A 16-year-old Parsonsfield driver in a Pontiac Sunfire collided with a truck after allegedly failing to stop at an intersection. ~ Photo courtesy of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

 
BALDWIN, ME – A teenage girl was seriously injured in a Maine car accident last night. According to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at around 8:20 pm the were called to Pequawket Trail at the intersection of Depot Road in Baldwin Maine for a two vehicle accident.

When authorities arrived they found the 16-year-old Parsonsfield driver of a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire trapped in her vehicle with a head injury. The Cornish Fire Department used extrication tools to free the driver who had suffered serious but non life threatening head injuries.

A 16-year-old Parsonsfield driver in a Pontiac Sunfire collided with a truck after allegedly failing to stop at an intersection. ~ Photo courtesy of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

 
Cumberland County Deputies said that after an investigation they believe the driver and sole occupant of the Sunfire failed to stop at the stop sign on Depot road, driving through the intersection and into the travel lane of Pequawket Trail. She was then struck by a Chevy truck driven by 60-year-old Raymond McKenney of Westbrook, Maine who was headed east.

McKenney was alone in his truck and suffered only minor injuries. A lifeflight helicopter was called for the for the 16-year-old, but weather prevented them from responding. The girl was instead rushed to Maine Medical Center via Standish Rescue, she was released this morning.

Deputies said that the investigation is still on going, but they believe the teenage driver was distracted by an electronic device.

A photo of cyanobacteria containing scum. ~ Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

EFFINGHAM, NH – State officials have released a cyanobacteria advisory for an Effingham Lake. Wednesday the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services said a cyanobacteria bloom has surfaced in Province Lake, and that based on visual evidence, the cyanobacteria bloom is accumulating along shorelines and is concentrated throughout the water column in deeper parts of the lake. As a result, NHDES issued a cyanobacteria beach advisory and lake warning.

Officials said that the warning is not based on a toxin evaluation and is intended as a precautionary measure for short term exposure. NHDES advises lake users to avoid contact with the water in areas experiencing elevated cyanobacteria cell conditions typically where lake water has a surface scum, green streaks or blue-green flecks aggregating along the shore. NHDES also advises pet owners to keep their pets out of any waters that have a cyanobacteria bloom.

NHDES routinely monitors public beaches and public waters of the state for cyanobacteria. Once a cyanobacteria lake warning or beach advisory has been issued, NHDES returns to affected waterbodies on a weekly basis until the cyanobacteria standards are again met.

Cyanobacteria are natural components of water bodies, but blooms and surface scums may form when excess nutrients are available to the water. Some cyanobacteria produce toxins that are stored within the cells but released upon cell death.

Contact with these toxins can cause both acute and chronic health effects that range in severity. Acute health effects include irritation of skin and mucous membranes, tingling, numbness, nausea, vomiting, seizures and diarrhea. Chronic effects include liver and central nervous system damage.

The warning remains in effect until bacteria levels have decreased.

Photo courtesy of Shannon Dunfey-Ball

 
PINKHAM NOTCH, NH – Athletes of all abilities summited Mount Washington this past weekend for a great cause. Sunday was the 9^th Annual Sunrise Ascent on Mountain Washington to benefit the Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country. Sandy Olney, ASPNC Executive Director said that 14 adaptive athletes supported by 280 “mules”, or people who assist them up the mountain, climbed the tallest peak in the northeast early Sunday morning. Before sunrise, teams led by an adaptive athlete ascend the eight mile Mount Washington Auto Road, to summit 6,288-foot Mount Washington. Each team pledges to raise at least $6,288. This year, 13 athletes have signed up for the challenge and ASPNC has just put out the call for volunteers to join them in this inspirational adaptive journey.

Teams pledge to raise $6,288, a dollar for every foot for Mt. Washington’s peak. Olney said every large team far exceeded that goal with one team raising over $23,000. All together the event raised a record setting $120,000, which will account for over one third of ASPNC’s operating budget for the year.

Photo courtesy of Shannon Dunfey-Ball

 
The ascent is for athletes of every ability from those who can make the climb under their own power to those who have to ride on specialty hiking chair called a trail rider which is pushed and pulled by a team of climbers. 

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country (ASPNC) is a community-based, not for profit organization with a mission to ensure the enrichment of the quality of life for people with disabilities. ASPNC accomplishes this through the provision of year-round opportunities for sport, recreation, and wellness through the Franconia area, North Country of New Hampshire and Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. ASPNC is dedicated to enriching the quality of life for people with disabilities, providing over 20 different sport, recreation and wellness activities for people of all ages and any ability. 

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country’s office is located in the Franconia Marketplace, 297 Main Street, Franconia, NH.  For more information please visit www.AdaptiveSportsPartners.org or call the ASPNC office at 603-823-5232.