The
Barnstead-Alton-Gilmanton Republican Committee (BARC’G) has arranged to
have recently appointed Belknap County Commissioner Hunter Taylor of
Alton to be the guest speaker at their next monthly meeting. The
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 pm at J.J. Goodwin’s
Restaurant (upstairs dining room), 769 Suncook Valley Highway (Rt 28),
in Center Barnstead.
I want to
let you know that although I cannot be in Concord over the next four
weeks, due to major back surgery, I am still available to help and
listen to your concerns. Several have already called regarding the
budget. The present budget as being proposed in Concord, has an
increase over the last biennium budget of $360 million dollars, a 3%
increase. The budget process is far from over, and the final budget
will not be voted on until May or June.
Please feel
free to call me with any questions/concerns you may have.
Fourteen
students from the Lakes Region FFA chapter attended the 85th Granite
State FFA Convention, at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods,
NH, along with their Advisor Rick Martineau.
The
students attended sessions, competed in numerous events, went to
leadership workshops and connected with students from other chapters
throughout the state. The 3 day event had over 340 participants in
attendance.
Our
students competed in a multitude of events ranging from Floral Design
and Chapter Display to Public Speaking and Forestry. Our students had
the chance to discuss the FFA with numerous members of the general
public (hotel guests) and represented our chapter, the FFA in general
and the Lakes Region Technology Center in the highest regard. Jordan
Pellowe and Gabrielle Clavette represented our chapter in the business
sessions, where state and national issues were voted on by the
delegation. Three members served as Courtesy Corp representatives and
assisted throughout convention, they were Jeremy Malo, Jedidiah Kendall
and Bruce Hunter. Several awards were presented as well. Allison Custeau
received the prestigious Martin L. Mitchell Award for most improved
student, Jordan Pellowe received the Star SAE in Agricultural Placement
Award for her work with livestock and 5 members of the chapter received
their State Degree, which is the highest degree achievable in the state
for the FFA. The recipients are as follows: Joshua Smart, Allison
Custeau, James Moulton, Christopher Raymond and Jordan Pellowe.
In
competition, the results of our member’s efforts are as follows:
In the
Chapter Display event, we received 2nd place. In Floral Design,
Honorable Mention went to Allison Custeau, Jordan Pellowe, Gabrielle
Clavette and Randall Stilwell. 3rd place went to Molly Libby and 2nd
place went to Jedidiah Kendall and Alexandria Garland. In the
Agricultural Mechanics Quiz Bowl we placed 1st, with team members Joshua
Smart, James Moulton, Christopher Raymond, Colby Wilson and William
Sevigny. In Impromptu Speaking Novice Division, Jeremy Malo placed 4th
and Jordan Pellowe placed 2nd. In the Experienced Division, James
Moulton placed 2nd. In Extemporaneous Speaking, James Moulton placed
3rd. In the Demonstration Event, Bruce Hunter placed 4th. In Job
Interview, Molly Libby placed 3rd in the Junior Division, Allison
Custeau placed 3rd in the Senior Division, Christopher Raymond placed
1st in the Senior Division and won the overall event and will be
representing the Lakes Region FFA and the Granite State FFA at the
National FFA Convention in the fall. In the Forestry event, Randall
Stilwell, receiving 1st place individually, Joshua Smart, receiving 2nd
place individually, James Moulton and Christopher Raymond make up the
state winning team that will be representing the Lakes Region FFA and
the Granite State FFA at the National FFA Convention in the fall. The
remaining team members who assisted in the 1st place success were Colby
Wilson, Allison Custeau, William Sevigny, Jordan Pellowe, Gabrielle
Clavette, Alexandria Garland and Jeremy Malo.
Congratulations to all who participated and prepared so well for this
event. Mr. Martineau would like to thank his students for their
exceptional representation of the Lakes Region FFA chapter and their
schools.
The
Trouble With Unions
Submitted By
Cole Atherton,
A
15-Year-Old Homeschooler From Barnstead
Unions, a
controversial subject, with good and bad sides, are both a friend and an
enemy to the working man. When unions were founded, they actually did
what they were intended to do, which is help workers who were being
abused. Now unions have become a group who advocate for the worker who
wants more money for less work. Controversial or not, unions are
needed, but they must be moderated otherwise we will unionize ourselves
right out of a business.
In the late
1800s and early 1900s, during the age of extremes, when immigrants
flocked to the United States, workers were used like slaves. They were
not allowed to speak out against the major monopolies, as they owned the
cops who would make up some fraudulent charges to place on activists.
Unions were greatly needed in these places to set a minimum wage,
establish safer working conditions, and shorter workdays. The book The
Jungle is an excellent book taking place in Chicago during the time when
Chicago was a meat packing city. The main character works on the
killing floor of one of the major meat packing plants shoveling guts.
When things got slow, they were still required to be present at the
slaughter house, but they would not get paid until they began working
when the animals arrived. Upton Sinclair’s main character, Jurgis
says, “Six hours work would be done after standing on the killing bed
till one o’clock, or perhaps even three or four o’clock, in the
afternoon.” (Sinclair , 73). During the age of extremes, the
need for unions reached an all time high.
By the mid
to late 1900s, the abuse of workers previously seen was over, due to the
unions, but this was not the end of the problem. Once the unions fixed
the real problems, they still needed to justify the union leaders’ jobs,
so they became a group that is counter productive. For example, there
was a paper mill in Groveton, NH called Wausau Paper. They were the
primary employer in the town when they got in financial trouble and
needed to cut workers pay or go out of business. The workers had agreed
to take the pay cut in order to keep their jobs with the promise of
raises once the company was back on its feet. Unfortunately, the unions
would not allow this, and the plant was forced to shut down. All the
workers lost their jobs and work was shipped overseas where there were
no unions. In the end, how does this situation benefit any one but the
Chinese?
In the end,
the old saying, “too much of a good thing can be bad,” holds true to
unions as well as anything else. When Unions were founded, they did
wonderful things for the average working man. Now Unions have become
more of a problem than a solution, because they protect people who
should be fired and hold back people who just want to put in an honest
days work for an honest days pay. Finally, we need to find a happy
medium where people can be protected but still accomplish something
productive.
Bibliography:
Sinclair,
Upton. The Jungle.
Mineola:
Dover Thrift Editions, 1906.
Barnstead Elementary School Honor Roll - Second Trimester
The
following students in Grades 4-8 at the Barnstead Elementary School have
earned High Honors or Honors for the Second Trimester. Students who
have received A’s in all of their subjects qualify for High Honors.
Those students who have earned A’s and B’s in all of their subjects
qualify for Honors. In addition, students qualifying for HIGH Honors
and Honors must have received grades in effort and conduct that are
average or above.
Grade 4
High Honors: Luke Carter, Connor Catauro, Alexina Charity, Ashley
Chmiel, Peyton Enis-Yearout, Olivia Fanjoy, Brook Fournier, Melisande
Gautreaux, Jeremy Hayes, Kirstin Howe, Owen Mahanes, Glidden Martin,
Liadan McDermott, Ella Misiaszek, Madelyn Penfield, Hailey Pitman, Bruce
Rawnsley, Kaylee Riel, Jillian Simpson, Mallory Smith, Ian West, Abigail
Wittenburg
Grade 4
Honors: Autumn Beaudet, Jayden Booker, Sam Caldwell, Thomas Chouinard,
Tyler Cote, Samantha Christiansen, Maddison Corey, Lauren Croft, Zoey
Crossman, Thomas Duquette, Cameron Gagnon, Brendan Jacques, Madelyn
Kelley, Brooke Pepe, Makayla Richard, Ainsley Sabean, Willow Sanborn,
Amber Shine, Zack Sullivan, Michaela Vernazzaro
Grade 5
High Honors: Emalee Bunker, Megan Burnette, Hannah Capsalis, Abigail
Eaton, Emma Graffam, Kathryn Hamilton, Cloe Hillsgrove, Ethan Howe,
Trevor Lavigne, Jeremy Lincoln, Ally Long, Alexis Lyle, Lyndsay Lytle,
Rylee Marchildon, Dennis Simpson, Gilbert (Deuce) Smith, Don Terrio,
Jaren Unzen, Ryan Warr, Liam White
Grade 5
Honors: Rachael Adkins, Colby Beauregard, Savannah Cheney, Kailee Cody,
Kyle Cookinham, Dillon Corey, Ean Corliss, Meado Detris, Hannah Dufoe,
Rylee Duquette, Juliana Grillo-Moore, Spencer Grow, Steven Littlefield,
Jon-McKaie Normand, Tazanna Roberts, Bryce Sanborn, Sophie Sarno, Emily
Sanschagrin
Grade 6
High Honors: Lucas Bilodeau, Payton Everett, Audrey Jacques, Kassidy
Kelley, Madeline Kriete, Emma Vignola, Fiona Wilson
Grade 6
Honors: Joseph Boudreau, Hannah Errington, David Fossett, Makayla
Gagnon, Cyrus Gates, Xena Hill, Taylor Kiley, Skylar Presby, Dylan
Nelson, Autumn Sheets, Ryan Treadwell, Ashley Vatcher
Grade 7
High Honors: Ava Blair, Tessa Carter, Sara Frenette, Cameron Michaud,
Ava Misiaszek, Samantha Simpson, Keegan Unzen
Grade 7
Honors: Kylie Beauregard, Forrest Chase, Amberlyn Cookinham, Ariel
Cormier, Alyssa Craig, Aiden Gehly, Kayla Graffam, Reilly Gray, Georgie
Martin, Lily Michaud, Noah Sanville, Megan Sarno, Lexi Tallent, Marcus
Terrio, Brodyn Varney, Gwen West
Grade 8
High Honors: Tyler Chase, Hannah Robitaille, Mikayla Towle, Rebekah
Wheeler
Grade 8
Honors: Cooper Adjutant, Alexus Caron, Madelyn Chase, Qun Li Fan,
Gabrielle Fossett, Haley Gagnon, Laura Hamel, Diana St. Laurent, Tovah
Stonner
Obituaries
George W. Riel
(1948-2015)
George W.
Riel, 66, died Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Concord Hospital with his
family by his side.
Born in
Pittsfield, he was the son of the late Warren and Evelyn (Stevens) Riel.
He spent most of his life as a resident of Center Barnstead.
He worked
as a master welder and fabricator until he retired.
He is
survived by his two children, son Kevin W. Riel and his wife Deb of
Center Barnstead, and daughter, Melissa G. Moran and her husband Scott
of Warner; four grandchildren, Nicole and Travis Riel, Christopher
Salyer and Mason Moran; two sisters Judith A. Mitchell and Brenda J.
Floyd and several nieces and nephews.
He was
predeceased by a brother, Warren J. Riel who died in 1959.
Calling
hours will not be held.
A private
burial will take place at a later date.