Local and regional news

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Back To Back Rescues In The White Mountains

ALBANY, NH – Conservation Officers had back to back rescues yesterday (8/3/18).

New Hampshire Fish and Game Officials said that at around 5:30 they received a call about an injured hiker on the Champney Brook trail in Albany.

69-year-old Steven Westcott of Rye had hiked to the summit of Mt. Chocorua and while descending he slipped injuring his ankle. His hiking partner Colleen Beechwood of Strafford NH ran out to the trail head and drove to get cell phone service to place a call for help.

Steven was able to make some progress with the assistance of passing hikers but he was ultimately placed in a litter and carried 1.5 miles back to the trailhead.

Conservation Officers and members of Conway Fire and Rescue responded and were assisted during the carryout by several hikers who were on the trail and volunteered to help. Steven arrived at the trailhead shortly before 8:30 PM and was driven from the scene.

About a half hour after receiving the first call Conservation Officers were called to assist a lost hiker on the Blueberry Ledge Trail in Waterville Valley. 76-year-old Karen Kappes, of Holden Massachusetts, was hiking when she lost the trail, she attempted to self rescue but was unsuccessful.

A Fish and Game Conservation officer was able to locate her using the coordinates given by 911 dispatch. She was located approximately two miles from her parked vehicle and ½ mile off trail between the Blueberry Ledge Trail and the Blueberry Ledge Cuttoff Trail. She arrived at the trailhead at approximately 9:30 PM and was reunited with her awaiting son.

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Franconia Notch Starting Shuttle Service In Attempt To Help Parking Issue

A composite picture of the iconic “Old Man of the Mountain” state land mark. ~ Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

FRANCONIA, NH – The New Hampshire State Parks department has announced that they are launching a pilot shuttle service in Franconia Notch State Park. This service, which starts tomorrow (8/3/18), offers a safe and legal alternative to parking on Interstate 93 for people visiting the popular tourist attractions in the Notch. The shuttle service will run out of Cannon Mountain’s Peabody Base Lodge parking lot (Exit 34C) and run through Sunday October 14. Hikers can park for free in the lot and take the approximately 10-15 minute ride one-way to Lafayette Place. Then the shuttle will pick visitors up at the Falling Waters/Bridle Path and return them to the Peabody Base Lodge parking lot. The shuttle will run continuously from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM Friday through Monday (rain or shine). The initial cost will be $5 per person and only cash will be accepted.

State Officials said that since it is a pilot program, dogs will initially be allowed and Lafayette Place and Falling Waters/Bridle Path trailheads will be the only stops other than the Peabody lot. State officials will evaluate the shuttle service pilot program, adjusting as needed and determining its overall feasibility.

Phil Bryce, director of NH State Park said “Although a shuttle service is not a normal park operation for us, we felt that we should step up and provide a safe and legal parking alternative for visitors hiking in the park and national forest.”

Increased visitation to the White Mountains Region, particularly at the Falling Waters/Old Bridle Path trailheads near Lafayette Place, has caused parking lots to fill quickly, resulting in illegal and unsafe parking along Interstate 93. For the past year, state agencies, the White Mountain National Forest and other partners have been working together to explore alternatives to parking on the highway. This included reaching out to the private sector to provide a shuttle service but no interest was shown.

For information on additional available hiker parking lots, parking lot capacity and trails accessed from parking lots, visit franconianotchstatepark.com.

 

 

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Jackson Inn Manager Accused Of Hate Crime

JACKSON, NH – A Jackson woman is being indicted after the people she kicked out of the Inn she was working at accused her of a hate crime and assault.

The New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and Carroll County Attorney Michaela Andruzzi announced the indictment of 32-year-old Priscilla Protasowicki, on two counts of simple assault subject to the hate-crime enhancement.

The charges allege that on April 20th Protasowicki, while working at the Covered Bridge Riverview Lodge in Jackson, assaulted two patrons in an effort to remove them from the establishment because of their religion and perceived national origin.

The indictments accuse Protasowicki of pushing Mohamed Ghallami and Chahrazade Mounaji saying she was “substantially motivated to commit the crime because of hostility towards the victim’s religion, race, creed or national origin.”

Protasowicki said the couple, became upset when they arrived and saw a 9/11 first-responder’s badge in the lobby. They demanded a refund, but refunds aren’t possible under the inn’s policy.

According to The Conway Daily Sun Protasowicki said Ghallami told Mounaji to get her phone out and start recording the dispute and that they would make a lot of money posting the video on YouTube. Adding that she never touched Mounaji , and that she “barely touched” Ghallami after he refused to leave or to show their IDs or the credit card used to book the room.

The charge of simple assault subject to the hate-crime enhancement carries a possible maximum sentence of five years in the New Hampshire State Prison.

On July 17, 2018, the Attorney General initiated an action against Ms. Protasowicki pursuant to the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act based on this same conduct. Each violation of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act carries a maximum civil penalty of $5,000.

The court may also enjoin further violations of the Act, a violation of which constitutes a class A misdemeanor, award restitution to the victims, and grant other equitable relief that it deems appropriate.

Protasowicki is scheduled to be arraigned in Carroll County Superior Court on August 22nd, with the hearing on alleged Civil Rights Act violations scheduled for August 24th.

Protasowicki was convicted of simple assault after a confrontation with a guest in 2011.

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Profile Subaru Shares Love And Blankets With Memorial Hospital Patients

This summer, Subaru retailers partnered with local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) chapters nationwide to deliver nearly 40,000 blankets along with messages of hope and LLS “Here to Help” palm cards.  Receiving 80 donated Subaru Loves to Care blankets this month from Profile Subaru’s General Manager Dale Petell are left to right: Oncology & Infusion Services team members Kathy Munroe, RN; Sarah Bushey, MA; Lawrence Carbonaro, Outpatient Specialty Practices Director; Anne Edmunds and Lauren Calabro, RN. These blankets will be used by patients in the practice. ~ Photo courtesy of Memorial Hospital

 

NORTH CONWAY, NH – This summer Subaru retailers partnered with local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) chapters nationwide to deliver nearly 40,000 blankets to hospitals and cancer treatment centers across the country. Included were messages of hope and LLS “Here to Help” palm cards with information about services they provide to cancer patients.   Memorial Hospital was among the recipients of these donations. The local Subaru dealer’s general manager, Dale Petell of Profile Subaru, personally delivered 80 blankets and cards to Memorial’s Oncology & Infusion Services Department earlier this month.
 
“Subaru Loves to Care is all about improving the health of our local communities and we are proud to once again work alongside our valued partner, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to continue supporting patients and their families battling cancer,” said Dale Petell of Profile Subaru in Albany. “We hope that through this program, our gestures of hope will comfort and warm those who need it most.”
 
“Helping our patients to be comfortable during their treatment and know that we care is crucial to providing the excellent and compassionate care our cancer patients deserve,” said Lawrence Carbonaro, Memorial Hospital Outpatient Specialty Practice Director.  “Our patients love the blankets and cards, and appreciate these gestures of kindness in their fight against cancer.”
 
Memorial Hospital through its Oncology & Infusion Services, provides state-of-the-art chemotherapy, infusion services and integrated and compassionate cancer care, close to home. Staff and volunteers also offer group support and education through Journey of Hope, a well-established, highly popular program for anyone whose life has been touched for cancer. For more information on these or other services at Memorial Hospital, call 603-356-5461 or visit MemorialHospitalNH.org.

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Fatal Motorcycle Accident In Fryeburg

A 69-year-old Florida man was fatally injured in a Fryeburg motorcycle accident. ~ Photo Courtesy

FRYEBURG, ME – A Florida man was killed after a motorcycle crash in Fryeburg this weekend. According to Fryeburg Police Route 302 was closed for nearly three hours Saturday starting at 6:45pm while they investigated the fatal crash.

A 69-year-old Florida man was fatally injured in a Fryeburg motorcycle accident. ~ Photo Courtesy

Authorities said they believe 69-year-old Norman Lee of Merritt Island, Florida was driving his Harley westbound when he left the roadway on a curve near the 978 block, attempted to correct but was unable to control his bike striking a utility pole and rock.

Lee was ejected from the motorcycle and died on scene.

Lee was traveling in a group of three motorcycles along with his son and grandson.

Police said Lee was not wearing a helmet and they do not believe speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.

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Demi Lovato Suffered An Alleged Opiate Overdose

Singer Demi Lovato allegedly suffered an overdose in her home Tuesday afternoon. ~ Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

LOS ANGELES, CA – TMZ is reporting that singer Demi Lovato has suffered from an apparent overdose in het Hollywood Hills home.

According to TMZ Demi was transported to an L.A. hospital just before noon today (7/24/18), and is being treated for an overdose.

The site is also reporting that she was treated with the overdose reversal drug Narcan by emergency personnel.

The 25-year-old singer just finished the European leg of her Tell Me You Love Me World Tour, and released a new song called “Sober”.

Demi has long been open about her struggles with substance misuse for years. She had been sober for 6 years from alcohol, cocaine, and Oxycontin.

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Jackson Covered Bridge Closed After Cement Truck Allegedly Crashed Into It

A cement truck allegedly drove into and damaged the Jackson Covered Bridge Tuesday morning. ~ Photo courtesy of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce

JACKSON, NH – The Jackson Covered Bridge has been closed once again due to a vehicle collision. According to the Jackson Police Chief Chris Perley a fully loaded Alvin J. Coleman & Son cement truck heading east toward Jackson Village struck the bridge around 7 o’clock yesterday morning damaging it and forcing officials to close it.

Department of Transportation officials said the truck damaged at least four of the bridge’s cross braces and it will take several weeks until the bridge can be reopened. DOT workers said they made some emergency repairs in preparations for the weeks stormy weather in order to protect the rest of the bridge.

Police identified the driver of the truck as Scott H. Butler, 58, of Tamworth. Butler was issued a $62 summons at the scene for disregarding lawfully posted traffic control devices and he could face more charges as the Commercial Truck Unit of New Hampshire State Police investigate the incident.

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce said that the Covered Bridge Dance planned for Saturday August 4th will still happen whether or not the bridge is closed.

The bridge was already closed once before this summer due to a collision. On Saturday, June 30th the bridge was closed after 18-year-old Olivia T. Frechette of Conway drove into a support and first truss of the bridge.

Frechette was later charged with speeding, 35 mph in a 15 mph zone, and with the use of an electronic device while driving.