Telstar upgrade project approved

SAD 44 voters Tuesday approved a $2.5 million energy and ventilation upgrade project for the Telstar complex.
    The district-wide vote was 2,042 to 1,183, according to Supt. Dave Murphy.
Among individual towns, only Andover rejected the proposal, 332-177.
    Other town results were: Bethel 999 yes, 397 no; Greenwood 277 yes, 153 no; Newry 144 yes, 72 no; Woodstock 445 yes, 229 no.   

The work will be funded through two sources: $1.2 million that has been raised in taxes and set aside by voters in recent years, and $1.3 million from a federal Qualified School Construction Bond, at an effective interest rate of 0 percent.
    “I was pleased and appreciative to see the level of support that the district voters provided for this project, especially given the state of the economy,” Murphy said Wednesday.
 Murphy said he expects some of the less intrusive parts of the project will begin immediately, and other portions during vacation weeks and in the summer. The project is slated to be completed by the fall.
Other local results
    Voter turnout was generally strong locally. In Gilead, 80 percent of registered voters voted, according to Town Clerk Lin Chapman.
    In national elections, Bethel area towns matched overall Maine results, favoring  Obama/Biden for president/vice president, Independent Angus King for the U.S. Senate, and incumbent Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud for the Second Congressional District.
    State Rep. Jarrod Crockett (R-Bethel) bested Democratic challenger Mike Broderick of Bethel in House District 91 towns in this area, and was projected Wednesday to win district-wide.
    In Greenwood Democrat Mary Lou St. John edged Independent Tom Winsor in the Maine House District 95 vote, 206-204, while in West Paris Winsor came out ahead, 432-403. Winsor led narrowly district-wide Wednesday in incomplete results.
    In Andover Independent Matthew Peterson bested Republican Thomas Skolfield 320-165 in the House District 92 race, and was projected to win district-wide.
    In State Senate District 14, incumbent Democrat John Patrick won locally and was projected to win district-wide.
    In statewide referendum question votes, results on Question 1 (same-sex marriage) were mixed locally. Albany, Bethel, Greenwood and Newry approved the measure. The question passed statewide.
    Questions 3 (Conservation bond), 4 (Transportation bond) and 5 (Water bond) were all approved by local towns and expected to pass statewide, but Question 2 (Education bond) received approval in only Bethel/Mason and Hanover and its fate was uncertain statewide  Wednesday.