to DMT and the small lab.


On Wednesday, December 28,


Joseph Ida, 23, an acquaintance of Morin and son of the homeowners turned himself into Windham police after they issued an arrest warrant for him charging him with two counts of manufacturing a controlled drug, one charge for heroin and the other for DMT. The charges are Class B felonies punishable by up to three and a half to seven years in state prison per charge. Captain Caron said detectives have not ruled out bringing forth additional charges. Ida’s parents Robert and Mary Ann are not to be charged and are not the focus of the investigation. Morin spent the evening at the Ida’s home. At the time of the 911 call the following day Joseph Ida, his sister, and his father, Robert, were present at the home. After Joseph Ida was arrested he posted $25,000 cash bond and


Joseph Ida


was released. He will be arraigned at the 10th District Court in Salem on February 6. The case remains under investigation at this time.


they have no clue as to how to expand state revenues, fix the economy, or create jobs.”


“Thumbs up to the School Board for giving the Superintendent a pay raise. He’s worked hard for our school system and he deserves it. All you ‘nay sayers’ are the one’s who don’t have kids in the schools. Your homes are worth hundreds of thousands more than you paid back in the 60’s and 70’s. Sell and go be miserable somewhere else. It’s our generations turn and my kids aren’t walking to school uphill in both directions in a snowstorm everyday!”


“Thumbs up to S.K. for having the guts to snap a photo of police officers who left two department vehicles parked in the fire lane at Home Depot. I got one for you. My husband and I were returning


knock on the window, scream and justify the violation by flashing his badge. I bet he made sure S.K. saw him taking down the plate number. Talk about intimidation. Way to go S.K. and drive carefully.”


“Thumbs down to the


School Board for proposing a raise for Superintendent Michael Delahanty. He’s a great guy and ‘Educator of The Year.’ But, I hardly think a 8.3 percent raise is in order. I bet he can’t wait until Salem takes Pelham’s high school students in. That, I’m sure, will revive the push for an addition to SHS and a way to justify keeping all teachers on staff. As for the thumbs downer who took issue with Stephen Campbell for questioning the School Board, all townspeople ‘decide’ what Delahanty’s salary should be. The superintendent is a public servant and as such, works for the taxpayers, and I assume that you are among this group. Stephen Campbell, and everyone else who pays taxes in town, has the right and duty to make decisions effecting your children’s education. That’s our job. That’s why we have elections and town meetings. On more item, if you are so enamored of Mr. Delahanty, you should take care to spell his last name correctly.”


“Thumbs up to Faro Family and the Tuscan


Kitchen for their generosity. The gift cards for the Boys and Girls Club were such a thoughtful gesture!”


“Thumbs up to those who supported our Military Men and Women this year in Salem, to those local families who’s Son’s and Daughters are defending our country and missed the holidays here at home. A big thumbs up to those that don’t forget them, those that honor them by being there at the local parades on Veteran’s Day, those that stand when our countries flag passes by. Thank you for being True Americans. Semper Fi!”


“Thumbs up to the local Food Pantries here in Salem for all they do for those less fortunate! All the volunteers at the Pantry at the Pleasant Street Methodist Church and other local Pantries deserve a big hand for what they do. You are appreciated very much. Happy Holidays to all of you and may God Bless You! Semper Fi!”


“Thumbs down to me for not being politically correct and I do apologize. But, why do we have


Massachusetts Shooting Subject Caught in Salem


by Andrea Ganley-Dannewitz The Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit, along with numerous Salem Police officers executed search and arrest warrants at a home on Brady Avenue early Tuesday morning. At approximately 10 p.m. on January 2 detectives with the Saugus, MA, Police Department contacted the Salem Police Department relaying information to them that they had a drug deal in their city that turned sour and resulted in a double shooting and a subsequent high-speed chase. The suspects in the drug deal and double shooting evaded capture in Massachusetts. Detectives in Saugus believed the suspects and the vehicle they fled in could be found at 172 Brady Avenue in Salem. Soon thereafter, officers with the Salem Police Department located the vehicle in the driveway of the two-family residence at 172 Brady Avenue. Detectives with the Salem Police Department obtained search and arrest warrants to seize the vehicle and detain the suspects on behalf of the Saugus Police Department. At 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, the Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit and numerous Salem police officers and detectives arrived at the residence on Brady Avenue and executed the warrants. “At 2:30 a.m. the Southern New Hampshire Special Operations


Unit was activated and responded to the scene arriving at approximately 2:52 a.m. They were able to get everyone out of the home safely including one of the suspects involved in the


double shooting. Once the house was cleared Salem detectives executed the search warrant and subsequently towed the vehicle to Salem Police Department headquarters,” Deputy Chief Shawn Patten said.


Steven Ferrer


According to Deputy Chief Patten the case remains active and the investigation ongoing with the Saugus Police Department. Patten says more information will be made available to the public as it comes in. The suspect involved and detained


at the residence on Brady Avenue as a result of the investigation has been identified as Steven Ferrer, 21, of Salem. Salem police have charged him with possession of marijuana as a result of the execution of a search warrant, where marijuana was found along with several firearms and other evidence related to the double shooting in Saugus, MA. Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten said, “Salem detectives continue to work with Saugus, Massachusetts police and charges are expected soon from the State of Massachusetts. The suspect was processed and arraigned on Tuesday, January 3 at the 10th Circuit District Court in Salem. He is currently held on $15,000 cash bail on the New Hampshire charges.”


‘No Guns in Classrooms or Dorms’


Law enforcement and higher education officials from across New Hampshire called on the House Tuesday, January 3, to reject a bill that would allow guns in college classrooms, dorms, libraries and across public higher education campuses. House bill 334 is one of three the House could possibly take action on as early tomorrow that will severely weaken New Hampshire’s decades-old gun laws and potentially put public safety at risk. Gov. John Lynch today joined New Hampshire police chiefs, sheriffs and officials from the Department of Safety and the state’s university and community college officials in urging the House to vote down three bills that would weaken state gun regulations. “These bills represent a radical departure from our approach to public safety here in New Hampshire,” Gov. Lynch said. “I am proud of the fact that we live in the safest state in the nation. New Hampshire is a place with very little violent crime, a place where families and seniors can feel safe in their homes, their neighborhoods and their communities. We need to be doing all we can to continue to ensure New Hampshire remains the safe state that it currently is.” Currently, state law gives public colleges and universities the discretion to regulate guns on campuses. House Bill 334 would eliminate that discretion and give sole authority to regulate guns on any public land or in publicly owned or financed buildings, except for courts. This dramatic change in state law would eliminate prohibitions on guns at the Verizon Wireless Arena and Fisher Cat Stadium in Manchester. It would allow firearms to be carried at the State Hospital, which treats people suffering from mental illness, at the state’s 10 county jails, and at state parks, including Hampton Beach.


Also, the state owns land and leases office buildings to private companies at Pease International Tradeport. This legislation would even prevent those private companies from prohibiting guns in their offices.


“I don’t think that is a message we should be sending to businesses we are trying to bring to New Hampshire, and could threaten the success of Pease,” Gov. Lynch said. “I ask the House to listen our higher education administrators and to law enforcement and reject this reckless legislation. It is uncalled for and unnecessary.”


In addition to House Bill 334, the House is will also soon take action on House Bills 536 and 194. House Bill 536 would allow just about anyone to carry a gun without a license, putting the public and law enforcement at an immediate disadvantage. Stripping away the permitting process, which has been in place for decades, would remove an important protection that helps ensure a person with a violent past, or a history of mental illness is not allowed to carry a concealed weapon. House Bill 194 would drastically re-write the definition of a loaded rifle or shotgun, as a result, overturning a decades old law that prohibits carrying loaded rifles and shotguns in vehicles. “It is absurd to believe that a rifle with bullets in it is not really


loaded. It takes a fraction of a second move a round in the chamber of a rifle or a shotgun and shoot. That is a loaded gun, regardless of what the supporters of this bill say,” Gov. Lynch said. Under this bill, a rifle or shotgun would not be considered loaded if there were bullets in the gun, as long as a round was not in the chamber. Current law and common understanding consider a rifle when there are bullets in it – whether there is a round in the chamber or not. “The combination of these bills has the real potential to lead to an increase in violence. And with the legislature’s recent expansion of deadly force, and I am very concerned that New Hampshire cannot and will not be as safe as it currently is. That is why if these bills reach my desk, I will veto them,” Gov. Lynch said. “I support gun rights and the rights of responsible gun owners are already protected here in New Hampshire. The limited restrictions we do have in place now are proper, and constitutional.”


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the unemployed, and people on public assistance, etc. making the decisions for those of us working hard, making ends meet and doing all we can for our families? I do sympathize with those people if they are in that situation not by their choice, but why do they get to dictate what’s best for me? Go find jobs, get off the hole, or out from momma’s apron and when you can take care of yourself, then volunteer for public service.”


“Thumbs up to Mrs. Cindy Jury of The Learning


Cooperative of Salem Family Resources. My 3 year old son forgot his ‘puppy’ in school the day before the Christmas/New Year vacation started. That puppy is very important to my son, as he will not go to sleep without it. Mrs. Jury found the puppy in the classroom and made a trip to send it back that night. That really saved our holiday as my 3 yr. old was crying for his puppy. Thank you very much! It is greatly appreciated!”


“Thumbs up to the young men who patrol the


yard at the Market Basket (in the Kmart Plaza). They are courteous, kind, and helpful. It would be nice if we could say the same about the drivers, (who shop there). Many are very short tempered. If you have a high SUV, those of us with small cars don’t have the vision that you have, so please give us a break. Thanks.”


Tank you for your submissions. All comments, thumbs up or down, are anonymous and not written by the Area News staff. Tumbs comments can be sent via telephone, 880- 1516 or emailed to us at thumbs@areanewsgroup.com. When submitting a Tumbs comment, please specify that you would like it printed in the Salem Edition. No names are necessary. Please keep negative comments to the issue. Comments should be kept to 100 words or less.


OIL


GAS


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