Tin foil combined with an undetermined chemical are the likely ingredients of a bomb that blew up at 488 River Rd. on Tuesday afternoon, according to Joel Davis, a Sergeant with the State Fire Marshall's Office.
A haz-mat team from York Emergency Management Agency was called to the site around 5 p.m. on Tuesday after a man drove by and threw a chemical bomb onto the front yard.
Alan Therrien, who lives at the address, said the man who threw the bomb was in his early 20s.
Bomb tossed onto yard
Fire Marshal analyzing chemical device that went off on River Road
A York County Sheriff’s deputy took statements regarding the suspect’s description and was looking for him on Tuesday evening, said Fire Dept. Assistant Chief Dan Roy, who was also at the scene.
Therrien said haz-mat crews in full protective garb isolated the bomb material and took it for analysis.
Some evidence has been collected and will be processed at the crime lab," Davis said, adding they are still searching for a suspect.
Criminal use of explosives is a Class B felony.
Jamming the jammer
Feds, locals eye dispatch tapes, narrow search
Regional FCC officials as well as officials from another unnamed federal agency will be in Lebanon Tuesday to continue their probe into the rogue jammer who has harassed town fire and rescue crews recently.
The jammer is using a mobile two-way device, according to Assistant Rescue Chief Jason Cole as opposed to a hand-held or base radio system. The strength of signal in the jamming helps determine which type of radio it is, he said.
A technician from Southern Maine Communications, the vendor for Lebanon Fire and Rescue radio service, isolated
malicious jamming during Saturday’s mobile home fire on Evergreen Lane.
Identifying the malicious intent was key as the number of area fire and rescue departments that were deployed during the fire caused unintentional jamming as well.
The meeting today will be to go over the dispatch tapes, further isolate the malicious jamming and get updates on the probe.
Cole said officials are also aware the jamming could be from a disgruntled town worker who has access to a radio, or from one of the radios stolen from the town Transfer Station earlier this year.
STORIES WEEK OF MAY 14
Town meeting mockery: There
was no give and take, just take
The good news is there was no earthquake in Lebanon on Monday night. The bad news is that the rumbling you felt was our forebears rolling over in their graves as New England’s oldest political tradition, the tradition of self-government they fostered and loved, the Town Meeting form of government, was made a mockery.
The only thing that stands now between selectmen and the money they want to run the town as they see fit is an elegantly crafted set of referendum questions, the implications of some still as clouded today as they were before Monday’s meeting.
In most Town Meetings the moderator is a well-known member of the community, someone with a unique blend of humor and common sense, who can keep the confluence of personalities, politics and petty agendas in check and keep the meeting purposeful and on track, but still allow some good old Yankee debate.
The moderator on Monday was Alan Shepard, (aptly named because he led us like lambs) the town attorney, who ran the meeting with an iron fist. This was supposed to be the public’s chance to question selectmen about various referendum questions, but Shepard said at the outset how the meeting would go down, that selectmen did not have to answer questions if they didn’t want to. Oftentimes, they didn’t.
On more than one occasion, residents fumed openly that selectmen were abusing their power and manipulating the wording of referendum questions to sugar coat fiscal realties and provoke the vote they want on June 12 ballots.
At Town Meetings of old that kind of challenge would’ve provoked a strong and passionate denial from selectmen and other town government leaders. And in the byplay townspeople would learn motives, reasoning and rationale.
But on Monday after such an outburst, after a nano-second of no response from selectmen, Shepard jumped right in and began reading the next question.
When a Lebanon native who went to Noble, volunteers for the Lebanon Fire Department but lives in Berwick asked to speak about the department’s need for a new firetruck, the audience had to vote to decide if we would let him speak.
Maybe we should have had a vote to see if we wanted a Lebanon moderator instead of Shepard, who does not live in town and freely says, “I work for the selectmen.”
Funny, I thought the taxpayers of Lebanon paid his salary.
.
Town Counsel and moderator Alan Shepard smiles toward the selectmen's table after he called an end to Monday night's meeting.
EDITORIAL
Referendum hearing stories
One for the ages
Tribute punctuated a near-perfect town festival
There may not have been a rollercoaster at Saturday’s Community Festival, but there surely was a rollercoaster of emotion: joy, laughter, solemn remembrance and pride.
The town came together under cloudless skies for its annual party and to honor the remembrance of one its true heroes, Lebanon Police Officer Jeffrey Lee Bull, who died 25 years ago this month.
While hundreds of children laughed and played in the bouncy house, toured rescue and law enforcement vehicles and enjoyed face painting
Harrison Thorp photo
Crowds surround a Lifeflight Helicopter after it landed on Jeffrey Lee Bull Memorial Field Saturday during Lebanon Community Festival.
Harrison Thorp photos
Alyssa Sargent, standing with her daughters Madelyn, 2, and Isabella, 7, watches during a tribute to her father, Jeffrey Lee Bull, top right, who died while serving as a Lebanon Police Officer. Below right, a lone Color Guard after placing a wreath in his memory.
Rollover closes Depot
A 2000 Dodge pickup truck rolled over on Monday morning on Depot Road not far from the intersection of Upper Cross Road, causing closure of the road for a short time.
The accident occurred around 7:30 when the truck headed southbound went onto the soft shoulder, lost
control and turned over, according to Lebanon Fire Chief Skip Wood.
The driver was wearing a seat belt and OK, Wood said, but the road was restricted to just one lane for an hour or so while crews waited for a wrecker to tow the vehicle.
The road was closed completely for a few minutes while the truck was removed
Rescue Squad photo
A York County Sheriff's Deputy conducts interviews at the scene of a rollover on Depot Road on Monday. The driver was wearing his seat belt and suffered only a minor injury.
Driver was wearing seat belt, is OK
STORIES WEEK OF MAY 21
School budget OK'd
Low voter turnout concerns schools chief
The sparse turnout for Tuesday’s school budget vote was disappointing on many levels for MSAD 60 Superintendent Paul Andrade, but what was even more telling was that, even with their livelihood on the line, it’s obvious many school district employees stayed at home as well.
“You look at the numbers, it looks like a lot of our own people didn’t bother to vote,” Andrade said Wednesday.
A district-wide voter turnout of 524 approved the $34,832,603 budget 294-230. The district employs over 550 teachers and staff.
Lebanon voters approved the budget by an 81-61 vote. The low turnout was a disappointment for Joanne Potter, one of Lebanon’s three MSAD 60 school board members. Potter said she thought the low turnout could in part be blamed on the vote’s timing. “One thing that I brought up before is
“You look at the numbers, it looks like a lot of our own people didn’t bother to vote."
- School Supt. Paul Andrade
that if we could use the same day as the general election, we’d get more voters,” said Potter. “As a school board member I would love that. You get a truer picture of what people want.”
Lebanon’s general election is set for June 12.
Berwick, which faces the highest overall increase of the three towns, voted against the budget, 129-115. North Berwick voted for it, 98-40.
At last Thursday’s school budget hearing at Noble High, only 91 residents from Berwick, North Berwick and Lebanon were in attendance.
Bridging the profit gap: In an effort to bring back revenue, Everetts Cove Marina now has a parking lot on the New Hampshire side a minute's walk from the marina.
Amid Friday's gloom,
A sunny outlook for
summer business
Lebanon’s summertime businesses are hoping to get off to a fast start this Memorial Day Weekend and looking for clear skies and plenty of customers through Monday.
Over at Everett’s Cove Marina, owners Jeff and Susan Everett are hoping additional parking on the Milton, N.H., side of the New Bridge and reduced slip rates will help offset the loss of business they saw with the closing of the bridge to cars.
Pedestrians are still able to use the bridge, however, and a parking lot has been built for Everett’s Cove customers at the end of the Mighty Joe Campground road. The parking lot is just a minute’s walk from the marina, which rents pontoon boats, jet skis, fishing boats, kayaks and canoes.
“It had a significant impact on our business,” Jeff Everett said of the bridge’s closure. “The slips have been hurt, the (boat) ramp has been hurt. Amazingly it didn’t hurt the ice cream. We have a very loyal following on our ice cream.”
In an effort to spur slip rentals, a 10 percent fee cut is in place for this summer, he said.
Everett, who’s owned the marina for 13 years, said he’s expecting a busy weekend. “It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year. People are opening their camps and getting their boats in the water for the first time,” he added.
Meanwhile, the town’s campgrounds are bustling right out of the gate with both Salmon Falls River Camping Resort and Flat Rock Bridge Family Resort at full capacity this weekend.
“It’s looking awesome,” said Salmon Fall River Camping Resort owner Cheryl Flood. “We’re full this weekend, and almost booked solid for Fourth of July, Labor Day and Columbus Day.”
The resort, which plans a new public mini-golf attraction this summer, also allows day passes for $7 for adults and $5 for children to use its indoor pool and take advantage of other resort amenities.
Over at Flat Rock Bridge Family Resort, owner Mary Hastings said the 350-site resort was sold out for the weekend and she expects a strong summer overall.
“It’s looking good, we’re up a little bit from last year,” Hastings said. “With the economy the way it is, camping is an economical vacation, and people have taken advantage of that.”
Harrison Thorp photos
Lebanon motorcyclist
released from hospital
The Lebanon man injured Wednesday night when he crashed his on/off-road Suzuki motorcycle on Depot Road has been released from Maine Medical Center, a spokesman said Saturday.
Jason Cyr, 48, said after the accident a mosquito had caused him to lose control of his bike, according to a release Thursday from Major William King of the York County Sheriff’s Office. Speed was not a factor, according to the release.
It was the second accident within three days in the same area of Depot Road.
A truck rolled over in the same area on Monday morning. No one was seriously
injured in the rollover..
Rescue Chief Jason Cole was on scene early Thursday morning about three minutes after the motorcycle accident was called in by a passing motorist shortly after midnight. Cyr had been lying in the road for several minutes, Cole said.
Cyr had been heading north away from Route 202 when the accident occurred and was just regaining consciousness as Cole arrived at the scene, he said. Cyr had been thrown about 50 feet from where the bike lay and was wearing a helmet which showed heavy damage and most likely saved his life, Cole added. The victim was fully immobilized, placed on a backboard and transported to Maine Medical around 12:40 a.m.
Honoring their ultimate sacrifice
Harrison Thorp photos and video
The Stars and Stripes leads the way as a short parade representing our Armed Forces marched down Heath Road toward historic Town Hall Monday during Memorial Day services in Lebanon.
A fitting tribute
Afghanistan, Iraq veteran
urges respect for those
who paid ultimate price
Under a cloudless sky on a glorious May afternoon Lebanon residents gathered to honor and pay homage to the fallen servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the way of life and freedoms we enjoy.
Jon Shutt, who grew up in Lebanon and was deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit in 2004-05, said every day when he leaves the Eric Knowlton school where he teaches and travels home to Milton Mills, N.H., it’s the sight from the top of the hill overlooking Milton Three Ponds that makes him realize this place where we live is worth fighting for. And dying for.
But Shutt, in a touching and emotional speech, urged residents to remember those who have died defending our freedoms, not just in our hearts, but in our actions. To raise a glass to their memory. To put out a dinner plate in their honor. To physically and purposefully pay tribute to their full measure of devotion.
Shutt spoke of his platoon sergeant who died shortly after returning from Iraq and how remiss he was in not attending the funeral. “I didn’t show enough respect to attend his funeral,” he choked. “I had too many things I thought were important that day. … I told myself never again. I would respect.”
Shutt, who also served in Afghanistan, wrote a book of poems about his experiences called “Blood Red Dawn.” He will have a book signing this Friday at 6 p.m. at Noble High School.
Jim Moyer, a disabled veteran and member of Lebanon’s American Legion Post 214, introduced Shutt after singing a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
After Shutt’s remarks, a 21-gun salute was followed by a rendition of echo “Taps” played by Adam Neubert and Ebbin Henzel, Lebanon students at Noble High School.
Post Commander Don Lovely also spoke during the event, chronicling the inception of Memorial Day after the Civil War and its historical significance. Lovely urged Americans to never forget their war dead and the sacrifice they made for this country.
Video is of Jim Moyer singing National Anthem and emotional speech by Jon Shutt.
Lebanon Boy Scouts Sam Levitez, left, and Mitchell Sirois hoist Old Glory during Memorial Day Services on Monday
Lebanon Boy Scouts, Girl Scout and Cub Scouts all brought contingents to help salute our fallen heroes who died on the battlefield defending our freedoms.
STORIES WEEK OF MAY 28
The new 1 percenters: Lebanites
who vote on the school budget
Tuesday’s shame is our shame.
Only 142 Lebanon residents voted on whether or not to approve this year’s $34.8 million MSAD 60 school budget.
My guess is more Lebanon residents went to Dunkin’ Donuts and got a latte or watched Phil Phillips crowned American Idol on Wednesday.
They always tell you, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Well, the way we vote on the school budget is broke, folks.
It’s not only broke. It’s expensive.
It cost Lebanon taxpayers about $1,400 to put on Tuesday’s pomp and circumstance. That’s money that could be spent on the students of Lebanon, on books, on laptops.
Last June 1,274 residents cast ballots in a hotly contested selectman’s race and other town ballot questions. That’s almost 10 times the amount that voted Tuesday.
There are reasons to have the ballot separate. They’re all so lame I’m not going to insult my readers’ intelligence by listing them here.
OK, just one. If the school budget were to have been defeated on Tuesday, some say this would give the Noble administrators and school board
members a couple of weeks to cobble together a new budget that could be voted on in the June 12 ballot, instead of having to run a second vote after June 12.
But the fact of the matter is the school budget hasn’t been rejected on the first vote in the last 10 years. So to enable that second vote that hasn’t been required in a decade, we’ve been paying $1,400 a year for at least 10 years. That’s $14,000 in wasted money.
There are so many ways to fix this problem it’s dizzying. But the bottom line is Lebanon, Berwick and North Berwick are all in the same school district, so the three towns need to get on the same page, and voting day.
Speaking of pomp and circumstance, Lebanon graduating seniors Allison Pierpont, Tom Carlin and Adam Neubert, respectively, swept the top three academic honors at Noble High School this year. This writer and community could not be more proud.
I’m sure if the powers that be in their infinite wisdom can’t figure out how to fix this mess, these three are ready, able and willing to assist you.
EDITORIAL
Lynn Chesley photo
Lebanon Fire Department personnel stand by as a wrecker prepares to tow a vehicle involved in an accident Tuesday afternoon on Champion Street. Below, traffic backs up after the crash.
Speed a factor in cycle crash
Speed is now considered a factor in an accident that seriously injured a Lebanon man May 23 on Depot Road.
Jason Cyr, 48, crashed his on/off-road Suzuki near the intersection of Upper Cross Road around midnight and told investigators he was bothered by a mosquito. An initial report from the York Country Sheriff’s Office said speed was not a factor, but on Wednesday a revised
report said speed was, indeed, a factor.
Cyr sustained serious injuries in the crash and taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland. He was released from the hospital over the weekend.
It was the second accident within three days in the same area of Depot Road.
A truck rolled over in the same area on May 21. No citation was issued in that accident, according to York Country Sheriff’s Office Major Bill King.
The Lebanon man injured in an accident Tuesday on Champion Street has been charged with OUI in connection with the crash.
Ricky J. Dyer, 57, of Champion Street lost control of his 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe around 5 p.m. rounding a curve near his home.
Dyer was summonsed to appear in court in connection with the OUI charge, York County Sheriff’s Office Major Bill King said today.
The car crashed when it crossed the opposing lane, veered off the road and crashed into a pine tree, according to an eyewitness who wished not to be identified.
The accident snarled Champion Street traffic for more than an hour as it was closed to just one lane of traffic while rescue and fire personnel cleared the scene and Dyer’s vehicle was towed.
Dyer was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.H., but has since been discharged.
It was reported that Dyer was not wearing his seat belt but the vehicle airbags did deploy.
A small dog in the car was also said to have been hurt slightly, but in fact, was uninjured..
The vehicle was removed at 6:16 p.m., and the road was reopened to two lanes.
Champion Street crash
leads to OUI charge
A fistfight on River Road Tuesday resulted in two teenagers being sent to area hospitals, according to Maine State Police.
The incident was originally reported as a robbery and assault, but Maine State Police Sgt. Robert Nichols said Tuesday night it was sort of a "mutual" fight where the two youth decided to duke it out.
The initial rescue call at 3:45 p.m. requested an ambulance for a victim who needed assistance on North Rochester Road, said Assistant Rescue Chief Jason
Cole. “We transported one person who had been injured and gave assistance to a second person not connected to the assault,” Cole said. The person transported was taken to Frisbie Memorial Hosptial in Rochester, N.H.
Moments later while treating the two patients, Lebanon Rescue was dispatched to River Road to treat another victim. That victim was transported to Goodall Hospital in Sanford.
Two victims transported;
state police investigating
STORIES WEEK OF JUNE 4
