2007 was the first year the
Express picked a citizen of the year, and the first recipient
of the award was retired state representative Kathleen Teahan.
Teahan, a former Whitman-Hanson High School teacher, followed
her husband, the late Bob Teahan into politics and served
for a decade.
“Everyday she worked to do the right thing …
she was a role model for me,” said Teahan’s
longtime legislative aide Mike Power.
In less positive news, 2007 was a year that saw an increase
in the use of heroin and oxycontin in Whitman and surrounding
towns.
Police and fire officials said they had seen a marked increase
in ambulance calls related to drug overdoses, as well as
several deaths.
“It’s a really recent change,” said Whitman-Hanson
graduate and support group member Sara, who did not want
her last name used for the story. “It’s not
just the people you’d expect, it’s everybody.
The football player, the church-going kid, everybody. And
it’s definitely reached the high school kids.”
In other news, a 40B affordable housing development known
as Heritage Park –– which had been in hearings
for over a year –– was accepted by the zoning
board.
The architectural firm Durland Van Vorhees was selected
by the Board of Selectmen to study the possibility of turning
the former National Guard armory into a police station.
The site was controversial and would pop up in the news
throughout 2007.
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