CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Liquor experts are lining up against a suggestion that New Hampshire require all liquor coming into the state be delivered through the port of Portsmouth.

Rep. Laura Pantelakos, D-Portsmouth, has proposed a study committee to look into whether the state could save money by bringing liquor into Portsmouth Harbor before distributing it around the state.

She says the state must deal with the increased costs of too many middlemen before the liquor reaches state stores.

However, Liquor Commissioner John Byrne said the Portsmouth requirement would cost rather than save money. He said the state buys its liquor from brokers who receive shipments up and down the Eastern seaboard, then truck it around the country.

He said the amount of liquor sales in the state is not enough to prompt distributors to ship directly to Portsmouth.

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Attention Deficit

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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – New Hampshire health officials have offered doctors in the state a guide to help them diagnose and treat children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The disorders cause controversy around the country, and, without guidelines, some children with the disorder are not recognized while others are treated for it, even if they don’t have it. Health professionals estimate half of all children in the country with ADHD are not receiving proper care.

New Hampshire’s medical director, Dr. William Kassler, said there are no numbers on where New Hampshire’s children stand, but he says the state wants to ensure its children get the best care possible.

He said the guide is intended to help parents and doctors recognize and manage symptoms of ADHD.

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Rochester Police

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ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – The dispute over a new police contract continues, with the police chief saying it is giving the city problems recruiting and keeping officers.

Chief David Dubois joined members of the police union in asking the City Council to overturn the mayor’s recent veto of the union’s new contract. The chief hasn’t said much during the prolonged dispute, but Tuesday he told the Council he has kept quiet too long.

The Council approved the union’s latest contract proposal, which called for a 4 percent pay raise in each of the next three years. Mayor David Walker vetoed the contract, saying it was unfair to Rochester residents.

The last contract expired in June 2003.

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Pension Lawsuit

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BOSTON (AP) – The federal government is suing a Massachusetts man for more than $10,000 it claims he withheld from his employees’ pension plan when he ran a now-defunct company in New Hampshire.

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against Joseph Zoppo of Westwood, Mass., for withholding the money from the pension plan at I/O Desktop Specialists Inc. of Nashua, N.H., which closed in 2001.

The lawsuit says Zoppo kept the money for other uses, including the company’s operation.

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Police Shakeup

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HOOKSETT, N.H. (AP) – A town police commissioner says the community’s police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave for violating department regulations.

Judy Hess said Wednesday Stephen Agrafiotis was suspended not because of any criminal activity but for violating the town’s administrative code.

The commission has not detailed the reasons for the suspension, other than it acted on complaints of department employees.

Agrafiotis has been in the job six years in the town of more than 12,000 people.

AP-ES-01-19-05 1816EST