The Berlin Daily Sun

11/16/2024

Join me, Conservation Officer Rob McDermott, as I team up with the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention by running the 2025 Boston Marathon In Memory of: Conservation Officer Levi Frye. Your donation will support vital research, education, advocacy, and programs to help prevent su***de and sav...

11/11/2024

MOBILE FOOD PANTRY UPDATE – PLEASE SHARE

The NH Food Bank's drive-thru mobile food pantry is headed to Gorham this week. Households will receive an assortment of produce and shelf-stable items. We welcome anyone in need of food assistance to please join us.

Friday, November 15 – Gorham
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm (while supplies last)
Address: Chapman's | 459 Main St. | Gorham, NH

For additional dates, visit: https://nhfoodbank.org/mobile

11/04/2024

Threat of harm closes Berlin public schools Nov. 4; person responsible not publicly identified

Tammy Fauteux, district services educational administrator, sent this statement to the community, which updates the reason for schools' closure on Nov. 4:

"Earlier this morning communications were made to select staff members that included threats of harm to them and to students. The Berlin Police Department and our School Resource Officer were immediately contacted and an investigation ensued, however, with little time to thoroughly assess the level of threat before the expected opening of school, the decision was made to err on the side of safety and close schools until more information could be uncovered.

"This has been deemed an isolated event and the individual responsible has been identified and addressed. We are confident there is no longer a threat posed to our students or our staff and we will resume our normal schedule and activities tomorrow.

"We feel strongly that there is no place in today’s world for threats, even those intended to be “empty ones.” Such actions and words have caused upheaval in student learning and in family schedules. Worse, they have incited fear in our community. Simply put, they will not be tolerated! Those responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent.

"Rest assured that student and staff safety will always be our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this time.

"Thank you for your commitment to the safety of all and we appreciate your patience while the investigation took place. We want to extend a special note of thanks to our Berlin Police Department for their swift actions and their dedication to our students, staff, and community."

11/04/2024

Schools in SAU 3, the Berlin public school district, are closed today for a reason school officials described in an email notice to parents as “safety concerns.”
“Due to safety concerns that have recently come in,” a morning notice posted on the school’s app states, “there will be no school today, Monday, November 4, 2024. More information will be forthcoming as it is known. Thank you.”

As soon as more information becomes available, updates will be posted.

11/03/2024

Fatal accident in Pinkham Notch

PINKHAM’S Grant — A head-on crash in Pinkham Notch Saturday night killed a Jackson man while a Gorham man suffered minor injuries.
N.H. State Police Troop F said the preliminary investigation determined that a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, driven by Mark Taillon of Gorham, was traveling north when it crossed the center line into the path of a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban traveling south. The driver of the SUV, Peter Canty, 77 of Jackson, was pronounced dead at the scene. Taillon suffered minor injuries.
The crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m. near the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Visitors Center. Route 16 was closed to traffic in both directions for approximately four hours while the crash was investigated by the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit and the debris from the accident was cleared.
Assisting at the scene were members of State Police Troop E, the Gorham Police and Fire Departments, the Jackson Fire Department, the N.H Department of Transportation, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper First Class Daniel Quartulli at [email protected] or (603) 223-8993.

11/03/2024

Note accident scene.

EDIT 10:35pm: RTE 16 re-opened to all lanes of traffic

Gorham Fire & EMS Units are currently operating at a motor vehicle accident on NH Rte 16 in the area of the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Route 16 will have both lanes shut down starting at Libby Pool for an indefinite amount of time. We ask all travelers to avoid the area until further notice

10/31/2024

The Berlin Falls House Museum encourages trick or treaters to stop by the museum from 5-8 p.m. The house museum is located at 72 High St.

10/31/2024

Fire heavily damages garage on Stafford Street in Berlin

BERLIN – The cause of a fire that heavily damaged a garage at 156 Strafford Street Tuesday night was still under investigation Wednesday morning.

Berlin Fire Chief James Watkins said the fire was reported at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and the on-duty firefighters arrived to find a large amount of fire at the front of the three- bay detached garage. A general alarm was called for extra staffing and Watkins said a total ten firefighters responded and remained on the scene for about three hours. The chief said there were no issues with fire suppression efforts.

The garage was used for storage and contained a number of motorized recreational vehicles as well as boxes of stuff. Watkins said the building was heavily damaged but the structure was left standing. There was no electricity to the garage and the chief said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The garage and the adjacent single-family residence on the lot are listed on the city’s website as owned by Patrick Smith.

The fire is the second on the city’s East Side within two weeks. On Oct. 17, fire damaged an upper floor apartment on Goebel Street, about three blocks from Stafford Street.

10/24/2024

Berlin NH Police Department
·
URGENT NOTICE!!!!
Due to a motor vehicle crash, Eversource will be cutting power at 10am this morning (10/24/24) to the following area of the city:
Hutchins Street from 12th Street to just north of White Mountain Lumber. This also includes any side streets in that area.
Includes:
Androscoggin Valley Hospital
AVH Surgical Associates
White Mountain Lumber
All customers in that area
Outage will be estimated to an hour.
We will update this post as more information becomes available.

10/24/2024

10/16/2024

Ten defendants indicted in connection with a Massachusetts-based
drug trafficking organization

CONCORD – A 28-year-old Berlin man is among 10 defendants who have been indicted in connection with a Methuen and Lawrence-based organization trafficking narcotics to New Hampshire, U.S Attorney Jane Young said in a press release.

On Oct. 16, law enforcement officers arrested seven defendants in New Hampshire and Massachusetts on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely, fentanyl, methamphetamine, co***ne, and crack co***ne. The defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court at various times this week and next week.

The following defendants have been indicted in connection with this drug trafficking organization:

Michael Martinez, age 33, of the Dominican Republic; and he has not yet been arrested.
Donaida Gonzalez, aka Yijana Rodriguez, age 52, of Methuen, Mass.; she is in custody.
Diana Bautista-Arias, aka Alba Cruz-Solano, age 43, of Lawrence, Mass.; she is in custody.
Eddy Balbuena-Gomez, age 30, of Lawrence, Mass.; she is in custody.
Redondo Dore, age 28, of Berlin; he is in custody.
Trevor Mackenzie, age 33, of Rochester; he is in custody.
Katie Curtis, age 38, of Rochester; she is in custody.
Tabitha O’Brien, age 44, of Rochester; she is in custody.
Craig Grant, age 41, of Somersworth; he has not yet been arrested.
Jamie Bonner, age 42, of Somersworth; she has not yet been arrested.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Michael Martinez and Redondo Dore are facing mandatory minimum penalties of 10 years based on their involvement in the conspiracy. Katie Curtis is also facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years based on her involvement in the conspiracy. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal Service, the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, the Keene Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the Berlin Police Department, the Londonderry Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Concord Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Lawrence Police Department, and the Methuen Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

10/15/2024

Victims identified in Bedford fatal CO incident

BEDFORD – The man and the woman who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a residence have been identified in a press release from state emergency responders.
The New Hampshire Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victims as 78-year-old David P. Moore Jr. and 79-year-old Janice G. Moore of Bedford. The cause of death has been ruled as accidental.

New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey, Bedford Police Chief Daniel A. Douidi and Bedford Fire Chief Scott Hunter said in a statement that the victims of the fatal carbon monoxide incident were found in the residence, 99-2 Pulpit Road in Bedford, on Sunday, Oct. 13.

The cause of the carbon monoxide release is currently under investigation by the N.H. State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bedford Police Department. It has been determined that carbon monoxide alarms were located within the residence; however, they were not functional.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289 or by email at [email protected].
State Fire Marshal Toomey urges all New Hampshire residents to prioritize their safety by regularly testing their carbon monoxide alarms. It's crucial to ensure these life-saving devices are in working condition, so please test them monthly and replace the batteries during daylight savings time. Remember, if your alarm starts chirping, it's a sign the battery is dying.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas known as the silent killer. Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision, or loss of consciousness. If you experience any of these symptoms or if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, exit your home, get to fresh air, and call 9-1-1 immediately so the local fire department can investigate the cause of the alarm.

10/14/2024

Heating problems necessitate WMCC closure for Monday, Oct. 14.

10/07/2024

BETHLEHEM – New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey, Bethlehem Fire Chief Jack Anderson and Bethlehem Police Chief Jeffrey Dube announce that the identification and cause and manner of death of the victim that died in the fire at 3457 Main St. in Bethlehem on Oct. 4 has been determined.

The NH Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 53-year-old James Duguay II of Bethlehem. The cause of death of Mr. Duguay was smoke inhalation and the manner of his death was accidental.

The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is active and ongoing by members of the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office, Bethlehem Fire Department and the Bethlehem Police Department.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289 or by email at [email protected].

State Fire Marshal Toomey would like to remind everyone of the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes. In the event of an alarm activation or visible smoke or fire, residents should immediately exit their home and call 9-1-1. Keep exits clear and accessible at all times and have a home fire escape plan. Anyone with questions about home fire safety should contact their local fire department or the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office.

10/07/2024

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the Nansen trail lopping day!

Come out and enjoy the beautiful weather and fall foliage on Saturday, October 12 (rain date Sunday, October 13) from 9am - Noon (ending sooner if we have a good turnout). We’ll meet at the Nansen Warning Hut to split into groups and give trail assignments. Please bring water, work gloves, loppers and hand saws if you’ve got them. The Club has a limited supply of loppers for people to borrow. No chainsaws please. An article of clothing that is “blaze orange” is recommended. Our goal will be to walk the freshly mowed trail system and get the low hanging branches and low growth that get in the way of the groomer and skiers and snowshoers.

10/06/2024

View Levi D. Frye's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

10/04/2024

"Cruising For Carter" fundraiser Oct. 5

"Cruising For Carter," is a 3-mile walk/ jog fundraiser set for this Saturday, Oct. 5, at 9 a.m. to help Carter, a local boy diagnosed with Joubert syndrome. Joubert syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects brain development.
Participants should arrive at 169 Main St. in Gorham 15 to 20 minutes early to check in. Monetary donations of one's choice will be passed on to assist in covering expenses for Carter.
The rain date is Monday, Oct. 14 at 3 p.m. Visit the page: Run For You or email [email protected] with questions.