Also on today’s menu:
FSB Assures Depositors ‘We Remain Strong’
Woman Perishes In Barnstead Fire
No Voter Violations In 30 Years
John Carter, 36, of Hill made the mistake of traveling 82 mph past a New Hampshire State Police Trooper on Route 3-A, which had a posted speed limit of 50 mph, on March 12. Already having been declared a habitual offender, Carter allegedly fled from the trooper, first by stopping his pickup truck in the roadway in front of the trooper, doing a “burnout” across the roadway, and accelerating away.
The trooper pursued Carter “on multiple roads throughout Hill,” according to a state police report. The pursuit ended when Carter drove the pickup into a snowbank on Old Town Road. The trooper chased him on foot when he fled from the vehicle and took him into custody. There also was a male passenger who was detained at the scene.
In addition to operating after certification as a habitual offender, Carter faces charges of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled drug, dealing or possession of prescription drugs, resisting arrest, reckless operation, disobeying a police officer, and operating an unregistered vehicle.
FSB Assures Depositors ‘We Remain Strong’
In the wake of bank runs that led to the failures of the Silicon Valley and Signature banks, Franklin Savings Bank issued a statement assuring depositors that it remains financially strong:
“The last few days have been unsettling for many bank customers as a result of the failures of Silicon Valley Bank headquartered in California, and Signature Bank based in New York. Fortunately for depositors at both institutions, the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) indicated in a joint statement that all depositors will be made whole.
“Rest assured you can continue to bank with confidence at Franklin Savings Bank. We are financially strong, well-capitalized and remain focused on meeting the needs of the individuals, families, and businesses in our local communities. This stands in stark contrast to banks like Silicon Valley Bank that are heavily concentrated in non-traditional banking activities.
“As a community bank, we have stayed true to our mission and to our sound business practices. Our management team and Board of Directors remain committed to meeting the needs of our customers and community.
“Since 1869, we have been here to meet our customer’s needs. As your community bank, you have access to our experienced team, and we are ready to assist you anytime with any questions or concerns. We encourage you to stop in or contact us at 603.934.4445 or 1.800.372.4445 if you would like to speak with us further.”
Woman Perishes In Barnstead Fire
The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Barnstead fire and police departments are looking into the cause of an early-morning fire that claimed the life of 72-year-old Frances Barrett at 139 Varney Road, Barnstead.
Responding to a call around 3:25 a.m. on March 13, fire crews found the single-family home to be “fully involved” and, once the fire was extinguished, they found Barrett’s body inside.
Authorities are asking anyone who might have information about the incident to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289 or by email at fmo@dos.nh.gov.
No Voter Violations In 30 Years
As voters go to the polls today (in communities that have not postponed elections due to the winter storm), Associate Attorney-General Anne Edwards asserted that, in her nearly 30 years of responding to election complaints, she has yet to find a violation of New Hampshire’s laws regarding voter suppression, intimidation, and bribery.
Publicly criticizing someone’s position on a specific town or school issue is not a violation, she said. “There is the ability in the First Amendment to say to somebody, ‘I don’t like you because you’re voting for this,’ or using profanity to somebody, saying, ‘You’re an idiot. Bleep, bleep, bleep, because you’re voting this way,’” even if people find it “uncomfortable at times.”
That includes a case of publicly posting the names, addresses, and employment information of Hampton voters who supported a certain warrant article, Edwards said. “Many people who sign petitions to put warrant articles on the ballot don’t realize that this information is public and can be shared widely on social media or elsewhere.”
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