Free Keene

Click here to view the pdf.

Thanks to BJ Wurts for the great letter about his trip to Keene.

The Free Keene Press is going to be looking to expand the amount of pages we have to fill.  The next edition will be four pages instead of one.  This means I am going to need more Keene-centric content and could use some help with that task.  Currently I am paying for the printing costs out of pocket, with the cost going from $70 to $200,  I will also need help paying for the printing costs.  I am open to the idea of running some ads and pricing is negotiable.

What I am looking for as far as content is:

• Articles in general
• Photographs with caption or brief context description
• Re-printable art
• Opinion pieces
• Comics, puzzles
• Press releases for events around Keene

In terms of the articles I would like to see:

• Taxes
• City Council watch type report
• Events around the Keene area like Pumpkin Fest
• Social needs and services and a critique thereof, both public and private
• Important Cheshire county news stories

And much more of course.  I plan on keeping an open mind as to what gets printed.  You can submit an item for consideration by sending an email to press@freekeene.com.

And just to clarify things: By submitting you give the Free Keene Press permission to reprint and edit your item as we see fit.  You will not be compensated.  You will be credited and if your item is edited a note will be made.  Please limit profanity.  More than likely if an edit is made it will be for length.

If you have questions please feel free to email the above address.

Click on the Press link to the right or click here to see the pdf.

Happy New Year!

Click read on for an excerpt from the January issue of the Free Keene Press (Read on …)

Brandon Durham of Keene found the morning of October 19, 2009 a little chilly.  He was walking to the courthouse wearing a hooded sweatshirt and found that putting the hood up kept his head warmer.  He entered the City Hall building and proceeded up the stairs and through the security checkpoint.  Brandon then entered the courtroom and took a seat while he waited for the judge to enter the room and process the days docket.

A bailiff approached Brandon and asked him to remove his hood.

Brandon forgot he even had it on and declined when asked to remove it.

(Read on …)

UPDATE!!  Ryan Maddox is released after being arraigned this afternoon!  He has a curfew now and another court case for “Hindering the Prosecution” of our neighbor lady.

The Sheriffs had an utter disregard for safety and speed off while turning the car and ended up running over the foot of Jesse O’Keene.

See the video here on WMUR’s site. Here’s the text of the report:

KEENE, N.H. — Two witnesses helped police track down and arrest a man charged with robbing a Keene pharmacy at knifepoint.

Police said a man robbed the Apothecary Pharmacy at about 5 p.m. on Monday. Police said he left with painkillers and was spotted by at least two men nearby.

“Basically, he came right out the door and was running, so I followed him into the alleyway,” said witness James Schlessinger.

Schlessinger openly carries a gun and said he wasn’t concerned about the possibility of the man having a weapon.

“I was armed and I wasn’t so scared because his attention wasn’t so much on other people as it was running away,” Schlessinger said. (Read on …)

By James B Schlessinger Jr.

I was about to sit down and eat my freshly prepared meal when I heard a lady outside yell, “he has a knife.”  I turned to the door and a moment later a woman was standing at the entrance announcing, “don’t come outside there is a guy with a knife.”

I exited the Subway and noticed crowd gathered somewhat semi-circle around the entrance of the next door shop, The Apothecary.  I started to walk toward the door and a man in a mask burst out of the door.  He was carrying a large kitchen knife and what looked like a tan wastebasket or bag.  He ran straight to the alleyway next to the shop, I followed him down the length of the alley and into a parking lot.  He had dropped his mask mid-way through the alley and his face was clearly visible bearing a distinct grey facial hair pattern.  I saw him heading for a waiting vehicle and watched him climb in the front passenger seat of the SUV which contained a driver and perhaps one more in the back.  I memorized the license plate and headed back to the shop.

(Read on …)

Facebook Event Here

With 4 Keene area activists in jail and the Fall Free Keene planned for tomorrow, why not take the show on the road and stop by the Cheshire County Department of Corrections located in Westmoreland, NH?

Want to have a party?  Bring a party!

Want to have music?  Bring Music!

ect…

Initial reports indicated that Evan Pierce was released along with Rich Paul and Noah Wood after todays 420 event.  I have come to learn that Evan is at the Cheshire County Correctional Facility.

I apologize for the mistake.

This makes 4 total activists in jail.

Six individuals were arrested by police this afternoon at Pumpkin Fest.  The daily 420 event was moved to the area directly in front of City Hall due to the massive pumpkin display at Central Square.  Rich Paul of Keene took to the megaphone in front a large crowd and at the proper time lit a pipe presumably containing marijuana, a plant.  Police quickly surrounded Mr. Paul and placed him under arrest.  Noah Wood and Evan Pierce were also seen lighting up and were arrested as well.

Three other individuals were also arrested at city hall, when asked about the charge officers indicated that they did not know why they were arresting the three.  A witness reportedly saw one of the individuals attempt to enter the city hall building prompting police to arrest him.  It is unknown at this time exactly what happened.  Ryan Maddox, Dan Steward and Yadra, all from the Keene area.

Latest update:  Rich Paul, Noah Wood and Dan Steward have been released; Ryan Maddox, Evan Pierce and Yadra are reported to be at the Cheshire County Correctional Facility.

Click here for the .pdf with pictures

Keene, the Peaceful Civil-Disobedience Apex

James B Schlessinger Jr.

October 5th, 2009

Words on paper are not stopping activists and locals from living like free people in Keene, New Hampshire.  Whether it is marijuana consumption on the Commons or a young woman going topless on Main Street, Keene has become the place to challenge unjust, immoral, and simply foolish laws.  This has naturally rankled many state and local civil servants.  The Keene City Council voted against sending a resolution to the state house begging for marijuana decriminalization legislation–instead individuals on the council were encouraged to send a personal message.  The Keene Police Department has shown both professionalism in its dealings with the 420 events and violence though Police Prosecutor Sergeant Eliezer Rivera.

April 13, 2009, was the day that David Ridley, of Grafton, was to be arraigned for videotaping in the second-floor lobby of the Keene City Hall.  Sam Dodson was arrested on that date, while videotaping there; his charges changed several times over the following months.

(Read on …)