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This story was updated at 12:20 to correct the date of a Casco Bay Lines public hearing. Incorrect information was provided by the ferry service.
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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HIGHLIGHTS FROM BEIJING:
So proud, I am, of womens gymnast Shawn Johnson, finally getting the gold she's been seeking since the start of these games. I'm also proud of
our Sports Reporter Mike Lowe, who is covering the games from Beijing who, having as magnetic a personality as just about anybody can, found some Mainers in the Olympic city. Click here to read his latest blog.
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IN THE WEATHER:
So, the rain held on a little longer yesterday morning than expected. But, guess what? THERE WILL NOT BE ANY RAIN TODAY. That's right! Not even a CHANCE of rain.
A bit chilly, though, if you didn't notice when you woke up first thing. Wear some socks! The dry weather stretch is thanks to a cold front that pushed through. So, breezy day, but sunny and very little humidity! Hooray!
From Bill in Rockland:
Just a hint of "that fall we call the fall" this morning at 5:30 a.m.
as the temperature has dipped below 50 to 49 degrees. A slight breeze
adds to what can only be called a distinct nippiness in the very
clear air of today's dawn. From Shawn in Yarmouth: Is there a fall nip in the air? I think so. This morning it is 51 degrees, crystal clear blue sky, no wind to speak of and no humidity. I had a friend tell me that on his drive to South Paris this past weekend he saw leaves that were already turning...Let's hope that fall is not quite here yet, but Indian summer is just beginning and will be long and bright!ON THE ROAD:
Image of before and after provided by the WMTW Skycam
• TRAFFIC WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE ON I-295 SOUTHBOUND in the Brunswick-Topsham area so crews can put finishing touches on the new surface. The work starts at 9 a.m. and will take traffic down to one southbound lane. Both lanes should be open for travel by Thursday, the Maine Department of Transportation reports.
• THE ROUTE 196 ON-RAMP THAT CONNECTS ROUTE 196 WITH ROUTE 1 NORTH OF BRUNSWICK will be closed today at 9 a.m. for milling in preparation for paving.
To access Route 1 north from the Coastal Connector (Route 196) and Route 201 south in Topsham - follow the signs to the Maine Street - Mason Street Route 1 northbound on-ramp in Brunswick. Drivers on I-295 north should use Exit 28 to access Route 1 north.
ON THE OCEAN:
• OTHERWISE: A nice, clear day for ferry riding, or sailing, as a high pressure system builds from the west today. That means fair weather for the next few days, with summer-like weather building until what promises to be a glorious weekend. The wind comes from the west, 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 3 feet.
High tide in Portland: 2:04 p.m. Low tides: 7:53 a.m. and then again at 8:16 p.m.
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THE NEWEST NEWS:
MIAMI (AP) -- The Maine man accused in Florida of threatening to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is set to enter a plea in federal court.
Arraignment is scheduled today for 22-year-old Raymond Hunter Geisel in Miami. The Secret Service arrested Geisel earlier this month after he was allegedly overheard threatening Obama by students at a training course for bail bondsmen. Geisel, who once lived in Hampden, is being held without bail. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the charge.
Authorities discovered numerous weapons, ammunition and military-style gear in Geisel's vehicle and hotel room when he was arrested. But there's no evidence he ever took steps to carry out any type of attack on Obama.
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FRYEBURG -- The City of Portland is in need of a new police chief, and now, a new deputy police chief, too, but the town of Fryeburg is all set.
Philip Weymouth was hired Friday from a pool of a dozen applicants. He comes to Fryeburg from Rangeley, where he was chief for seven years.
Prior to that, Weymouth was with the York County Sheriff's Department.
Weymouth starts his new job in Fryeburg on Sept. 15, less than two weeks before the start of the Fryeburg Fair.
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ACADIA NATIONAL PARK (AP) -- The National Park Service is investigating allegations after park rangers broke up a party at Acadia National Park over the weekend.
The park service says rangers responded to reports of a large outdoor party at Day Mountain shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday.
When rangers arrived, they found a party with about 45 young people and cited several people for possession of controlled substances and some for underage possession of alcohol.
Park service officials say some of the partygoers are alleging that they were injured when the party was broken up.
The park service said it believes rangers acted responsibly. But because the accusations involve alleged injuries, the park service's headquarters in Washington and regional office in Philadelphia will investigate.
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SKOWHEGAN -- An Anson man was flown by helicopter to a Bangor hospital Tuesday afternoon after crashing his motorcycle on U.S. Route 201.
Paul Daigle, 47, suffered what was described as a life-threatening head injury, said Chief Michael Emmons of the Skowhegan Police Department. Daigle, who was not wearing a helmet, was flown by a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center.
He was still being evaluated Tuesday evening, said a nurse supervisor at the hospital.
The crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. when Daigle, who was driving toward Skowhegan, went to pass another vehicle just north of the Sappi mill.
Daigle was thrown from the bike when his rear breaks locked up, causing the rear tire to skid several feet down the road.
"We're not sure, at this point . . . whether he locked the rear breaks up or there was a mechanical failure," Emmons said.
Daigle was thrown into the southbound lane. His motorcycle came to a rest in the northbound breakdown lane about 100 feet away and burst into flames. Skowhegan firefighters spent several minutes putting out the fire.
Daigle's 2007 Triumph was totaled, Emmons said.
Troopers from the Maine State Police were called to reconstruct the accident. Officer Don Avery of the Skowhegan Police is investigating, but initial indications are that speed was a factor, Emmons said. Police also were awaiting results of a blood alcohol test.
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YORK -- Police need the public's help in finding the person they say assaulted a 15-year-old girl Tuesday morning.
A police report says that around 7:40 a.m., the girl was riding her bicycle on Freeman Street in York Beach when a silver Dodge Caravan mini-van pulled up along side.
The male driver began asking her questions through the passenger side of the window. As the girl tried to cross in front of the van to take a side street, the driver, while still seated, reached out, grabbed her and hit her in the face.
Her injuries were minor. The driver has not been found.
He is described as a white man, between 40 to 50 years old, with sandy blond hair and no facial hair. He was wearing a gray T-shirt with sleeves down to the elbows.
Anyone with information should call the York Police Department at 363-4444.
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