Local News - NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA

Body of missing Lawrence soldier found in Iraq
LAWRENCE — The bodies of two U.S. soldiers, including Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez of Lawrence, missing in Iraq since being ambushed more than a year ago, have been recovered.
Military officials told Jimenez family members in Lawrence and New York yesterday evening that their son's remains, along with those of Pvt. Byron Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich., were identified on Wednesday.
Seabrook's seniors ready for next step
In Winnacunnet High School auditorium Friday night at about 5 the air was filled with excitement and electricity.
A sea of blue- and white-robes, seniors were taking pictures, fixing each other's hair, adjusting hand-pained mortarboards and making sure graduation gowns fit as perfectly as graduation gowns can fit. And there was a lot of hugging, as friends who'd struggled or sailed through four-years of high school knew their time together as one unit was about to end.
Officials: Clinton will concede delegate race to Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton will concede tonight that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, campaign officials said, effectively ending her bid to be the nation's first female president.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: St. John's Prep Graduation
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: The scoop behind Richardson's ice cream
Coast Guard ends search for missing lobsterman
The U.S. Coast Guard officially called off its search late last night for a missing lobsterman whose ship capsized off the Isle of Shoals. The search included local waters after debris from the ship washed up on Salisbury Beach yesterday.
Methuen police chief fired today
METHUEN — Mayor William Manzi fired police Chief Joseph Solomon today.
Solomon has been accused of a litany of charges, including mismanaging grant money and conflicts of interest. The 22-year veteran of the police department fought for his job during a seven-day discipline hearing, which started in February and ended April 14.
FIGHTING THE TIDE - updated April 21
Poll: Boston Marathon
Do you think you could finish the Boston Marathon?
History of the Boston Marathon
A timeline of historic moments of the Boston Marathon.
VIDEO: Marathon Runner Nancy McCarthy, 61
Newburyport resident NANCY McCARTHY, 61, ran her first Boston Marathon at 36 year old in 1983. The 2008 Boston Marathon marks the 26th marathon she's completed in the past 26 years, 10 of which were on the Boston course. The fitness instructor now helps others train for marathons, always reminding them about the importance of stretching.
VIDEO: Marathon Runner Julie Moore, age 42
North Andover runner JULIE MOORE, 42, completed her first of 17 Boston Marathons in 1988. She has run a total of 35 marathon since that year, preparing differently for each one. Weight training, however, is always a staple in her training.
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Marathon Mamas
VIDEO: Marathon Runner Carol Blanchard, age 52
Lawrence resident CAROL BLANCHARD, 52, ran her first Boston Marathon at 40 years old in 1996. The 2008 race is her 10th Boston Marathon, as well as her 21st completed marathon. She's perfected her training schedule over the years, and now routinely runs with a pal instead of alone.
Engineer recommends more Big Dig tunnel repairs
BOSTON (AP) — The engineering firm about to complete the Big Dig's stem-to-stern safety review said yesterday the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority should implement a few more repairs to ensure all the tunnels are safe to the traveling public.
Sand Wars Who owns the sand? Ongoing battle may delay solutions for Plum Island
Below the ocean surface, there's a small mountain of sand waiting to be dredged.
That sand — 130,000 to 150,000 cubic yards — would come from the navigation channel at the mouth of the Merrimack River that the Army Corps of Engineers has been digging out every few years.
Speak up: Interactive commenting now available on all stories
We are happy to introduce commenting as the newest feature on our Web site. At the end of every story is an area for you to leave your thoughts and opinions.
A beloved resort erodes Gradually, Salisbury Beach washes away
SALISBURY BEACH — Sand, more so than even than the salty waves that lap the shore, is the mother's milk of oceanfront resort communities.
Without it, children don't splash by the water's edge and families don't build sand castles. Frolicking by the seaside simply isn't possible.
Friction growing over sand Plum Island citizens group letter disputes deal on dredge deposits
PLUM ISLAND — A lawyer representing a group of Plum Island residents has warned state and local officials that they could be breaking the law if they attempt to implement an agreement that would allow dredged sand to be deposited off Salisbury Beach.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Red Sox open season in Japan
Plum Island: Mother Nature, Man contribute to erosion
PLUM ISLAND — Mother Nature plays her part, of course.
But those who have seen Plum Island's beaches and dunes morph for decades say it isn't just the winds of nor'easters, the waves of the Atlantic Ocean and the natural characteristics of a barrier island that account for the erosion seen in recent years.
Plum Island: Man's walls can't hold back the sea Some say erosion controls help, others say they hurt
PLUM ISLAND — Against the humbling power of nature, there's not a lot man can do to stop the ocean from destroying and reshaping the beach.
But just about every major manmade anti-erosion technology and technique to slow the process is employed at the mouth of the Merrimack River and along Plum Island. Even with those pieces in place, there are problems.
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Being Hillary
WEB EXCLUSIVE: The war in Iraq, five years later
'How many times are we going to save something?' Beach erosion, regrowth an endless pattern
They are three spots along Plum Island beach, separated by only 2 miles. But they each tell something of the island's endless and unpredictable battle with the sea.
On the island's northern tip stands a gazebo, built a couple of years ago by the nonprofit Plum Island Taxpayers Association. It's a pleasant spot set back far from the water — the Merrimack River ebbs and flows by 150 yards to the north, and on the opposite shore in the distance is Salisbury Beach. As your eyes swing east toward the sea, you can see waves break on the beach 300 yards away. To the south, across a long stretch of dunes, are dozens of houses clustered tightly together.
A legacy of erosion
1827 — The Army Corps of Engineers draws its first map of the Merrimack River entrance. It is located more than a half mile south of its 2008 position.
around 1827 — A jetty system is built near the mouth of the Merrimack River to control the route of the river mouth. It is a failure. Its ruins can still be seen today near Woodbridge Island.
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Brad Delp - Through the years
Life after Delp: One year after singer's suicide, Beatle Juice carries on legacy
The night started like any other for members of Beatle Juice.
John "Muzz" Muzzy, Dave Mitchell, Steve Baker and Joe Holaday gathered at Johnny D's Uptown Restaurant and Music Club in Somerville around 4 p.m. for a sound check before a show.
'He was worth every penny' 'Sand-a Claus' lobbyist earns praise from beach towns
Washington lobbyist Howard Marlowe's clients seem to feel that his fees are money well spent.
A Daily News survey of administrators in five of the 34 cities and towns that retain the services of Marlowe & Co. showed unanimous satisfaction with the results obtained by the lobbying firm in various projects — including beach replenishment. (Marlowe also lists 18 other clients, either counties or nonprofit entities.)
Sand dollars: Costs of remedying Plum Island beach erosion in millions
PLUM ISLAND — Vincent Russo has owned a house on Northern Boulevard for 35 years. Two or three times a week, he walks a 2- to 3-mile stretch of the beach — from the south jetty to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
A case study in beach replenishment
Venice, Fla., is a community of about 20,000 people located on the Gulf of Mexico, a few miles south of Sarasota. It is a vacation destination, with a quaint shopping district of small shops and boutiques and a broad, graceful main boulevard that leads to its beach. Among its major attractions is its more than 5 miles of beachfront.
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Working in Wood
VIDEO: Sled Hockey
Romney quits campaign for president
John McCain effectively sealed the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday as chief rival Mitt Romney suspended his faltering presidential campaign. "I must now stand aside, for our party and our country," Romney prepared to tell conservatives.
Ex-gov: 'This is not an easy decision for me'
What follows is former Massachusett Gov. Mitt Romney's remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington:
McCain seizes GOP command on Super Tuesday; Clinton, Obama battle for Democrats
Sen. John McCain seized command of the race for the Republican presidential nomination early Wednesday, winning delegate-rich primaries from the East Coast to California. Democratic rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama traded victories in an epic struggle with no end in sight.
Tallying the votes: Follow the 2008 presidential primary election
Follow the 2008 presidential primary election
2007 New England Patriots
Pats fans geared up as big game kicks off
GLENDALE, ARIZ. | The crowd roared as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ran onto the field before the game.
All of the fans hadn't even found their seats at that point, but they still made enough noise to fill the University of Phoenix Stadium | the site of today's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.
Newburyport Daily News Web site content to be free Feb. 1
Beginning Feb. 1, all local news coverage published in the Newburyport Daily News will be free and available to the public at www.newburyportnews.com. Readers will no longer need to log on to the online Plus Edition to receive complete access to the local news that appears in our print editions.
'Unstable' boat likely capsized; Coast Guard issues final report on Lady Luck sinking
NEWBURYPORT - A yearlong probe into the sinking of the Newburyport-based Lady Luck and deaths of its two crewmen reveals that it sank so rapidly after capsizing that the men aboard had no time to access lifesaving equipment, a U.S. Coast Guard report released yesterday said.
'Break and rake' raid nets drugs, weapons in Seabrook
SEABROOK - A late-night raid on Tuesday by state and local authorities has landed two Seabrook men in jail after a scale, significant quantities of cocaine, prescription drugs and five guns were found in their home, police said.
Young people taking big interest in presidential politics
NEWBURYPORT - Luke Earles may have worked for Hillary Clinton, but like many young people, he's a Barack Obama man.
The pill nobody wants; Public eschews KI pills; feds to stop distribution
NEWBURYPORT - Though the state Department of Public Health has given 5,000 potassium iodide tablets to the city, only about 200 residents have picked them up, and time is running out.
Throwing a Super party; Glendale braces for fans' arrival
GLENDALE, Ariz. - They wear bulletproof vests, walk in groups and preach a simple message.
Giants loyalists infiltrate Patriots Nation
Some Giants fans are born. And some are made. They live in an alien nation, but Phil Derrico of Newburyport and Harry Vedrani of Amesbury don't need passports to come and go.
Media day: Brady says no to wedding proposal
GLENDALE, ARIZ. - It started out as a typical media circus.
Karp planning first visit to Port to introduce development team
NEWBURYPORT - Stephen Karp, the city's largest property owner and the man behind the plan to redevelop the city's waterfront, will soon make his first public appearance in Newburyport, Mayor John Moak said.
Clerks' offices gear up for Super Tuesday
NEWBURYPORT - A steady stream of people flowed in and out of the city clerk's office yesterday while employees jumped from file to file passing out paperwork, and the telephone rang off the hook.
Funding sought for bridge fixes
BOSTON - Funding for long-delayed repairs to the John Greenleaf Whitter and the Groveland bridges would be secured within the next three years under a plan floated yesterday by state Treasurer Timothy Cahill.
McCain edges Romney in Florida GOP primary
MIAMI | Sen. John McCain won a breakthrough triumph in the Florida primary last night, seizing the upper hand in the Republican presidential race ahead of next week's coast-to-coast contests and lining up a quick endorsement from soon-to-be dropout Rudy Giuliani. "It shows one thing: I'm the conservative leader who can unite the party," McCain told The Associated Press after easing past former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for his first-ever triumph in a primary open only to Republicans.
VIDEO: Bill Burt at Super Bowl Media Day
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Patriot's Media Day.
360 DEGREE PANORAMA: Super Bowl media day
Super Bowl-bound fans 'don't have to shovel sunshine'
GLENDALE, ARIZ. - It's like a city within a city, a place where you can take in a concert, dine on cuisine prepared by top chefs and immerse yourself in a chocolate festival.
South Hampton man held on assault, felony charges
SEABROOK - A South Hampton man is being held at Rockingham County House of Correction on $75,000 cash bail awaiting trial in Superior Court on multiple counts of domestic simple assault and felony charges of criminal mischief.
From South Africa to Salisbury, woman completes journey to citizenship
SALISBURY - Dressed in the red-, white- and blue-striped skirt and blouse she had sewn by hand, Sonia Stacy became an American citizen late last year.
Mystery of the coconut cracked; Name-filled nut likely used in Santeria ritual
SALISBURY - When Tom Small found a mysterious coconut last month on Salisbury Beach, he hoped it held a treasure, but instead all he got was bad luck.
Lynch won't back legalized gambling
SEABROOK - New Hampshire legislators reacted strongly yesterday to comments by New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, who said he would not support pro-gambling legislation unless "absolutely convinced it wouldn't have an effect on our quality of life."
Newburyport history has seen some brushes with Presidents
NEWBURYPORT - It's been the sad fate of city residents in past presidential election cycles to sit on their hands while the most compelling of political contests play out in the early primary states like neighboring New Hampshire.
Corrections
The Daily News always seeks to be accurate in its news coverage, but when we make a mistake, we want to know. Readers noting mistakes in stories are encouraged to call City Editor Will Courtney or Editor John Macone at (978) 462-6666.
For green energy, city looks into the wind
NEWBURYPORT - Foreseeing an increase in demand for the development of wind turbines - and wanting to encourage them - city officials plan to create an ordinance to guide the construction of the alternative energy source.
City looking at reversing direction of State, Green streets
NEWBURYPORT - City leaders say that as the downtown continues to develop, they will consider altering the flow of traffic by reversing the direction in which vehicles travel on State Street from south to north.
Quilter hopes to 'pay it forward' with warm covers for homeless kids
GEORGETOWN - Donna Lay believes in returning a helping hand.
Killer in notorious murder wants out of jail; Gregory Smart's killer begs to be freed from prison
BRENTWOOD, N.H. - A sniffling, red-faced William Flynn begged forgiveness yesterday for killing Pamela Smart's husband.
Port's winter carnival shaping up for Feb. 9
NEWBURYPORT - What is more symbolic of winter than ice skating, sledding and hot chocolate at the Bartlet Mall? Parks commissioner David Keery is helping organize Winter Carnival, which will blend the old favorites like snowboarding with new surprises, such as an ice fishing exhibition.
Beach project gains support
NEWBURYPORT - The quest to replenish the eroding beach at Plum Island by using sand dredged from the Merrimack River channel saw developments on two fronts yesterday.
Victim of theft turns detective to help solve the crime
BEVERLY - Darla Johnson had a bad feeling about a car that pulled slowly into the parking lot at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus one day in April 2006.
Costello rips into Patrick plan; Rep. says budget does little for cities like Newburyport
NEWBURYPORT - Rep. Michael Costello blasted the governor's proposed budget this week, saying the plan is based on casino money that isn't there and ignores "real issues" like special education costs and charter school reimbursements.
Pats fan hasn't missed a game since 1970
Michael Paolino said he's the No. 1 fan of the New England Patriots and that he's got the goods to prove it - starting with his 5-year-old son Brady, named after you know who.
Tearful killer in Smart case pleads for freedom
A sniffling, red-faced William Flynn begged forgiveness yesterday for killing Pamela Smart’s husband. The sentence-reduction hearing capped a surprising chapter in one of New Hampshire’s most notorious murders.
Text of Gov. Patrick's State of the State speech
Text of Gov. Deval Patrick's State of the State address on Thursday, as prepared for delivery.
Sick of sandwiches: AHS construction means no hot meals
AMESBURY - It's probably safe to say that next year most students at the high school will be looking forward to eating lunch.
Marshall remembered for work ethic, expertise, humor
SEABROOK - If the measure of a man's life is gauged by the respect he earns from his community and colleagues, Ralph Marshall was a giant whose life was a success and over much too soon.
Football fans splurging for flat screens
Store manager Liz Jutras has seen a steady stream of customers coming through her store looking to shop for something to enhance next Sunday's Super Bowl.
Building bustling in city; Renovations, additions likely behind spike in collected fees
NEWBURYPORT - Despite a sluggish economy and little room in the city to grow, the fees generated from building permits are nearly $100,000 ahead of schedule, a sign that while residents and businesses aren't building new houses, they are putting money into their structures.
Officers get $12,000 for flawed detail pay records
NEWBURY - The bill has finally come due for a flawed system of accounting for paid police details that dates back more than 20 years.
Let us know if you are Super Bowl-bound
Molin legacy lives on through education
NEWBURYPORT - Members of city government, the school administration, community organizations and students gathered last night to formally dedicate the Molin Upper Elementary School to a man described as a community leader, champion of education and friend to all he met.
Former state official fights contempt claim
BRENTWOOD - A former top official with the state Medical Examiner's Office could be held in contempt of court if a judge believes she tried to evade a court-ordered MRI of her brain.
Budget calls for modest aid hikes; Local municipalities would see below-average hikes under Patrick plan
BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday filed a $28.2 billion budget that would boost state spending on aid to cities and towns, education and public safety but relies on millions of dollars of revenue from programs not approved by the Legislature.
Misunderstanding leads to verbal sparring
GEORGETOWN - In what is becoming a regular event at selectmen's meetings, Chairman Matt Vincent and Selectman Lonnie Brennan came to verbal blows over a miscommunication about a letter Brennan was asked to write in December.
Big Dig contractors settle tunnel collapse lawsuit for more than $450M
Contractors who worked on the long-troubled Big Dig highway project have agreed to pay more than $450 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the state over a fatal tunnel ceiling collapse and to cover the costs of leaks and design flaws.
School nurses no longer just for Band-Aids and bruises
AMESBURY - They arrive in a steady stream and approach the desk to explain why they came.
Contracts await union, voters' approval
SEABROOK - After months of meetings, selectmen have negotiated contracts with all four town employee unions, but voters get the final word at the polls in March.
Committee will base talks on bigger budget
NEWBURYPORT - School Committee members last night agreed to use the superintendent's recommended $1.7 million increase to the budget as an axis for upcoming discussion, saying the city must consider higher standards to understand what its students need to compete.
Success never gets old for Patriots collectors
NEWBURYPORT - Laurence Maroney's stock is rising, and not just on the football field.
Birthday becomes fundraiser for young cancer victim
GROVELAND - Turning 18 brings a new type of freedom all teenagers look forward to: Scratch tickets, driving after 12:30 a.m. and voting are all perks of becoming a legal adult.
State unveils 211 phone number for storm calls
There's a new phone number to call during storms or disasters in Massachusetts. It's 2-1-1.
Tax evaders' supporter pleads guilty to federal charges
A Vermont man changed his plea to guilty Tuesday for helping a New Hampshire couple who refused to pay their income taxes and holed up for months in their secluded home last year.
MLK Jr. Day speakers aim to break down barriers
NEWBURYPORT - When Cuban immigrant Rosalin Acosta took the stage at the 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast, the message of the late civil rights leader seemed to reverberate off the walls of the high school.
Correction
The Daily News always seeks to be accurate in its news coverage, but when we make a mistake, we want to know. Readers noting mistakes in stories are encouraged to call city editor Will Courtney or editor John Macone at (978) 462-6666.
Local bars busted for overserving
Three local bars have been cited for serving alcohol to intoxicated customers in a series of checks conducted over the holidays.
City block up in flames; 14 buildings destroyed, damaged
LAWRENCE - It was 2:30 a.m., and Officer Robert Moody was patrolling on Parker Street. A call from two emergency medical technicians alerted him to a building on fire just up the street from where he was.
'You can never discount them'; Fans cheer Patriots at local sports bars
The Patriots were up only 7-6 in the second quarter, but Laura Allgrobe wasn't nervous.
Selectmen still divided on ladder-truck warrant articles
WEST NEWBURY - Selectmen remain split on how best to address a town emergency resulting from the lack of an aerial ladder truck. On a 2 to 1 vote, the board agreed on Thursday to bring two articles before voters at a special town meeting, most likely to be held on Feb. 7.
Retailers curbing sales of tobacco to minors
NEWBURYPORT - Increased education and random checks have worked to lower the rate of tobacco products being sold by local businesses to minors, according to a state program, and now local schools are working to reinforce the message to students.
A new meaning for sweating to the oldies
NEWBURYPORT - Fitness is not only for rock-hard abs and buns of steel.
Essex County Chronicles: Dr. King's work built on efforts of early abolitionists
Today as we celebrate the official commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, it seems an appropriate time to pay tribute to the handful of 19th-century North Shore residents who helped pave the way for the great civil rights leader's work a century later.

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