UNH research shows higher death rate among U.S. soldiers from rural America

New research from William O’Hare of the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire shows that U.S. soldiers from rural areas are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan at a higher rate than soldiers from urban and suburban areas. O’Hare, senior fellow at the Carsey Institute, presented his findings at a forum in New York on Sept. 8.

“We looked at all the soldiers that have died, and a disproportionately large share are from rural America,” O’Hare said in a recent interview with The Wire. Although rural areas account for only 19 percent of the adult population in the United States, they have experienced 27 percent of the casualties, according to the study. Data indicates that the death rate for rural soldiers (24 deaths per million adults, ages 18 to 59) is 60 percent higher than that of soldiers from cities and suburbs (15 deaths per million).

O’Hare attributes the discrepancy to the fact that more people from rural areas are enlisting in the military, which he believes is a result of poverty and lack of opportunities in their home communities. “There is a strong hypothesis or theory that states there is a dearth of opportunities, both economic and educational, in rural America,” he said. Traditional rural employment in farming, mining, fishing and small manufacturing has been declining for many years. “The Army looks like the best opportunity,” O’Hare said. 

While there is no silver bullet to end rural poverty, according to O’Hare, one idea that could help bring more economic and educational opportunities to rural America is extending the infrastructure for broadband Internet. “Lots of places don’t have the same access as people in urban America,” he said.

O’Hare studied data from a Department of Defense document that lists the hometown of every soldier who has died in Afghanistan and Iraq. “I’m a demographer. I look at numbers on a regular basis to look at social patterns, and I’ve always been interested in rural America,” he said. O’Hare hopes that his research will be a catalyst for economic development in rural areas of the United States. “I hope to get it to the state legislators and other high-level decision makers that have a chance to look at economic development in rural America,” he said. 

Vermont has the highest rural death toll, with Delaware a close second, according to O’Hare’s research. Oregon, Nebraska and Arizona also have lost a highly disproportionate number of servicemen and women from rural areas.

$50 million grant will help Portsmouth company help others

For the past 15 years, Dare Mighty Things has helped nonprofit organizations and public agencies design and launch social ventures that have a positive impact on high-risk populations. The company helps any organization that is “committed to making some sort of social impact,” said Dave Van Patten, president and CEO of the company. The National Guard Bureau recently awarded Dare Mighty Things a 10-year, $50 million-grant to help expand its National Guard Youth Challenge Program. 

Dare Mighty Things, a private management consulting company with offices in Portsmouth and Arlington, Va., has worked with the National Guard Bureau since 1993. “They immediately contacted us because of our work with mentoring programs,” Van Patten said. The Youth Challenge Program helps high school dropouts develop life skills to get back on track. Through a five-month residency program and a 12-month mentoring program, enrollees achieve eight core competencies, such as job skills, a GED and good health and hygiene practices. The program has helped more than 70,000 young dropouts.     

Dare Mighty Things has been given an expanded role in the Youth Challenge Program. It helped establish the National Challenge Institute, a training ground for any teacher, social worker or councilor who works with high-risk youths in the National Guard program. The institute includes distance learning courses and onsite training. “We’ve become their right hand in training these people,” Van Patten said.

The 10-year contract was awarded to Dare Mighty Things through a competitive process. The $50 million will allow Van Patten and his staff to expand their role and help develop more distance programs for the National Guard Bureau. “When a governor says, ‘We want a new program in this state,’ our contract requires us to work with them for six months. It defines Dare Mighty Things as the operating partner of the National Guard Bureau,” Van Patten said.

As a private company providing service for nonprofit entities, Dare Mighty Things is in a unique position. “All the work we do is for the public good. We help clients make an impact on the lives of people, but we’re a for-profit company. That causes us to be more results-oriented. We have to think very clearly about what the outcomes are,” Van Patten said.

Portsmouth Chamber names new president

Following a two-month search, the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has appointed a new president. Doug Bates, who recently served as executive director of Leadership Seacoast, officially took over the position on Sept. 5.

Bates replaces former president Dick Ingram, who left the Chamber two months ago to accept a position as executive director of the Housing Partnership. A search committee consisting of current and former board members accepted more than 30 applications for the job from as far away as Florida. The committee narrowed the applicants to three final candidates and ultimately chose Bates as Ingram’s successor.

Board chairperson Lisa DeStefano said many business leaders endorsed Bates’ selection for the job, and the Chamber board and staff voted unanimously to recommend him. Bates is a former board member and Chamber treasurer, and he has been involved in a number of community organizations, including Crime Stoppers, Sunrise Rotary Club of Portsmouth, the Greater Portsmouth Education Partnership and the Chamber’s Business Education Collaborative.

“The Chamber should act first and foremost as a business, and I would treat it as such,” Bates said in a release. “Over the next several months, we’ll be making some changes that focus on increasing the effectiveness of our programming, our staff and the services we provide to members.”

To contact the new president, send him an email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or call 603-610-5516.

six establishments serve alcohol to minors in Rye

A recent underage alcohol compliance check conducted by the Rye Police Department and the N.H. Liquor Enforcement Commission produced startling results. A 19-year-old woman successfully purchased alcohol at six of the 10 establishments she entered. The woman did not have a fake I.D.

Rye Police Chief Kevin Walsh said his department conducts alcohol compliance checks once or twice a year. He said the most recent check, which was conducted on Aug. 31, resulted in a higher percentage of failures than past efforts.

All of the bartenders or clerks who served alcohol to the woman will be arraigned at Portsmouth District Court on a charge of prohibited sales on Monday, Sept. 17. The Liquor Commission has also leveled charges against each of the establishments that failed to comply.

“We’re trying to get the employees to partner up with the police to make sure everybody gets carded,” Walsh said. “It just shows we’re reevaluating our goals and trying to get out and communicate better with our business partners, which are the businesses in Rye.”

The businesses that served the minor were Rye General Store, Carriage House Restaurant, Dunes Motel (New England Bounty Bar and Grill), Ray’s Seafood, Abenaqui Country Club and Petey’s Summertime Seafood. Saunders Restaurant, Le Parisian Restaurant, Petey’s Red Roof Market and the Wentworth Country Club passed the compliance check.

According to Rye police, there has been an increase in arrests for driving while intoxicated and crashes related to driving while intoxicated this year. In response, police have conducted numerous DWI and underage alcohol patrols.

Garden Harvest Festival

The Slow Food Garden Harvest Supper and Contra Dance will take place at Portsmouth’s Strawbery Banke on the evening of Friday, Sept. 15. The event features a multi-course dinner prepared by chefs and students of the Atlantic Culinary Academy, with help from Ben Hasty, executive chef of The Dunaway Restaurant. The meal will consist entirely of locally and organically raised heirloom produce, fruit, cheese, bread, meat, fish and cider. Craig Edwards and the Rhythm Method String Band will provide entertainment.

The outdoor supper will be held beneath tents set up at Strawbery Banke. Guided tastings and appetizers will begin at 5 p.m., with the supper following at 6 p.m. and dancing continuing until 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for Slow Food members and $10 for kids. Those interested in attending are advised to make reservations.

The dinner is part of the third annual Garden Harvest Festival, which will continue through Saturday Sept. 16, celebrating the late summer and early autumn harvest. For more information about the harvest supper, visit www.slowfoodseacoast.com. A full schedule of festival events is available at www.strawberybanke.org.