Road conditions an issue as voting begins

Voting was slow but steady early today at the Lebanon Elementary School. (Labanon Voice photo)

LEBANON - It seemed only fitting that the Save our Ambulance effort to keep Rescue 2, which faced a treacherous road from the start, would culminate on a day in which a fast-moving snowfall made travel as difficult as at anytime this winter.

Despite the deteriorating road conditions, some 100 residents had already made it to the polls by 7:50 a.m., with about 150 absentee ballots already processed as well.

Traveling back through West Lebanon around 9 a.m., headway up Dixon Road from Shapleigh was impossible as town crews were yet to plow or treat even steep hills and sharp turns, at least in this part of town.

Selectmen Chairman Ben Thompson, reached by phone on his way to the polls, told The Lebanon Voice around 9:50 a.m. that one lane of Depot Road between Upper Cross and the old country store was closed due to a motor vehicle accident.

He said the accident had toned at 9:26. No other details on the accident were immediately available.

The quick-moving nor'easter had been expected since early Friday, but its intensity and snow-dumping capability may have been underestimated.

Thompson said around 10 a.m. town road crews were out plowing and treating the roads.

Meanwhile, it was learned that Road Commissioner Larry Torno has been on sick leave off and on for a month or so and his son, Tom Torno, who is also on the Budget Committee, is now in charge while his father recovers.