Bridges named for fallen State Police Sgt., state highway designer

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CONCORD — New Hampshire has Daniel Webster Highway, the Frederick E. Everett Turnpike and the Ruth L. Griffin Bridge, but naming public landmarks for people doesn’t happen every day.

Gov. Chris Sununu signed legislation Wednesday naming two bridges in honor of two individuals, a state police staff sergeant tragically killed while on the job and a state highway staffer who designed 400 of the state’s bridges.

“This is a cool day for me because we get to honor two individuals with one bill,” Sununu said.

Jeese E. Sherrill, 44, was working at the site of an overnight paving project when the driver of a tractor-trailer slammed into his cruiser off Interstate 95 in Portsmouth last Oct. 28.

The driver, Jay Paul Medeiros, 43, of Ashford, Conn., faces charges of negligent homicide and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon.

This bill (HB 1038) names in Sherrill’s honor the Shelburne Road Bridge over I-95, also known as bridge No. 17 in the city of Portsmouth.

Lt. Keith Walker is commander of Troop A, where Sherrill worked.

“We talked every day. He was such a big presence in all our lives and this was such a great, fitting tribute to Jesse,” said State Police Lt. Keith Walker, commander of Troop A where Sherrill worked.

Walker was joined by a half dozen state police officers for the signing ceremony.

Sununu said he grew to know Sherrill as a state police officer detailed to his Newfields home to keep watch over the family when anti-vaccine mandate activists held weekly protests there during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They first met in November 2020.

“He was one of a kind, there is no doubt about it,” Sununu said. “What he stood for, what he was about as an individual, as a dad isn’t forgotten.”

Sherrill supporters got this bridge naming attached to the original bill that names the new Ash Road Bridge over Interstate 93 in Londonderry for Robert J. Prowse, the man who originally designed it.

The bridge is just north of Exit 4 on I-93.

“He is known throughout New Hampshire for the past 60 years and hasn’t gotten the recognition he deserves for having helped to design the economic superhighway as well for New Hampshire,” Sununu said.

Joyce Prowse of Bow, his daughter-in-law, got state Rep. Gary Woods, D-Bow, to sponsor the original bill and Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, got aboard and shepherded it through the Senate.

“He designed 400 bridges, which was a pretty amazing accomplishment,” Prowse said of her father-in-law.

Sue Callahan of Contoocook, Prowse’s granddaughter, said state plans are to locate the original bridge Prowse had designed for Londonderry to be placed over another state highway.

“We would always marvel when we went on the highway, ‘Hey, we just went over granddad’s bridge,'” Callahan recalled.

Carson said the bridge as originally designed was a “great introduction to Londonderry.”

NH Senate backs bills to update, streamline state building code process

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Builders may have a little less trouble navigating local, and often outdated, building codes, thanks to two bills passed by the NH Senate on Thursday aimed at addressing those outdated overdue codes.

“The state has a hard time passing building codes,” said Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, sponsor of Senate Bill 443. “The codes are years behind, and that means people have to pay more in insurance.”

The Senate had earlier in the day passed House Bill 1681, updating the code to conform with the national code of 2018 to its Finance Committee. The state’s code currently dates back to the 2015 national code. HB 1681 has to go back to the House before it can be signed into law.

As for SB 443, it does several things.

First it requires that municipalities – which often go above and beyond the state code in their versions – submit these amendments to the State Building Code Review Board for approval in case they don’t keep up with or conflict with the latest code that the state has adopted. The panel also will post them so builders could more easily keep track of what each town requires.

It also eliminates fees to bring cases to the board. And it mandates that the board start preparing the state to adopt the next code way in advance, by figuring out the cost of adopting all or parts of the national code.

SB 443 itself is a bit outdated.

It was proposed in 2020, but got lost in the that Covid-shortened session, since it was packaged in a huge omnibus bill rejected by the House. And it almost got delayed again, as the Senate Finance Committee unanimously recommended it be sent to interim study, arguing that there would be a cost to post all these codes.

Carson dismissed that, saying both the building code and fire code boards, had not asked for any money. The Senate passed SB 443 over to the House, 23-1.

Carson opposes legislation that would force gun ranges to close

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Concord, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate held a public hearing for SB 469, relative to shooting ranges. Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) issued the following statement:

“It is clear, from the testimony today, that this legislation is unnecessary and would force gun clubs across the state to shutter their ranges,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “Gun clubs are important organizations in our communities, offering important firearms safety courses and allowing Granite Staters to use their firearms in a safe environment. New Hampshire is one of the safest states in the nation and our current gun laws are effective as they are.”

“We should not be passing legislation that closes gun ranges; that would make New Hampshire less safe,” Carson added.

Carson, French believe current responsible gun laws should remain unchanged

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Concord, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed four bills restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. HB 109-FN, HB 514-FN, HB 564, and HB 696-FN were all passed on party line votes. Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) and Senator Harold French (R-Franklin) issued the following statements:

“These laws will restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners while doing nothing to prevent criminals from possessing firearms or committing crimes,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “The unintended consequences of these bills will turn average gun owners into criminals. New Hampshire is consistently one of the safest states in the nation with a long history of responsible gun laws and any attempt to restrict our rights will only make the state less safe.”

“Some states may have problems with gun violence, but New Hampshire does not,” said Senator Harold French (R-Franklin). “This is an issue that has been pushed by large out of state Super PACs who are trying to tell New Hampshire that they know how we should live and what laws we should pass. Any attempt to limit the second amendment rights of Granite Staters should be swiftly rejected.”

Carson praises infrastructure improvements coming to Londonderry

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Senator Sharon Carson issued the following statement after joining Governor Sununu to present the Town of Londonderry with $519,823 for road and infrastructure improvements:

“As the I-93 expansion project continues, small businesses and working families are recognizing the renewed opportunity to be part of a growing region in and around the Town of Londonderry. At a time like this, making sure we are equipped with modern, safe roadways, bridges and basic infrastructure that supports our citizens and small business is essential.”

“The legislature recognized that Londonderry, and every other city and town in our state could benefit from infrastructure improvements, which is why we passed a bill that would return $37 million in surplus funds to communities across the state.”

“Today I am very pleased to present the Town of Londonderry, along with Governor Sununu, a check for $519,823 that will be used for our most pressing road projects so that we can continue to be a magnet for small business and families in the southern tier.”