Stories of 2012: Kingdom Hall Approved to Build

Merrimack Patch has it's first full year in the books and what a year it's been! We re-elected President Barack Obama to another four years, and hey, the Mayan apocalypse didn't happen, so congratulations, we're all still here.

From the opening of the Merrimack Premium Outlets to another Halloween storm that cut power to thousands for days, there's been no shortage of news in town. We've seen businesses and residents in the community doing wonderful things to support their neighbors and communities as far away as Haiti. There's been business growth, and sadly a few closures.

There have been exciting moments in sports with the boys varsity basketball state championship, the baseball team playing, but unfortunately losing their state championship, and the Merrimack Cardinals Midget Cheerleaders win at nationals earlier this month. Another Rock'n Ribfest was written into the books, as was a continually-growing Merrimack Fall Festival and Business Expo, and the midway returned to town on the Fourth of July after a short hiatus.

Join us as we count down some of the top stories of the year between today and Dec. 30. Thank you for making this a wonderful year. Enjoy the final days of 2012, we can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

9. Jehovah's Witnesses Get OK to Build

At the end of 2011, the Merrimack Zoning Board of Adjustment settled a court case that reversed a decision that oringally barred a group of Jehovah's Witnesses from building in a residential area on Wire Road, instead giving them permission to move forward to the planning board.

The decision upset scores of residents who'd fought since 2010 to keep the Kingdom Hall from being built on the road citing concerns of increased traffic among other things. A request by resident Bob and Donna Walles for the ZBA to reconsider was denied and on Feb. 7, the planning board approved the long contested project.

This sparked a lawsuit from the Walles' who said they believed the ZBA had made their decison under duress and they were seeking the court reverse the decision. The suit was filed  at the end of Frbruary. By Sepember, the suit was settled in a mediation session and appeased both parties, giving the Jehovah's Witnesses the go ahead to get plans ready. Ron Hansen, the congregation's elder said in September that they plan to start the project sometime this spring.