Local and regional news

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.

 

A motorcycle and SUV collided later Friday Morning in Wakefield. ~ Photo courtesy of Wakefield Police

WAKEFIELD, NH -A Mass man had to be airlifted to the Maine Medical Center in Portland after a Friday motorcycle accident in Wakefield. Wakefield Police said that at approximately 11:03 a.m., rescuers responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Province Lake Road/Route 153 and Ballard’s Ridge Road. Police found that a motorcycle had collided with an SUV.

The operator of the motorcycle, who police said was around 60 years of age, sustained serious injuries and was airlift by the Dartmouth Hitchcock Advanced Response Team helicopter.

Authorities said speed and alcohol/drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash.

Police did not identify the drivers of the SUV or motorcycle. The motorcyclists’ condition remains unknown at this time.


 

Bartlett, NH – A Turkish man was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in Bartlett this weekend. Bartlett Police Chief Christopher Keaton said that Fatih Celek was struck off of Route 302 by a car driven by Michael Carvese of North Attleborough Mass Saturday at around 3:11pm.

Chief Keaton said that they believe Celek was riding his bicycle west bound when he got to the Cabin Fever Restaurant he didn’t see the car heading east bound and pulled right in front of it.

Carvese attempted to avoid Celek, jamming on the breaks but still ended up striking Celek sending him onto the hood and windshield.

Celek was rushed to the hospital. Police said that they do not believe alcohol or drugs were involved in the accident and that Celek was not wearing a helmet.

Chief Keaton added that the Bartlett Police offer free helmets courtesy of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire and anyone who needs one can stop by the station to pick one up.

 

A pair of fake pigs greet people as they cross the Chocorua Lake’s Narrows Bridge as a part of a series of mystery items that have been placed on the bridge over the past several weeks. ~ Photo courtesy of Facebook.

 
Chocorua, NH – A puzzling assortment of seemingly random objects have Tamworth residents scratching their heads. Several facebook posts by Tamworth residents George Cleveland and Dennis Quin over the past few weeks have documented unusual objects that have been on display on or near the jersey barriers up on Chocorua Lake’s Narrows Bridge.

 

A palm plant was placed the Chocorua Lake’s Narrows Bridge as a part of a series of mystery items that have been placed on the bridge over the past several weeks. ~ Photo courtesy of Facebook.

 
The first item to make an appearance on the bridge was a Keurig coffee maker, something that at first could have been passed off as someone’s garbage but as the days went on the items got more and more random including a stuffed cat in a cage, a potted palm tree and a pair of fake pigs most recently.

 

A stuffed cat in a cage greets people as they cross the Chocorua Lake’s Narrows Bridge as a part of a series of mystery items that have been placed on the bridge over the past several weeks. ~ Photo courtesy of Facebook.

 
Quinn, Scarlet Begonias Radio Host, said that there doesn’t seem to be any pattern or connection between the objects noting that they are so unique that someone would most definitely remember seeing them in a friends or family members home.

As to who is leaving the items or what item will show up next remains a mystery.

33-year-old  Kyle Rodier, of Hudson, NH, was arrested after allegedly leading Conway Police on a high speed chase through North Conway in a Stole Jeep Wrangler. ~ Photo courtesy of Conway Police

CONWAY, NH – Conway Police arrested a Hudson man after he lead them on a chase in a stolen Jeep Wrangler. Police said that at around 6:00pm Thursday an Officer responded to a report of a stolen 2014 Wrangler on Echo Acres Road in North Conway.

About an hour later the Officer observed the stolen Jeep pulling out of the road onto route 16. The officer attempted to pull the Jeep over, however the driver accelerated and continued southbound on Route 16 at a high rate of speed. Police said that the driver swerved into the opposite lane during the pursuit almost hitting another vehicle head on.

The driver turned into the Eastern Slope Campground and onto an adjoining field where he left the jeep on foot running into the camping area and through several campsites.

The suspect identified as 33-year-old  Kyle Rodier was eventually found hiding in a tent at the back of the campground and was arrested.

Rodier faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including; Receiving Stolen Property, Unauthorized Use, Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Mischief, Disobeying an Officer, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Arrest or Detention.

Kyle Rodier has a lengthy motor vehicle and criminal history and his license was suspended on April 30th due to a refusal of the implied consent law in Hillsborough County.

He was held on $7500.00 cash bail and was arraigned today (7/6/18) in the Carroll County Superior Court.

Sculptor and industrial designer Quinn Morrissette was one of two artist selected to spend the summer being inspired by the White Mountain National Forest. ~ Photo courtesy of quinnmorrissette.com

PLYMOUTH, NH – A sculptor set to be inspired by the White Mountain National Forest will have his art on display Friday (7/6/18).

Sculptor and industrial designer Quinn Morrissette, one of two White Mountain National Forest Artists in Residence this year will have his work on display at the Museum of the White Mountains in Plymouth beginning at 6:30 pm. 

Quinn is one of two White Mountain National Forest Artists in Residence this year.  The current exhibit at the museum, “The People’s Forest,” celebrating the White Mountain National Forest Centennial, will be open for viewing prior to the talk.

Morrissette, a native of Berlin, NH, will talk about the National Forest and its importance in his life, share some of his previous work, and highlight research, images, videos, and models that he has been using to develop the sculptural work he will be creating on the National Forest this summer. The work is also part of his capstone project at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

Like many North Country kids, Morrissette spent much of his childhood outside, and the environment of northern New Hampshire provides both the source and inspiration for much of his work. “As a boy, I was blessed to have the Androscoggin Valley as my playground,” he says. “My adventures here never stopped, and I’m continually discovering new ideas in the forest.” Morrissette was also influenced by his grandfather, a millwright at the Groveton (NH) paper mill, who inspired him to learn metalworking, which plays an important role in his sculptures and design work.

“My project as Artist in Residence will be to create work that reflects our bond and interdependence with nature, and that inspires those who come in contact with it to carefully consider the White Mountain National Forest and its role in our lives, especially during the celebration of its 100th birthday. I also hope my work will show how new technologies and resources can be applied to the regional economy of northern New Hampshire, creating real, practical systems that fortify the relationship between local industry and the environment.”
  
The Artist in Residence program is a partnership between the White Mountain National Forest and the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, with artist lodging provided by Friends of Mead Base Conservation Center.

For more about Quinn Morrissett go to https://www.quinnmorrissette.com.  For additional information, or to be included on a list of upcoming programs, contact the Arts Alliance at (603) 323-7302 or info@aannh.org.

 

 

TOWANDA, PENNSYLVANIA – The Chocorua native accused of having a sexual relationship with a student in Pennsylvania is now faces additional charges in a higher court.

The Conway Daily Sun reports that 25-year-old Whitney Roberts, was just being charged with two counts of institutional sexual assault and a misdemeanor of corruption of a minor but now is being charged with nine felony counts of sexual contact with a student, one felony count of corruption of minors and one misdemeanor count of corruption of minors.

The case was moved from a magisterial district court in Bradford County, Pennsylvania to the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas.

In March it was reported that Roberts allegedly had sex with a teenage boy in Franklin Township, Pennsylvania after she made out with a 17-year-old boy at a party the Friday before Thanksgiving.

The victim is now claiming that he and Roberts engaged in other sexual activities in addition to the original incident.

According to the Daily Review, Roberts is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.