Gravel Driveway Repair in Antrim, NH

Antrim, NH (May 9, 2025) – A serious head-on collision with entrapment occurred Friday afternoon on Route 9 near Salmon Brook Road in Antrim, prompting a major emergency response and the temporary shutdown of the highway. The crash, first reported at approximately 1:27 p.m., involved two vehicles and resulted in at least one confirmed injury.

According to scanner reports from SWNH-1, one individual was heavily entrapped in a vehicle and required extensive extrication efforts. A second occupant was able to exit their vehicle on their own. Heavy rescue teams responded promptly, and a second ambulance was requested to assist with patient transport.

Command later confirmed that the entrapped victim had been successfully extricated and that a trauma alert was activated due to the severity of the injuries. Route 9 was completely shut down in the area while emergency operations continued and investigators began documenting the scene.

The current condition of the victims has not been publicly disclosed, but trauma activation typically indicates the presence of potentially life-threatening injuries.

Our thoughts are with all involved in this serious incident, and we wish the injured parties a full and swift recovery.

Head-On Collisions and Rural Road Risks in New Hampshire

The head-on crash on Friday on Route 9 in Antrim reflects one of the most dangerous types of roadway collisions. These high-impact crashes often result in severe injuries due to the combined force of both vehicles traveling toward each other. In rural areas like Hillsborough County, head-on collisions are frequently linked to lane departures, driver fatigue, distracted driving, or adverse weather conditions.

Entrapment in a crash is a critical emergency scenario that typically requires advanced extraction tools, extended rescue time, and rapid coordination among fire, EMS, and law enforcement. The fact that one victim was heavily trapped while another was able to self-extricate illustrates the uneven nature of crash impacts, even within the same incident.

Full roadway closures, like the one on Route 9, are standard in such emergencies to allow responders to work safely and ensure patient stabilization. These closures can also affect surrounding communities, especially on rural highways that serve as key regional routes.

Following incidents of this nature, victims often face long recovery periods, hospital stays, and the challenge of rebuilding both physically and emotionally. Support in navigating insurance claims, medical costs, and legal rights becomes essential in the days and weeks following such traumatic events.

If you or a loved one was injured in this or a similar crash, Local Accident Reports is here to provide clear updates, recovery tools, and trusted resources. Don’t face the aftermath alone—reach out today to get the guidance and support you need to move forward.

A recent zoning change in Antrim could enable construction of a new mixed-tier housing development near the Antrim Post Office.

In February, Antrim resident Dave Cutter approached the Planning Board with a conceptual design for a cluster housing development on his 2.6-acre parcel of land behind the post office. At the time, the Planning Board said that if Antrim’s proposed zoning amendment passed, Cutter could potentially receive approval for the project.

In March, Antrim voters approved Article 2, the Connected Village Overlay District. Previously, Antrim zoning required two-acre building lots for single-family homes. The new overlay district allows property owners in Antrim Village to create housing in nonconforming lots in the village, particularly on smaller lots where it was not permitted by previous ordinance.

The goal of the zoning change was to facilitate the creation of smaller, more affordable and potentially more energy-efficient homes of varied price ranges and sizes for Antrim residents, with convenient access to the downtown.

The article states that “the overlay district would allow for the voluntary creation of small lots and compact neighborhood adjacent to the downtown.”

The preliminary design for Cutter’s project, created by architect Len Pagano, includes a total of 17 housing units, including four duplexes, around a common space. The development would include housing at several different price points, with no units over 1,792 square feet. The plan includes traditional Cape and Colonial style homes.

In total, the proposed development would include 22,352 square feet of total finished space, including basements and garages. The smallest unit is 864 square feet or 24- by 24-ffeet, while the largest houses are 28- by 38-foot Colonials of 1,792 square feet apiece.

“We include different types of dwelling units for different buyers,” Pagano said at a meeting with the Antrim Planning Board. “We have three townhouse duplexes, three Cape houses with garage or sunrooms, and three two-story Colonials. Everything is modestly sized. We offer a varied palate of building types for different types of buyers.”

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Pagano said the plan is a “traditional cul-de-sac design” which would be accessed through the town parking lot at the post office. The residences would be built around the edges of the lot, with open space in the middle. The plan calls for a new road to be built from the town lot to the proposed neighborhood.

The Planning Board was universally in favor of the design. Member Lynn Rosansky said that “having diversity in housing is great.”

Planning Board member Ken Rubin said the design “aligns with the vision we are trying to accomplish for Antrim.”

Planning Board member John Anderson said that bringing more residents into the downtown is a win-win for the town.

“It’s right in the downtown area. Having permanent residents there will increase people utilizing the downtown, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Anderson said.

Pagano said the Cutter would like to include some affordable housing units.

“Dave wants to produce this is at a reasonable amount and have some affordable housing,” he said.

The units would all be on town water and sewer.

The proposal would be the first housing project in Antrim to take advantage of the new new zoning change.

Antrim residents are angry about UPS no longer delivering packages to the town on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The change took place in fall 2024.

“I’m pretty disgusted by it,” said Mike Tyler, owner of Tyler Small Engine Repair. “We have switched a lot of our shipping to FedEx, which we didn’t want to do, but they come five days a week, and UPS doesn’t. We can get anywhere from 10 to 25 packages per day from six to eight different companies, and it really puts a thorn in our side that we can’t deliveries two days of the week. You can’t be a business and not be able to get deliveries every day.”

Tyler said he tried repeatedly to contact a representative at the Keene UPS office, but was unable to get any answers.

“It’s ridiculous. You can be an homeowner and get your dog food shipped five days a week, but businesses are only getting stuff three days a week,” Tyler said.

Scott Pendris, owner of PB & H Equipment on Route 9 in Antrim, has also tried to get someone at UPS, either locally or at the national office in Atlanta, to respond to his concerns, with no response.

“It’s terrible. I guess UPS just decided we are not a big enough town for five-day delivery. My business is right on Route 9, and we see all the UPS trucks drive right by us, even on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but they won’t stop. If we order something by next day air on Monday, we don’t get it until Wednesday, even though we are paying for a daily pickup service,” Pendris said. “There is no one to talk to. I’ve tried calling everywhere, but no one ever calls back. UPS just doesn’t care. Apparently, in the Keene office either they have no control over it because it’s a corporate decision from Atlanta, or no one cares.”

Pendris said he knows how UPS works, as he worked for the company for five years after completing his military service.

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“It’s terrible. You can’t talk to a live person about it. No one ever calls back,” he said. “It’s not the same company it used to be.”

Rick Edmunds of Edmunds Ace Hardware said the decision to cut delivery to just three days a week is an inconvenience for his customers.

“It is unfortunate that they do not deliver on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sometimes it adds another day before my customers can get their special orders from my store,” he said.

Ken Rubin, who is in the middle of a home construction project, said the limited delivery days have a real impact.

“In our case, the UPS service cuts have created real ripple effects in our construction project. When materials don’t arrive on the day they are scheduled, it disrupts the entire sequence of work — especially when multiple trades are involved. A delay on something as simple as an electrical part or a light or plumbing fixture can throw off the timeline for plumbers, electricians, inspectors and others down the line. It’s more than an inconvenience — it causes real schedule and cost overruns,” he said.

No one at UPS or at the Teamsters Local 633, which represents UPS drivers in the region, could be reached for comment.

A new proposal for the Antrim Mills complex could bring an assisted-living facility to Main Street in Antrim.

Antrim Mills owner Zander Kempf had previously applied for a mixed-use development at the site, but told the Planning Board Thursday that due to structural problems discovered at the building, his financing fell through and the project had been canceled.

Kempf and his partner, Mitchell Rasor, outlined their proposal for an assisted-living facility with around 35 residential units. The project would include commercial space for small businesses in the historic brick building fronting Main Street.

“We are here to get feedback from you all before we go too far with the project, because we know this is a centerpiece of the town,” Kempf said.

Rasor said the site plan would not change from the previous project, and that the DEA permits, including for shoreline construction on Great Brook, were still valid.

“Only the use would change,” Rasor said.

The bulk of the assisted-living facility would be built behind the Main Street mill building, on the site of the old warehouses along Great Brook. The main door and parking would be in the rear of the building.

Another four-story building across the brook is also part of the complex, which Kempf said could possibly be developed into apartments.

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The plan also includes a pedestrian bridge across Great Brook.

Answering questions from Planning Board members about why Rasor and Kempf were now planning to build assisted living instead of multifamily housing as previously proposed, Kempf said they “had to make the numbers work."

“Building straight multifamily was not feasible,” Kempf said. “Assisted living generates more revenue per unit than regular housing. We are trying to design a project that can get financing.”

Planning Board member John Anderson said that when the previous project was proposed, a “major sticking point” was the height of the roof, which would require a variance.

“Our fire truck ladder is 35 feet high, and your roof is 40 feet,” Anderson said.

Kempf explained that they are planning a four-story facility, which would require the additional five feet,

“The request for the additional story is to get the square footage to where it will make sense. These facilities they need have to be a certain scale for it to make sense financially,” Kempf said, adding that most assisted living facilities are between 60,000 and 70,000 square feet.

Anderson questioned the potential impact of an assisted living facility on Antrim’s emergency services.

“My biggest concern is the liability to the town and how it would affect our volunteer rescue squad, which we are trying to keep all-volunteer,” Anderson said. “Who would pay for the ambulance calls?”

Anderson also asked if the assisted-living facility would be for-profit or nonprofit.

“We would like to keep the building on the tax rolls, and we would like to clarify that it will be for-profit and you will pay property taxes to the town,” Anderson said.

Kempf confirmed that the business will be for-profit, and that his company would partner with an experienced operator of assisted-living facilities or rent the facility out to an operator.

“Most likely, we would maintain control of the property and have a partnership,” Rasor said.

Kempf said they would meet with Fire Chief Marshall Gale to address concerns about fire codes, access for emergency equipment, parking, and traffic before they return to the board with their application.

The Antrim Select Board is considering a proposal for a land swap that would facilitate the Town of Antrim donation of the town’s historic “Brown Church” to the Antrim Historical Society.

Longtime resident and former state legislator Gordon Allen has offered to donate 14 acres of land to the town to be used for affordable housing, as well as five acres of land to the town’s transfer station to enable expansion of the facility. In exchange, Allen requests that the town, which holds the deed on the former Antrim Church of Christ – known to residents as the “Brown Church” – donate the church to the Antrim Historical Society.

“What I am asking tonight is for the Select Board is to confer with town counsel and figure out how we can make this happen,” Allen said at Monday night’s meeting. “The town has to figure out what is the best way to get the church to the Antrim Historical Society. Most people in town would like to see that happen.”

The AHS is currently housed in the third floor of Tuttle Library. Gordon noted that “the library would like to have their third floor back.”

In 2024, more than 100 town residents signed a petition for a special Town Meeting requesting the Select Board forgive back taxes on the church and donate the building to AHS. The board refused the request on the grounds that they did not have the authority to forgive tax liens, and that doing so would set a bad precedent for the town.

According to Helene Newbold of AHS, the origin of the $30,000 tax lien is unclear, as the former Church of Christ building has legally been a church since it was built in the late 1800s. The town has stated that the lien was valid, as the building had ceased to be used as a church.

Allen stipulated that the land he donates must be used for affordable housing “in perpetuity.” The Contoocook Valley Housing Trust would build and administrate the affordable housing units for the town.

“The only way to do that is with rental properties,” Allen said.

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The land Allen is willing to donate to the town are part of a 320-acre tract on Smith Road that abuts the Antrim Transfer Station. Allen’s forester, Charles Levesque, said the land would be subdivided into three parcels, with 14 acres going to the town for affordable housing, five acres going to the transfer station and the remaining acreage going into permanent conservation easement with the New England Forest Society.

“The forest society will be surveying the entire parcel. We will come to the Planning Board with the plan,” Levesque said.

Select Board Chair Mike Ott said “the concept is a good one.”

“A land swap makes sense: it is land we want for land we don’t want. The town does not want the church, and removing it from the tax rolls is a good idea. Five acres for the dump would be great, and I agree that most residents in town would like to see the church go to AHS,” Mott said. “It is a really good idea if the numbers work out.”

The five-acre gift would double the size of the town’s transfer station. Director of Public Works Tyler Tommila confirmed that he is in favor of the plan.

Allen’s proposal includes a requirement that the town create a right-of-way from his property through town land. According to Allen, access to the land is currently blocked by wetlands created by the construction of the transfer station.

“The town created the swamp, and we need a road through the swamp,” Allen said. “Tyler can figure out a way to do it.”

Select Board member Bob Edwards asked Allen if he would be willing to sell the acreage to the town without the contingent land swap for the church. Allen declined.

In answer to questions from Select Board member John Robertson, Newbold said the AHS board was 100% behind the proposal and prepared to accept the donation of the church.

“This has been a roller coaster ride for us. We have wanted to do this since 2023 when Lee Davis (representing the family which owns the church) first offered to donate the church to AHS,” Newbold said.

Planning Board member John Anderson spoke in favor of the proposal.

“I just want to be clear that this is a significant gift to the town,” Anderson said. “It will bring up to 20 units of affordable housing to the town, and that housing will be on the tax rolls. We are completely in support of figuring out a way to make this happen.”

All three members of the Select Board agreed to explore the proposal, with further discussion scheduled for the next meeting of the board on April 28.