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By Giselle Goodman August 18, 2008 09:31 AM

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, the place to go to get the news from overnight and onward...
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Where to begin?? Phelps and his super-cool eight gold medals? Romania, and not the USA, taking the gold in the women's gymnastics floor exercises? China's track super star Liu Xiang out of the games because of an injury? Jamaica cleaning house in track and field? So much excitement from Beijing, I can barely stand it. You can catch all of it, and musings from own Mike Lowe, covering the games from Beijing, by clicking here.

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IN THE WEATHER:

At 9 a.m., it was 69 degrees in downtown Portland.

I only put the stormy icon up there, because after a mostly sunny day, with warm temperatures, we might be visited by some rather heavy thunderstorms. They'll be akin to what we experienced Saturday, so batten down the hatches. Then, enjoy some really brilliant weather for the rest of the week.

ON THE ROAD:

• THE NEW I-295 ENTRANCE RAMP AT EXIT 3 (SOUTH PORTLAND) OPENS TODAY! -- And much confusion could abound. Please, approach this area with caution and pay attention to signs.

• THE MASON STREET ON-RAMP TO ROUTE 1, NORTHBOUND IN BRUNSWICK -- CLOSED TODAY. -- Contractors will be milling the pavement to prepare the surface for paving, requiring full road closure of the road.

Signs will be in the area, helping drivers to get around the road work by using Route 24 and the entrance to the Route 196 bypass in Topsham. Mason Street will also be closed today to left-turning traffic off of Route 201 (Maine Street).

ON THE OCEAN:

THERE IS A NEW BOAT LAUNCH IN BRUNSWICK which opens after a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. today. The Mere Point Boat Launch in Brunswick was under construction for two years and provides public, deep water access in northern Casco Bay. Until now, that access has been unavailable to Maine residents who didn't have their own deep water frontage.

We're not talking just a concrete stretch into the water, here. The Mere Point access site features a dual lane, 48-foot-wide boat ramp and 55 parking spaces designed for trailer rig use or single cars. Power boats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks and other watercraft can launch and retrieve boats on the ramp, which will have a central dock separating the lanes, creating a safe, efficient launching site. Kayakers and canoeists also can use granite steps and a kayak slide to launch away from the ramp.

So, if you've got the time for a boat trip today head to Brunswick. And, in case you want to know what the weather will bring on Casco Bay...

• A cold front is coming in from Canada, and it will mean some instability on the ocean.

Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south 10 to 15 knots late this morning. Seas 2 to 4 feet.

High tide in Portland: 12:50 p.m. Low tides: 6:39 a.m. and then again at 6:50 p.m.

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THE NEWEST NEWS:

BRUNSWICK -- A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. today for former Durham Fire Chief Donald R. Brown, who died Thursday at age 62.

The funeral procession will make its way down Federal Street in Brunswick and end at Brackett Funeral Home.

Brown was fire chief for Durham's fire department from 1973 to 1993. According to his obituary, he joined the department when he was 15 years old, and served until his retirement. Most recently, he worked for Bowdoin College, serving as mechanical supervisor.

Service information and condolences to the family may be found at the Brackett Funeral Home website.

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WATERVILLE -- Police say they have arrested a Clinton woman who was allegedly involved in a hold up at the Dunkin' Donuts on Kennedy Memorial Drive.

The drive-up window robbery was reported on Friday at around 11:42 p.m. Police received a call about a subject who demanded money at the drive-up window.

Police arrived seconds later and chased the suspect, who was trying to run away.

Police identified her as Cheryl Stone, 33, a former employee of the business, who was recently fired from the donut shop.

Police recovered approximately $1,700 in cash, which was allegedly taken from the start.

Waterville Detective David Caron, who investigated the case, said Stone did not show a weapon during the crime. Stone was charged with Class B felony robbery. She is at the Kennebec County Jail.

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AUGUSTA -- Leah Peachey of Augusta was recently honored by the United States Personal Chef Association for having developed the "Best Personal Chef Recipe in 2008," the association announced Sunday.

Her award-winning recipe was for baked crusted haddock with herbed crumbs and oats.

Personal chefs prepare meals in a client's home, package them to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, then cleanup the kitchen before leaving, according to the association. The association is the largest personal chef trade organization in the country.

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OF NOTE TODAY:

A BIT OF CHINA IN AUGUSTA TODAY: Eight native Chinese teachers and a native Spanish teacher will visit the capitol today to learn about the state where they will teach this school year.

At 10 a.m., they meet with Gov. John Baldacci in his office. Then at 2 p.m., the guests will join Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron for tea at the Blaine House.

The Chinese Guest Teacher Program and the Visiting Teachers from Spain Program are new initiatives for Maine, and are intended to bring teachers from those countries to the state's elementary and secondary schools. The teachers will share their language and culture with students to help expand world language programs in our state.

The visiting Chinese teachers will be placed at the following schools this year:
Falmouth Schools; Foxcroft Academy; John Bapst Memorial High School; Maine School Administrative District #4 (Guilford); Mt. Ararat High School; Mt. Blue High School (Farmington); Washington Academy (East Machias); and Yarmouth High School.

The visiting Spanish teacher will be placed at Richmond High School.