InDepthNH.org scans the websites of New Hampshire funeral homes each week and selects at random some of our friends, relatives and neighbors to feature in this column. The people listed here passed away during the previous weeks and have some public or charitable connection to their community. InDepthNH.org is now offering obituaries through the Legacy.com service. We view this as part of our public service mission. Click here or on the Obituaries tab at the top of our home page to learn more. And if you know of someone from New Hampshire who should be featured in this column, please send your suggestions to NancyWestNews@gmail.com.
Terri Taylor August, 94, of Keene, died March 8, 2025. For nearly 50 years, she and her family nurtured a small farm and colonial homestead on Tibbetts Hill Road in Goffstown known as Timberstone Acres. She was a 4-H leader of the Goffstown Gallopers and a long-time member of the Goffstown Garden Club, serving as president and vice president for many years. She was a master gardener and was a judge at many state and regional flower shows. She served on the Goffstown Historic District Commission, serving as vice chairman in 1995. She led projects including the preservation of the Grasmere Schoolhouse No. 9, designation of town hall to the National Register of Historic Places, creation of a historic walking tour of Main Street, and the installation of informational markers at significant landmarks in town. (French and Rising Funeral Home)
Pierrette Clermont, 75, of Lincoln, died March 10, 2025. She was an integral part of the Clermont family business, including the Beacon Resort in Lincoln. She ran the Beacon North front desk and was a tour guide. She and her husband purchased the Chalet Restaurant in 1986. (Legacy.com)
James H. Green, 81, of Londonderry, died March 7, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran, he also served 18 years with the Army Reserves. He was employed by the Coast Guard at the Research and Development Center as resource director for many years. He was past president of the Democratic Party in Londonderry, president of the Senior Resource Committee, Trustee of the Trust Fund and past president and secretary of the Sugarplum Community. (Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium)
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Russell L. Marcum, 78, of Hollis, died March 12, 2025. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was a Nashua building inspector for 27 years. (Farwell Funeral Home)
William Phillips, 77, of Milford, died March 9, 2025. The owner and sole operator of the trucking company Diamond Transportation, he excelled in football and baseball at Exeter High and helped lead the football team to two state championship titles. He also was a track team member who won the N.H. Decathlon in 1965 and still holds the school’s javelin record. He was inducted into the NHIAA Hall of Fame in 2020. He was a member of the UNH football team that won their first Yankee Conference Championship in 1968. He was a UNH track team member and in 1969 received the Paul Sweet Trophy for Outstanding Member of UNH Track & Field Team. He was inducted into the UNH Hall of Fame in 1987. He then coached the UNH Track & Field team from 1970-1973. He competed in the Masters division on the NORBA and EFTA racing circuits. (Smith & Heald Funeral Home)
Terje Reinertsen, 87, of Contoocook, died March 3, 2025. A native of Norway, he moved to Dunbarton in 1968 and worked at the N.H. State Hospital as a clinical child psychologist. He was a therapist at Central N.H. Community Mental Health (now Riverbend) and served as its director for 25 years. He collaborated with Concord Hospital to establish emergency services and began residential therapy homes. (Legacy.com)
Arthur George Stavros, 99, of Canterbury, died March 7, 2025, a day after celebrating his birthday. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and started as a claims adjuster for an insurance company, becoming a copywriter for an advertising agency. In 1955 he took sole ownership of Orr, Pope, and Moulton, which he ran for 52 years. He was director and vice president of the chamber of commerce, president of the YMCA from 1976-78, president of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church twice, as well as vice president and secretary. (Bennett Funeral Home)
WORDS OF WISDOM: “I’ve known people that the world has thrown everything at to discourage them … to break their spirit. And yet something about them retains a dignity. They face life and don’t ask quarters.” – Albert Horton Foote Jr., American screenwriter whose adaptation of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” won an Academy Award. He won another for “Tender Mercies.” Foote lived in New Boston for a time. (His birthday today, March 14, 1916, to March 4, 2009)
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This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
(Copyright (c) 2025 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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