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2nd New Hampshire Immigration Checkpoint Leads To 5 Arrests

WOODSTOCK, N.H. (AP) — A three-day immigration checkpoint in northern New Hampshire has resulted in the arrest of 5 people living in the U.S. illegally.The operation ran from Friday through Sunday in Woodstock along Interstate 93. People arrested were from Brazil, China, Ecuador, El Salvador and Mexico. The U.S. Border Patrol says they were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The same area was the site of a Memorial Day weekend checkpoint that led to 17 arrests. Agents also seized drugs and drug paraphernalia, including marijuana.

Earlier this month, the ACLU of New Hampshire obtained law enforcement emails that revealed there are six checkpoints planned for this year.

Agents are allowed to set up checkpoints within 100 miles of the border. Woodstock is about 90 miles from the Canadian border.

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Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

Salmonella Bacteria under magnification. ~ Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is informing consumers that The Kellogg Company is recalling all boxes of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal as part of an investigation into an ongoing, multistate outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating 73 illnesses across 31 states related to a specific type of Salmonella. The illnesses occurred between March 3, 2018, and May 28, 2018. Based on interviews of ill people, investigators have determined that the Honey Smacks cereal is the likely source of the outbreak. One case of salmonellosis has been confirmed in New Hampshire as part of this outbreak.

“Cereal has a long shelf life, so we are advising people to check their shelves and pantries to make sure they do not have any boxes of the recalled product,” said Beth Daly, Chief of the DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. “Anyone who has Honey Smacks cereal should either throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.”

Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps usually 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the patient is treated promptly with antibiotics.

DPHS continues to follow this outbreak closely, including coordinating with the CDC and FDA to investigate reported cases, and will provide updates as they become available. To report a suspected illness associated with this outbreak, people should contact the DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496.

For further information, please visit the CDC webpage dedicated to the outbreak at https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/mbandaka-06-18/index.html.

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58th Annual Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race Results

The top male finishers (left to right), Eric Blake, Cesare Maestri and Sage Canaday . Maestri won with a time of 1:00:53. ~ Photo courtesy of Mt. Washington Auto Road

Pinkham Notch, NH – In typically high winds on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, Cesare Maestri of Italy became the first European to win the Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race. Making his first-ever appearance on the historic Mt. Washington Auto Road, Maestri, 24, of Borgo Lares, Italy, pulled away from three-time Mount Washington winner Eric Blake at the halfway mark and ran the rest of the way alone, winning in a time of one hour and 53 seconds. Blake, 39, of West Hartford, CT, ran shoulder to shoulder with Maestri for the first half of the race but then could not continue to match the Italian’s seemingly effortless pace. Blake finished second in 1:01:53.

Kim Dobson won the ladies again making this her 5th win. ~ Photo courtesy of Mt. Washington Auto Road

In the women’s race, Kim Dobson, 34, of Eagle, CO, dropped the rest of the field at the start and ran to the 6288-foot summit of Mt. Washington alongside some of the fastest men to finish in 1:11:43. Not only did Dobson win this grueling race for the fifth time in as many attempts, but she placed seventh overall, nine seconds behind former Mt. Washington champion Simon Gutierrez of Alamosa, CO.

Hers is the highest finish for a woman in the race’s 58-year history. Second was Heidi Caldwell, 26, of Craftsbury Common, VT in 1:14:55. Shelley Doucet of Quispamsis, New Brunswick, took third in 1:16:29.

“The first part was the most steep,” remarked Maestri, who was seeing the Auto Road for the first time. “In the next part it was more easy to go fast, but then the wind starts to get stronger, and it was very difficult to run, because the wind also changes direction.”

“That wind at times was so strong,” said Dobson, “that you throw your idea of time out the window and just say, ‘Well, here we go!’”

Jeffrey Allen, 17, of Litchfield and Kassandra Marin, 28, of Merrimack won the Crossan Cup, awarded to the first male and female New Hampshire finishers. Allen finished thirteenth overall and first in his age group with a time of 1:14:33. Marin placed fifth among all women in 1:17:13.

98-year-old George Etzweiler making his way up to the 6 mile marker in his 13th NEDD Mount Washington Road Race.~ Photo courtesy of Mt. Washington Auto Road

In the early going, Andy Wacker, 29, of Boulder, CO, set the pace along with Blake, passing the first mile in a brisk six minutes 45 seconds. Maestri, 2012 winner Sage Canaday, also of Boulder, and Lee Berube of Syracuse, NY, followed them. Wacker could not sustain the pace, and by three miles he dropped back as Maestri caught up with Blake while Canaday moved into third.

“I was looking to try to win,” said Wacker later, as the runners wrapped themselves in blankets at the summit. “I had been training hard. But there’s such great competition here.”

Canaday stayed within sight of the leaders for much of the way but could not close the gap. Having finished second here last year, he finished third this time in 1:03:11. “I like this race!” he said. “It’s a real healthy pain. My legs were burning the whole time.”

Like Maestri, Heidi Caldwell was seeing the ultra-steep Auto Road (average grade 12 percent) for the first time. “I started out cautiously,” she said later. “I knew it was hard, but I chose not to read any detailed descriptions of how hard!”

Top prizes for runners over the age of 40 went to two former Mount Washington champions. Gutierrez, 52, who won in 2002, 2003 and 2005, placed sixth overall this time in 1:11:34. Laura Haefeli, 50, from Del Norte, Colo., the 2013 winner, placed eighth among all women in 1:20:48.

Full race results are available at www.gsrs.com/results/3548

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Fay Sentenced To Serve No Jail Time

 

OSSIPEE, NH – The woman found guilty this spring of animal cruelty to dozens Great Danes in her Wolfeboro mansion will serve no jail time, but is responsible for paying back nearly $2 million for their care until they find new homes.

Christina Fay was convicted in May of 17 animal cruelty charges. Prosecutors initially had recommended a yearlong jail sentence, but a judge suspended that for twice monthly therapy sessions.

She was also ordered to pay restitution for the care of the dogs, currently the figure stands at around $1.9 million for the Humane society of the united states and $18,000 for the Wolfeboro Police Department.

Yesterday the judge also had determined that one dog should be euthanized after seriously injuring a caretaker. Homes will be found for 78 dogs. Fay is allowed to keep the two dogs she has.

Fay’s attorneys said she would be appealing to the New Hampshire Supreme Court and most of the sentences will have to be stayed until then.

The efforts to re-home the dogs ca begin, however the issues around the restitution that Fay would owe the Wolfeboro Police and the humane society, possible jail time, and future dog ownership will be dealt with in another trial.

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Flag Day, Retired Flag Disposal

NORTH CONWAY, NH – Today is flag day and local organization is looking to help Mt. Washington Valley residents dispose of flag properly.

American Legion Post #95 located on Kearsarge Road  in North Conway will be collecting old, worn, tattered and torn flags from 1:30-430 this afternoon. Steve Woodcock of Post 95 said that people don’t even have to leave their car, saying “just drive up and a veteran will happily accept your  used flag.”

The US Flag Code: states that if a flag is too worn it should be destroyed in a dignified way and that is what Post 95 is seeking to do.

As part of their Flag Day Celebrations the Post will be providing a small US Flag to all who of those that return their worn out flags.

Woodcock said that though this day is a special celebration anyone wishing to properly dispose of a flag throughout the year can just leave their warn flags on the post’s front porch.

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Fryeburg And Maine State Election Results

FRYEBURG, ME – The results are in and Fryeburg Residents chosen their newest leaders. Poll officials said they had a nice steady stream of voters coming into the American Legion Hall on Bradley Street throughout the day yesterday.

In the race to fill Janice Crawfords vacated selectmen seat Tom Kingsbury defeated Dave Brown by a vote of 396 to 332.

The two three year seats on the MSAD 72 School Board will be filled by Allison Leach with 477 and Mary Di Nucci with 276.

For the single two year seat on the school board Kim Devries won with 540 votes.

Nicole Googin, who had 242 votes, will be the school board alternative.

There were seven write ins in the school board elections.

The two new Water District Trustees will be Jessica Knowles Lane, who had 104 vote, and David West, who had 91.

Article 3, which asked residents whether or not to allow the cultivation and manufacturing of marijuana products in town passed 368 to 289. There were 131 blank votes

In the State Wide Elections

(with 70% of towns reporting)

The open House seat for District 70 goes to Warren Richardson with 70% of the vote.  Nathan Burnett received the other 30% of votes.

When it comes to first ever ranked choice voting state wide primary elections the Associated Press is calling the Republican gubernatorial primary for businessman Shawn Moody who, with about 70% of towns reporting, has 56.1% of the votes. His nearest competitor Garret Mason had 23.3% of the vote.

The democratic primary is not being called just yet because not candidate could be called the outright winner. The front runner Janet Mills took 32.57% of votes and Adam Cote has 27.96%.

When it comes to the new controversial Ranked Choice Voting it looks like Mainers remain in favor of it, but it is very close with the vote split 54.34% in favor and 45.66% against.