News

Multiple boat explosions prompt warning and advice from experts

Submitted by Tim Goff on Tuesday, July 9th, 6:16 pm

NAPLES, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Three separate boat fires and explosions over the 4th of July holiday weekend have first responders and boating experts encouraging boaters to inspect their boats and perform the proper maintenance.

The first explosion happened at the East End Beach boat launch in Portland on Friday, and sent a man to the hospital with burns to his arms, chest and face. Investigators believe the engine sparked gas vapors inside the compartment that houses the 20 foot long boat's inboard motor.

Later that same day, two women were injured in Gardiner when the boat they were in on the Kennebec River caught fire. Another boat was damaged in a fire on Cold Stream Pond near Lincoln on Saturday night.

"It is unusual to have a couple of explosions in such a short period of time," stated District Game Warden, Neal Wykes. He says the state may average three or four such incidents in a single year.

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Submitted by Aimee Turner, Multi Media Producer

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013, 2:42pm

Locals and visitors agree: one of the best ways to beat summer heat is at the beautiful beaches of Maine. York Beach is a favorite.

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New technology helps bring sick kids to familiar places

Submitted by Tim Goff on Monday, July 1st, 5:45 pm

SACO, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- For the past 15 years, Grahamtastic Connection has provided hundreds of seriously ill children and their families computers and internet connectivity to help kids keep connected with their friends and family while they are receiving treatment.

"You can't drive the program, the technology drives the program," stated Grahamtastic's founder, Leslie Morrisette, who vowed to help families find information and stay in touch after her son's courageous battle with cancer.

Jenna Posey received the first computer Morrisette gave away.

"It was a huge, big Mac Quadra that I could barely carry with my own hands and it was dial-up internet, the beep, beep, beep, and it was slow," recalled Morrisette. "Once I gave away that first computer I realized that my life would never be the same and it just felt so good to give back."

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Five injured in Lebanon car crash

Submitted by Amanda Hill on Monday, July 1st, 8:41 am

LEBANON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Five people were taken to various hospitals after two cars collided in the town of Lebanon Sunday night.

It happened around 6:30 near the Lebanon House of Pizza on Carl Broggi Highway.

Assistant Chief Jason Cole says a Nissan Altima tried to make a lefthand turn off the road and didn't see an oncoming Dodge Stratus.
The Stratus slammed into the Altima, spinning it into a ditch. The Stratus wound up in the eastbound lane.

The crash remains under investigation by State Police. Cole adds that an emergency room doctor who just happened to be passing by stopped and helped the injured.

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Submitted by Krister Rollins, smiling politely

Sunday, June 23rd, 2013, 10:58pm

EAST LEBANON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - The Lebanon Rescue Department says a young teen was taken to the hospital after being struck by lightning Sunday.

In a news release, Assistant Chief Jason Cole says the boy was struck shortly after 8:30 PM. Family told emergency crews that a bolt of lightning hit the house and traveled across a room to hit the teen.

The child was alert and conscious when crews arrived, but was still suffering from the effects of the strike.

He was taken to Goodall Hospital in Sanford. His condition has not been released.

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Four injured in Lebanon car crash

Submitted by Max Cole on Sunday, June 23rd, 12:44 pm

LEBANON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Four people were injured in a serious two-car accident in Lebanon Sunday morning.

In a news release from the Lebanon Rescue Department, Assistant Chief Jason Cole said emergency crews responded to the accident around 10:45 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Carl Broggi Highway and Depot Road in East Lebanon. When crews arrived on scene, they found two cars with extensive damage.

Cole said a 2013 Kia Sedan was traveling off of Little River Road and heading straight onto Depot Road when it didn't stop for a red light. A Chrysler Sebring was traveling on Carl Broggi Highway with a green light and was struck by the Kia.

Rescue officials said a total of four patients were evaluated at the scene. A female passenger in the Kia was taken to Goodall Hospital in Sanford with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

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Lebanon home destroyed in fire

Submitted by Max Cole on Saturday, June 22nd, 12:11 pm

LEBANON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Investigators are working to determine what caused a fire to break out early Saturday morning that destroyed a home in the town of Lebanon.

Lebanon Fire Chief Skip Wood said crews were called to a home on Champion Street just after 2:30 a.m. No one was home at the time of the fire, but Wood said the house was completely destroyed.

Chief Wood said several nearby fire departments were called to assist the Lebanon Fire Department battle the flames. Crews remained on scene for several hours putting out hot spots, and the scene was cleared around 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

No cause has been determined yet for the fire. The State Fire Marshal's office has been called in to investigate.

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