NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – Police say a city man who lost his condo to foreclosure set fire to the place on his way out the door on Tuesday.

Investigators are charging Edmund Grossman, 54 with arson. Police say he set the fire while three bidders were outside, waiting to bid on the condo at a bank auction. Sgt. Andrew Lavoie said Grossman tossed a key at one of the bidders, said “It’s all yours,” got in his car and left. When they checked the condo, it was on fire.

The condo was heavily damaged. Police still are looking for Grossman.

Officials say winds caused crash

JAFFREY, N.H. (AP) – Government investigators say high winds probably caused the crash of a vintage World War II biplane in October.

The pilot and passenger on a scenic flight suffered minor injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board said a heavy down draft forced the plane down.

The plane came down just after taking off from the Silver Ranch Airport.

Developer sues over ordinance

NORTHWOOD, N.H. (AP) – Last summer, a developer threatened to sue the town if residents passed a growth ordinance aimed at his project. Residents passed the growth limits and the developer has sued.

The ordinance limits residential subdivisions to three lots or fewer and puts a moratorium on condominium or multi-family developments for up to a year. Newbury North argues the new ordinance is discriminatory because it places limits only on large developments.

N.H. soldiers return from Iraq

LONDONDERRY, N.H. (AP) – Thirteen soldiers from the 821st Transportation Company returned to New Hampshire Thursday after spending more than a year deployed to Iraq.

Four of the soldiers received bronze stars, and Gov. Craig Benson gave the Londonderry-based unit a certificate of commendation at a homecoming ceremony Thursday night.

Unit members said they didn’t face combat in Iraq, but areas of Balad Air Base, where they were quartered, came under almost daily assault by insurgents. The base is located about 40 miles north of Baghdad.

“The only dangers we had were mortar attacks,” said Sgt. Robert Williams of Haverhill, Mass. “After April 9, we were getting hit three, four times a day sometimes.”

None of the soldiers were wounded. They have been deployed since Dec. 6, 2003.

Along with mortar attacks, the area also was subject to discomforts that included sandstorms and desert insects.

Williams offered just one word, “great,” to describe his feelings on returning home. But he offered advice to fellow troops still stationed overseas.

“Keep your head down,” he said. “Come back home safely.”

Sgt. 1st Class Edward Hetman of East Bridgewater, Mass., said regular attacks didn’t discourage the unit’s soldiers. He said many Iraqi citizens willingly risked their safety to work with Americans.

“They know what they’re looking for – it’s freedom,” he added. “They don’t know what it is yet, but they know we’re there to help.”

His thoughts quickly turned to New England’s winter weather.

“I’ve got to get to used to the cold,” he said. “It’s quite different.”

The soldiers’ unit was responsible for tracking convoy movements in Iraq. It falls under the Massachusetts-based 94th Regional Readiness Command. The command is the Army Reserve’s New England headquarters unit.

It oversees about 5,600 soldiers in the region. More than 3,000 of them have been mobilized for the war against terrorism.

AP-ES-12-30-04 2115EST