NEWRY — In addition to residents and town officials, the town office is attracting a much wilder crowd. Over the past few weeks, several wild turkeys have strutted out of the woods, giving Administrative Assistant Sylvia Gray and Deputy Clerk Loretta Berry something to look at other than paperwork. The turkeys have been the talk of the town office at the past three Board of Selectmen meetings and, Gray said, could even be heard in the background during a phone conversation, chatting away in gobbling fashion. Berry said Thursday afternoon that the Town Office turkeys have spent that week over at Melvina Cummings’ place, apparently ignoring seed that was put out for them. Another Newry resident has had 16 wild turkey “boarders” all winter, she added, noting that the Town Office bunch could be from part of that group.

-Terry Karkos
Upton:

Jim Rector

elected to post

UPTON – Jim Rector, a retired hospital administrator, was elected at Thursday’s annual town meeting to a one-year term on the Board of Selectmen. He is filling out the term vacated by former Selectman Earl Largesse. Larry Nelson was re-elected to a third, three-year term to the Board of Selectmen. Nelson is retired from the auto industry. Sue Nelson, a physical education teacher and librarian, was re-elected to a third, three-tion teacher and librarian, was re-elected to a third, three-year term on the Upton School Committee. Here are some Upton numbers from 2002: The population was 67. There were no births, one death and one marriage.

The town issued three bear permits, seven concealed-weapons permits, 15 combined hunting and fishing licenses, and 19 dog licenses.

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Department made four calls during the year.

Property valuation for the town in 2002: $8.6 million

– Eileen Adams