Convicted child killer Dale loses federal appeal, files another in 1st Circuit Court

By Nancy West

Jim Dale has lost his latest case in U.S. District Court, but plans to further appeal his second-degree murder conviction for the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Hopkinton more than 20 years ago.Dale, 60, who is adamant that he didn’t rape...

Army aviator, former N.H. student killed in Apache helicopter crash

By ALYSSA DANDREA

James Casadona, a graduate of New Hampton School, knew early on he wanted to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and join the U.S. Marine Corps.“I remember the phone call like it was yesterday,” Retired Marine Master Sgt. Dan Crim said of the conversation...

Final song for former bagpiper to the Queen of England

By LOLA DUFFORT

A Concord man who once served as the queen of England’s personal piper was remembered by loved ones Wednesday for his mischievous sense of humor, distinguished military career and love of Scottish music.The service for Pipe Major Gordon Webster at St....

The most iconic Wolfman of N.H. train ride fame has died

By RAY DUCKLER

Bill Farrand, whose portrayal of Wolfman at Clark’s Trading Post in Lincoln remains the standard by which all others who played the part have been judged, died Monday at the age of 60.Farrand had been battling lung disease, which forced him to retire...

Once upon a time, Betty and Barney Hill told a story that was out of this world

By RAY DUCKLER

Leon Noel moved carefully toward the row of twisted, sagging apple trees near the Interstate 93 overpass in Lincoln, each step swallowed by two feet of snow. He pointed with a sweeping motion across the horizon. “There,” he said. “That’s them.” The...

Judge sentences former Pembroke Academy dean to jail in drug case

By ALYSSA DANDREA

Rekha Luther recalled vividly in court Monday the first time she shot up heroin, aiming to suppress chronic pain from an underlying health condition that had led her to abuse prescription drugs.After the first time, she was hooked and the choice to...

More than two years later, questions on deadly crash remain

By CAITLIN ANDREWS

The day Dunbarton teen Trevor Gonyer died, Stephanie Burke called his phone dozens of times.Burke, a Goffstown High School student at the time, knew her friend was dead. Her baby sister had told her, “bawling her eyes out,” the morning of July 3,...

On Presidents Day, Franklin Pierce remains a mystery to many in N.H.

By RAY DUCKLER

So who the heck was Franklin Pierce? I tried to find out, thinking Monday – Presidents Day – was a good time to try. Turns out, one of the most important people in the state’s history featured more gray area than a giant storm cloud.Pierce was the...

Penny Pitou looked great, both on the slopes and in front of the camera

By RAY DUCKLER

Penny Pitou, famous for winning two Olympic silver medals and booking European ski tours, says it’s okay to call her attractive.In fact, she likes it, as long as you include the part about skiing, too.Both defined her in 1960, when the woman behind...

Statewide drug sweep leads to 151 arrests in NH

By ALYSSA DANDREA

Eighty-eight local, state and federal law enforcement agencies executed one of the largest ever drug sweeps Thursday in the Granite State that resulted in 151 arrests, the seizure of more than 551 grams of heroin and fentanyl, $37,251 in cash and 24...

N.H. man who shot Manchester officers to spend 5 years in psych unit

BrentwoodMan who shot police officers to spend 5 years in psych unitA man charged with shooting and wounding two New Hampshire police officers has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and will serve five years in a state psychiatric unit.Ian...

Penacook mom sent to jail for raising children around methamphetamine

By ALYSSA DANDREA

A mother began serving a 90-day jail sentence Tuesday for exposing her two children to methamphetamine in Penacook in summer 2016, resulting in the death of her 2-month-old son.Kayla Austin, 21, of Penacook pleaded guilty to two counts of endangering...

Homes with private wells would be exempt from drought restrictions

By DAVID BROOKS

A bill being considered in the state Legislature would allow homes on private wells to continue watering their lawns during a drought, even when homes connected to municipal systems have to stop.“Private wells are private property and this has always...

Judge dismisses 1 of 4 charges against N.H. representative

By LOLA DUFFORT

A Hooksett district court judge dismissed one of four charges in the DWI case against state Rep. James Spillane on Tuesday and could issue a ruling on the remaining counts as soon as Wednesday.Spillane was arrested a little after 11 p.m. May 4, on...

Downtown: New gym looks to shake up Concord

By CAITLIN ANDREWS

In the bright light of a new year, you might be tempted to make a resolution or two.There’s the classics, like writing more or calling your mother more often, and getting back to the gym. You’ll soon have a new place in Concord to try out that last...

Live Nation buys Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

By CAITLIN ANDREWS

One of the state’s largest concert venues has been purchased by Live Nation, the entertainment giant that owns Ticketmaster. The global company announced Wednesday it had acquired an interest in the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, formerly known as...

The farmhouse, shown in a documentary, is gone, to be replaced by something more hopeful

By RAY DUCKLER

The big white farmhouse on Mountain Road, near Sanborn and Sewalls Falls roads, is gone, razed to make room for new homes and families.It stood lonely for years, with a blank expression of chipping paint and rotting wood that, to passing drivers,...

Concord dentist accused of sexual assault reaches agreement

By ALYSSA DANDREA

A Concord dentist charged with assaulting a woman in the parking lot of a company-sponsored event in 2015 has settled with prosecutors.Mostafa El-Sherif, 60, of Bedford has completed three hours of one-on-one sexual harassment training and 40 hours of...

From grief to advocacy, a father takes action on opioid epidemic

By CAITLIN ANDREWS

Doug Griffin’s view on the opioid epidemic has shifted since he lost his daughter, Courtney, to a fentanyl overdose three years ago at the age of 20.At first, he shied away from his pastor even mentioning how Courtney died during her funeral service....

Before they ski down, an increasing number of people are hiking up

By DAVID BROOKS

Early November snowfall has gotten plenty of folks looking forward to zooming down New Hampshire mountains on skis. But a surprising number of them are willing – even eager – to hike uphill in order to do it.“This is the fastest-growing segment of the...