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Sunrise Herald is the early morning news update feature at
pressherald.com. It is updated at 6, 7, 8 and 9 on weekdays.
Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman (who has returned from vacation) the place to go to get the news from overnight and onward...
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IN THE WEATHER
A rather foggy vista greeted visitors to downtown Portland this morning, as seen here this morning's "view from a window at 390 Congress Street" snapshot. And although it is burning off, the clouds linger, threatening on and off showers depending where you live. Even some afternoon thunderstorms possible. Overall, a grayish, damp day with highs in the mid 80s.
From Bill in Rockland: At 5:30 a.m., Rockland has a fog so thick it's practically drizzle, but the cobwebs on the grass suggest eventual clearing. The wind is gone and the temperature is 62 degrees: clammy and oppressive. From James in Cape Elizabeth: At 6:30 here in Cape Elizabeth it was foggy and 62 degrees. The wind has started to pick up but I hope it is not as intense as yesterday when we had our patio umbrella snap in half!!ON THE ROAD:
The closures will be on both sides of the turnpike, and will continue until Thursday from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Traffic may be stopped for up to 25 minutes for the work.
This comes at the same time portions of I-295 southbound, south of the Gardiner toll plaza, remain closed. So basically, expect delays while traveling Maine's main arteries.
ON THE OCEAN:
Wind blows 10 to 15 knots with 3 to 5 foot seas. Visibility: Seriously limited.
High tide in Portland was at 9:22 a.m. and will be again at 9:27 p.m. Low tide was at 3:12 a.m. and will be again at 3:10 p.m.
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THE NEWEST NEWS:
UNITY (AP) –– Two teenage girls accused of vandalism at a cemetery in Unity and the desecration of a nearby church have been placed in a juvenile detention center.
Maine State Trooper Thomas Welch says the girls appeared in court late last week before being placed in the Juvenile Detention Center at Charleston.
Police say the girls knocked over or broke 42 gravestones at Quaker Hill Cemetery and splattered paint, broke windows and wrote obscenities at the Quaker Hill Christian Church.
Authorities became aware of the vandalism last Tuesday when state police received a report of a stolen car. Welch said the girls were apprehended with the car and confessed to the vandalism. Welch says the girls thought what they did was "funny."
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ROBBINSTON (AP) –– Firefighters worked through the night and into this morning to control a wildfire that burned 130 acres in Washington County.
Maine Forest Service District Ranger Jeff Currier says the blaze started when a camp caught fire on Sunday, and the flames spread quickly due to strong wind gusts.
Forest Service helicopters made water drops, and firefighters had the fire partially contained as of last night. No other homes were destroyed, and there were no injuries.
Perry Fire Chief Paula Frost told the Bangor Daily News that it would likely be later this morning before firefighters established a line around the entire fire.
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BOOTHBAY –&ndash State officials were scheduled to be in Boothbay today to talk to employees about the fate of a well-known boatyard that was destroyed by a spectacular fire three days ago. At 7:30 a.m. today, workers met with company officials where they might learn when the shipyard might be re-built.
Fire investigators plan to interview workers at the Washburn & Doughty boatyard to determine the sequence of events leading to the fire, which caused an estimated $30 million in damages.
The Department of Labor's Rapid Response Team will also visit the site to offer assistance to workers and answer questions about what is next.
Friday's fire destroyed the boatyard's 50,000 square-foot building and two tugboats that were under construction. The business is an economic linchpin in the Boothbay area. It has more than 80 direct employees while also employing dozens of subcontractors.
Keep checking news updates through the day, as the Portland Press Herald has a reporter covering the story and will post information here, as it develops.
To catch up with previous reports, CLICK HERE and HERE.
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
Firefighters are joined by the Coast Guard to help battle the blaze Friday at the Washburn & Doughty shipyard, where two tugboats like the one in the background were being built.
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I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP:
WHO WANTS TO THRASH AROUND in a big pit of mashed potatoes?
Well, then, if you are anywhere near Fort Fairfield this Saturday, you're in luck!
That's the day of the Maine Potato Blossom Festival's mashed potato wrestling contest, where a whole bunch of people get to wallow around in a pit of mashed potatoes, all vying for the title of top tater.
But if you can't wait until then, there's plenty of potato celebrating to go around all week, as the celebration continues this week and into this coming Sunday, July 20.
There are lots of fun things to do, through the week: Pageants, food, parades, music and fireworks as well as potato-picking, beard-growing and skillet-throwing contests.
But the highlight of the festival is the mashed potato wrestling contest, which has been on hiatus for several years and returns for every hungry Jack and Jill for miles around.
Press Herald file photo
Potato wrestling from the past: Mark Boynton, 8, from Millinocket, got the upper handful of mashed potatoes on Kyle Zuidema, 5, from Fort Fairfield. Photo from July 18, 1998.
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