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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, the place to go to get the news from overnight and onward...
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BREAKING NEWS: PORTLAND FIRE -- Firefighters are at 26 Presumpscot St. for an all-hands house fire that was called in shortly before 9 a.m. Early reports indicate that a Christmas tree may have sparked a fire that spread to the room.
A photographer is on his way to the scene. We'll have more for you as the story develops.
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IN THE WEATHER:
(Been an interesting morning temperature-wise. At 7 a.m. it was 8 degrees. At 8 a.m. it was 7 degrees. And now, at 9 a.m., it is 8 degrees. Anyone looking for lottery numbers to play....)
Think it is cold this morning? Just you wait.
The REAL cold, an arctic front, blankets our state tonight, accompanied by snow showers and some squalls that could be near white-out conditions. Some localized accumulation may occur, but no more than a couple inches.
And then the bone-shattering cold moves in. Single temperatures on Wednesday will be even icier with a gusty wind, bringing the wind chill down to 15 to 25 below in the mountains and between zero and 15 below elsewhere.
It's a dangerous kind of cold that requires a National Weather Service winter advisory. Although winds subside, we lock in that cold air until at least Saturday.
Remember not to leave pets outside for long periods of time without a warm spot in which to retreat. And check on the elderly to make sure they have heat and the supplies they need to get through the cold snap.
THE SUNRISE HERALD WEATHER WATCHERS REPORT:
hazily through thin clouds. Nothing much going on at the moment. Calm is fine.
Jim in Cape Elizabeth: Here it is the eve of the January Deep Freeze and at 5:45, it is +9 with partly cloudy skies and a haloed moon in the western sky. It's calm. It will still be on the chilly side so be sure to bundle up ESPECIALLY with head gear. Hope everyone has a good day!!
Shawn in Yarmouth says: It is 10 degrees here in Yarmouth, which I understand is warm compared to what it is going to be the rest of the week. The sky is clear, the moon is bright, the snow is sparkling. It is all quite lovely, as long as you don't mind your eyelashes freezing. Bundle up! Enjoy your day.
Mark in Brunswick says: Single digits outside with seven degrees and clear skies this morning.
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ON THE ROAD:
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ON THE OCEAN:
For the early part of today, though, winds blow 5 to 10 knots, with gusts of up to 25 knots later today. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
High tide in Portland: 12:24 p.m. Low tides at 6:09 a.m. and 6:46 p.m.
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AUGUSTA -- The American Lung Association says Maine is not doing as well as in years past in its tobacco prevention and control efforts.
The association's State of Tobacco Control Report released today shows Maine getting B's and C's in "classes" where it used to get straight A's.
The reason: Program funding cuts, says Edward Miller, executive director of the American Lung Association of Maine.
"When tobacco programs are slashed and devastated due to shortsighted budget-balancing tactics, the biggest losers are our children and young adults," Miller said in a prepared statement.
Maine received an A for Smoke-Free Air, but went down to a B grade for Excise Tax Rate and dropped to two C's - one for Treatment Services and the other for Program Funding.
Miller said now is not the time for the state to turn its back on Maine's tobacco program.
More discussion and information on the matter will be presented during a 10 a.m. press conference today in Augusta .
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PORTLAND -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland released new details last night, saying that 14 individuals reported abuse by Thomas Lee, a former priest at St. Philip in Lyman.
A press release from the diocese stated that the information is being provided "to give community perspective on the case and to support complainants who say they have been criticized by the community for making a report of sexual abuse."
Marie Tupper, a mother from Boothbay Harbor, has asked for a meeting with Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Diocese of Portland to discuss the abuse Lee allegedly inflicted on her son years ago.
Columnist Bill Nemitz offers his take on that situation in today's Portland Press Herald, which can be read by clicking this link.
On Monday evening, the diocese sent out a clarification of information regarding allegations of abuse against Lee. In the past, the diocese stated that there were more than two or multiple records of abuse that took place in the early 1980s.
"Specifically, the Diocese of Portland received nine direct and two second-hand reports relating to events involving a total of fourteen individuals, all from the Boothbay Harbor area, where Lee served from 1971 - 1985," stated the press release. "The reports involved issues of inappropriate touching or privacy violations."
No reports were made from Lyman, said the Diocese, where Lee ministered from 1985 - 2003.
Lee, now 81, was removed from the ministry more than five years ago in response to the complaints.
The information did not offer a response to Tupper's request to meet with the bishop.
Rather, it said, "Bishop Malone is calling on the community to be understanding to all involved, most especially those who have made reports."
Tupper said she was too distraught to comment this morning and referred questions to Paul Kendrick, a member of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
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BRUNSWICK -- Brunswick police are looking for two men who they say robbed the Cook's Corner Norway Savings Bank branch yesterday.
The suspects are described as two black men wearing sunglasses and dark jackets. One had a dark cap, the other a beanie-style cap with some type of logo, police said.
The two fled in a white sport utility vehicle.
Police say the men threatened the use of a weapon and demanded money, fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash when they robbed the Gurnet Road bank shortly after noon yesterday.
No one was injured in the robbery, according to police Lt. Mark Waltz. Anyone with information is asked to call Brunswick police at 725-6634.
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PORTLAND -- At least there is some good news out of the city. Passenger traffic at the Portland International Jetport reached an all-time high in 2008.
Airport officials said 1.7 million passengers flew in or out of the airport last year compared to 1.6 million in 2007.
Traffic last month was also up, following several months of decreases, with 115,786 passengers using the airport compared to 111,985 in December 2007, up 3 percent month to month.
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FROM OUR NEWS PARTNERS:
• The Lewiston Sun Journal this morning is reporting that the Maineiacs, the Lewiston hockey team, fired its head coach, Ed Harding (seen at right in a Press Herald file photo) on Monday. The full story can be read by clicking here.
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