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Body Of Missing New Jersey Man Found In White Mountain National Forest

CUTTS GRANT, NH – The search For a Missing New Jersey man came to tragic conclusion yesterday. The New Jersey Sierra Club confirmed that the body of 63-year-old Gregory Auriemma, of Brick, New Jersey, was found. According to reports Auriemma’s body was located by the appalacian mountain club in the Dry River Wilderness in Cutts Grant.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department initially worked off his last known location (North Conway), and later in the week developed information that he had stayed in the area of the Mizpah Spring Hut in Bean’s Grant on or about June 28.

Further information was then obtained linking Auriemma to an abandoned campsite near the Dry River Trail in Cutts Grant. A Fish and Game search and rescue team confirmed on Saturday (July 15) that the abandoned campsite was Auriemma’s.

A ground search of the Dry River drainage was conducted by that search team and the area was also searched by air with a New Hampshire National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. Hikers in that area were interviewed by Fish and Game Conservation Officers to try to obtain additional information.

Authorities are asking the public for any information available from hikers who have been in this area and may have met up with Auriemma; if you have any information, please call (603) 271-3361.

Fish and Game Conservation Officers were assisted in the search by the Upper Valley Wilderness Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Pemigewassett Valley Search and Rescue, the Appalachian Mountain Club, US Forest Service, a NH State Police search team, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue, and NH State Forest Rangers.

 

Lt. Bradley Morse and Lt. Heidi Murphy from New Hampshire Fish and Game Contributed to this report.
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Sununu Signs Bill Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession

HB 640 Takes Effect in 60 Days

 

CONCORD — Gov. Chris Sununu has signed into law a bill eliminating criminal penalties for possession of three-quarters of an ounce or less of marijuana.

It was one of 28 bills the Republican signed Tuesday, his office said in a news release.

House Bill 640 was passed by the Senate in a bipartisan 17-6 vote in May; it sailed through the House, 318-36, on March 8.

At the time, Sununu said he would sign the measure into law, calling it “common sense marijuana reform.”

Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, worked with stakeholders to engineer a compromise which he fought to protect against amendments proposed by decriminalization opponent Sen. Bill Gannon, R-Sandown.

“The reason I am supporting this bill is personal,” Bradley said in May. “A lot of us have kids. I do. Every parent knows kids are what we used to be when we were kids. They try things. I don’t want my kids facing one strike and you are out, because I’ve been there.”

Opponents of the bill said it would send the wrong message to youth, especially with the state deep in a drug addiction crisis.

Story provided by Union Leader

Note: Not included in the above story, HB 640 is described as follows… 

Any person 18 years of age or older who is convicted of possessing up to three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana or five grams of hashish would be guilty of a violation, punishable by a fine of $100 for the first or second offense, or up to $300 for any subsequent offense within a three-year period. A fourth offense would result in a Class B misdemeanor charge.

Any person younger than 18 who is convicted of less than the threshold amounts of marijuana or hashish would be subject to a delinquency petition.

The bill takes effect in 60 days.

 

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Search Continues for Missing New Jersey Man in the White Mountains

 


CUTTS GRANT, NH – The search continued today (July 17, 2017) for Gregory Auriemma, age 63, of Brick, New Jersey, who was reported last week as missing in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department initially worked off his last known location (North Conway), and later in the week developed information that he had stayed in the area of the Mizpah Spring Hut in Bean’s Grant on or about June 28.


Further information was then obtained linking Auriemma to an abandoned campsite near the Dry River Trail in Cutts Grant. A Fish and Game search and rescue team confirmed on Saturday (July 15) that the abandoned campsite was Auriemma’s.  A ground search of the Dry River drainage was conducted by that search team and the area was also searched by air with a New Hampshire National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. Hikers in that area were interviewed by Fish and Game Conservation Officers to try to obtain additional information. The Dry River area is a very remote portion of the White Mountains; searchers must hike approximately four hours to access the area to begin searching.


Authorities are asking the public for any information available from hikers who have been in this area and may have met up with Auriemma; if you have any information, please call (603) 271-3361. Additional on-the-ground search assistance is not being requested at this time.


The search is likely to be scaled down after today, depending on what is found, according to Fish and Game Lt. Bradley Morse.
Fish and Game Conservation Officers have been assisted in the search by the Upper Valley Wilderness Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Pemigewassett Valley Search and Rescue, the Appalachian Mountain Club, US Forest Service, a NH State Police search team, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue, and NH State Forest Rangers.


Story Courtesy of:
Lt. Bradley Morse: (603) 271-3361
Lt. Heidi Murphy: (603) 271-3127
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Conway Police Seeking Public’s Help In Locating Missing NJ Man


Conway, NH – Conway Police are looking for the publics help in locating a missing man who is believed to be hiking. According to Conway Police Lt. Christopher Mattei 53-year-old Alexander “Gregory” Auriemma from Brick New Jersey was reported missing after he failed to return to White Mountains Hostel on July 5th.

Auriemma was last seen at the White Mountains Hostel in Conway on June 24 wearing a large backpack meant for hiking. He was due to return back to after hiking various locations within the White Mountain National Forest. He is described as a white male with gray hair around 5-feet, 11 inches tall and between 180 – 200 pounds.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Conway Police Department at 603-356-5715.

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U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen Talks With News Director Christian Mower About The American Health Care Act

 

Conway, NH – United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen will be in the Mount Washington Valley Friday. The Senator and former two term New Hampshire Governor will be visiting Memorial Hospital this morning at 10:30 to talk about the impact the Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal bill will have on rural hospitals.

Shaheen will then head up to Berlin to the St. Vincent de Paul Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. There the Senator will host a 1:45pm round table discussion with nursing home administrators and staff focusing on the impact Medicaid cuts proposed in the bill will have on the services and care in the Granite State.

News Director Christian Mower got a chance to speak with Senator Shaheen this morning about H.R. 1628 The American Health Care Act, renamed the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, better known as the Affordable Care Act. You can listen to the entire interview below.

If the Audio above fails to play Click Here.

 

 

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Mount Washington Valley Bicycling Club Seeks To Help Riders Stay Safe This Summer

 

Conway, NH – A local group of cyclists are looking to help keep those who bike to work every day in the Valley safe. The Mount Washington Valley Bicycling Club is offering free helmets and lights to those who ride to work every day.

Todd powers the president of the club became concerned last summer for the number of workers riding bicycles erratically and more importantly without helmets or lights. That concern turned into action after a young woman from Mongolia, who worked in the valley, died due to brain trauma she suffered after falling off of her bicycle.

The program began late last August with help from the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber got the word out to members and held helmets and lights for their members employees.

For 2017 the club expanded the program to all the business owners who have foreign and local employees that use bicycles as their main form of transportation. The major employers of foreign workers were contacted and some have already distributed helmet and lights to them. Not yet enough.

Powers said their goal is to have local business owners make it known to their employees that the MWVBC will provide a helmet and blinking lights to any worker who commutes by bicycle.

“Business owners, chat with your employees. You know who is riding a bicycle to work. Ask them if they need helmets and lights, and the club, me personally, will deliver those helmets and lights to the business owner.” Said Powers.

Any Valley employers interested in the program is asked to get a list of employees that need helmets and lights and then email mwvbc@mwvbicyclingclub.org or visit mwvbicyclingclub.org