NH Snowmobile Trail Conditions 3-2-2012

March 2, 2012 Update Even with the recent snowfall, riders can expect to still find early season riding conditions in many areas and should be mindful of changing trail status and water bars as well as some downed trees.  Riders should check local club websites for area information. Not all trail gates will be open so riders should use extra caution in those areas where trails have not been open this season. Swift Diamond Riders 20th Annual Sno-Deo this weekend March 2nd & 3rd For more info go to www.nhsnodeo.com Pittsburg- 5-6" new snow. 8-10" base in higher elevations and 3-5" in lower. Grooming is ongoing, and conditions range from good to great. Riding in town is now considered to be good. Please pay attention to all signage! There are still logging operations going on. Perry Stream Rd is closed to snowmobile traffic and stay on the side of Magalloway Rd; some shared roads and are posted 10 mph. Lakes are still considered to be unsafe! Vintage race this Saturday in Errol. For more details go to www.pittsburgridgerunners.org. Colebrook- Trails 5,7,18,21,120,128,110,111 groomed Thursday night all in good to great condition, Groomers will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday after 4:00 p.m. Watch for ice and drifts on all trails Ride with caution. For more info go to www.colebrookski-bees.com Stratford- 4” new snow on a 4-6” base. Trails are groomed and riding is great. Groveton/Nash Stream- 5-6" new snow on a 6-10" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good. 5 South Closed. Diamond Pond/Coleman State Park- 6-8" new snow on a 12-14" base. Trails are groomed and riding is great. Several logging operations going on. Lake ice is marginal. Warming hut open Saturday and Sunday. Gas pumps open 24/7.  Friday and Saturday March 2nd and 3rd is the 20th Annual Sno-Deo For more details go to  www.nhsnodeo.com Errol- 2" new snow on a 1-5" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good. Use Caution, some trails are getting icy. Cambridge- 3" new snow on a 4-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good. Milan- 3" new snow on a 4-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good. Twin Mtn- 1" new snow on a 3-15" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Grooming is being done in the Base Rd at Jefferson Notch Dalton- 3" new snow on a 3-5" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Berlin- 3" new snow on a 5-6" base.  Trails are groomed and riding is good to great. For more details, go to www.whitemtridgerunners.com Berlin/Success- 3-4" new snow on a 3-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good to great. Gorham - 2-3 " new snow on a 3 -6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good to great. Use caution around logging jobs. For more info go to www.presidentialrangeriders.org Jefferson- 2 " new snow on a 3-5" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. For more details go to www.waumbekmethna.com Franconia Notch- 2" new snow on a 2-5" base. Trails are groomed at riding is good. Corr 11 North of Notch is not groomed and riding is marginal. Campton/Thornton- 2" new snow on a 2-7" base. Trails are groomed riding is moderate to good. Corr 11 Rail line not groomed use caution. Bridgewater-12” new snow. All trails are open and groomed except for a portion of corridor 8 which is the rail road tracks. There are a few water bars open. Overall riding is considered good to great. Rumney- Trails have been packed. Rte 11 & 153 Junction to Groton Hollow is closed. Rte 11 & 153 Coach Rd to Power line Open Fri Night to Sunday night. Trails are considered Marginal to moderate. Ride with Caution. Bear Notch- 12" new snow on a 6-10" base. Trails are groomed including rail section. Riding is great. Use Caution and watch for mushers and skiers. Conway/ Chatham- 8-10" new snow on a 2-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good East Conway to Maine groomed on Corridor 19. Parking at Town and Country Yamaha and Town Hall. Logging is done. Ossipee- 8-10" new snow on a 2-4" base. RR tracks not groomed. Whiteface to Wonolancet and Whiteface groomed and riding is good. Castle trails groomed and riding is good. Use caution on RR tracks to get there. Wakefield- 8” new snow on a 2-4” base. Some areas are groomed and others not. Riding is marginal. RR tracks are poor. Lakes and ponds slushy and not safe, Laconia/Gilford- 8-10 "of new snow. Some grooming is being done as conditions allow Pembroke- 8-10” new snow. Trails are being groomed. Use caution as there may be water bars and bare spots on hills. Conditions are marginal to moderate. Westmoreland- 6-10” new snow on a minimal base. Grooming will not be done. Pisgah State Park- 7” new snow. Not groomed Riding is marginal. Watch for water bars and wet areas. Use caution. Pillsbury State Park- 12” new snow on 0-2” base. Not groomed. Watch for drifted areas. Riding is marginal. Use caution. Rail Lines: Gates that are closed may not be reopened, you may use the man pass. Use caution. Northern: Gates Closed Ashuelot: Gates Closed  Fort Hill:  Gates Closed Sugar River: Gates Closed Concord to Lincoln:  Gates Closed Additional Resources and Information Please be safe and ride with caution. Respect our landowners. Watch speeds and stay to the right. For more information contact brenda.drouin@dred.state.nh.us.  2012 NH Snowmobile Corridor Map   (For a printed map contact NHSA or the Bureau of Trails) Snowmobile Trail Conditions Reports Snowmobile Club Information Snowmobile User Information Snow Depth Map NH Weather Radar

Explore | Experience | What's Happening | Get Involved | Who We Are | Partner & Community Relations News | Calendar | Contact Us | Reservations | E-updates © 2010 NH Department of Resources and Economic Development 172 Pembroke Road P.O. Box 1856 Concord, NH 03302-1856 | T: (603) 271-3556 F: (603) 271-3553

Time for a new bank? BOA test's more ways to take your money!

Bank of America considering monthly fee for basic accounts

Updated: Thursday, 01 Mar 2012, 2:52 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 01 Mar 2012, 10:21 AM EST

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (NEWSCORE) - Bank of America Corp. is working on sweeping changes that would require many users of basic checking accounts to pay a monthly fee unless they agree to bank online, buy more products or maintain certain balances.

The plan by the nation's second-largest bank by assets is the latest sign of stresses in the banking industry at a time of low interest rates, slow economic growth and new rules limiting many types of service charges. Many other big banks, including JP Morgan Chase & Co. -- the nation's largest -- and Wells Fargo & Co., have rolled out plans that aim to raise fee revenue or push customers to do more business with the bank.

Those efforts are tricky, because they risk upsetting the banks' best customers or drawing fire from politicians. Bank of America retreated last fall from a new $5 debit-card charge following a customer revolt and a wave of criticism.

The search for new sources of income is especially pressing at Bank of America, where 2011 revenue dropped by $26.2 billion, or 22 percent, from its 2009 level.

Bank of America pilot programs in Arizona, Georgia and Massachusetts now are experimenting with charging $6 to $9 a month for an "Essentials" account. Other account options being tested in those states carry monthly charges of $9, $12, $15 and $25 but give customers opportunities to avoid the payments by maintaining minimum balances, using a credit card or taking a mortgage with Bank of America, according to a memo distributed to employees.

In addition, some Bank of America branch employees in the Northeast have already been trained to handle the first phase of a US rollout, one branch manager said.

Bank officials have made no final decision about specific charges or the timing of a national rollout, though the effort has gained even more urgency in the past few months. People close to the bank said Chief Executive Brian Moynihan is determined to plow ahead. Bank of America declined to comment.

It is unclear whether the bank, which counts more than 55 million US households as customers, will stick with its initial idea for a basic flat-fee checking account that doesn't offer a way to avoid paying a charge. That scenario is considered less likely than telling checking-account customers they will face a new fee unless they go online or take other steps outlined by the bank.

Service charges US banks collect on savings and checking accounts totaled $8.67 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, down 16 percent from two years earlier, before limits took effect on the fees financial firms can charge merchants for accepting credit and debit cards, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com

UPDATE: What Was The Bright Flash In The Sky Tuesday Night? (PHOTO)

What Was The Bright Flash In The Sky Tuesday Night? - New Hampshire News Story - WMUR New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- News 9 received several phone calls and e-mails late Tuesday night reporting a bright light or flash in the sky.
Some speculate it could have been a bolide, which is a large, bright meteor, also known as a fireball meteor.
A bolide explodes on impact and can cause a large crater, according to the United State Geological Survey.
"There is no consensus on its definition, but we use it to mean an extraterrestrial body in the 1-10-km size range, which impacts the earth at velocities of literally faster than a speeding bullet (20-70 km/sec = Mach 7.5), explodes upon impact, and creates a large crater," according to the USGS Woods Hole Science Center.

Read more: http://ow.ly/9mGAZ

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Maine ski area sells $29 lift tickets for Feb. 29

NEWRY, Maine (AP) — In celebration of leap day, Maine's Sunday River ski resort is selling lift tickets for $29.

Wednesday is Feb. 29, a date that falls every four years when an extra day is added to the calendar for leap year.

Sunday River says the $29 lift tickets can be bought Wednesday at any lift ticket window.

Maine ski resorts are reporting good ski conditions following recent snowstorms.

'Tangled' eagles stop traffic on Route 101 in Bedford | New Hampshire NEWS

'Tangled' eagles stop traffic on Route 101 in Bedford | New Hampshire NEWS

By DAMIEN FISHER
New Hampshire UnionLeader

Published Feb 26, 2012 at 5:56 pm

BEDFORD — A pair of bald eagles stopped traffic on Route 101 Sunday morning for an hour.


“It looked like one was protecting the other, or, as people have suggested, they were mating,” New Hampshire State Trooper Stephanie Clarke said.

Clarke was heading out on patrol about 6:30 a.m. when she came across two cars stopped in the eastbound lane of the highway, near the Everett Turnpike.


“There were two cars stopped in the middle of the road, in what looked like an accident,” she said.


The cars were stopped because a pair of eagles were tangled together in the road. The drivers were trying to protect the birds, keeping them from going into the high-speed lane, Clarke said.


The birds appeared agitated and skittish, Clarke said. When anything moved near them, they would make for the high-speed lane, she said.


Clarke said she tried to keep the birds safe and keep other drivers from getting into an accident while she waited for Fish and Game officers to arrive. The birds did not appear injured, she said.


“It looked like they were tangled up together,” she said. “To be honest, I'm not a bird specialist.”


Before Fish and Game officers could respond, the birds disengaged from each other and took flight.


“It was a pretty amazing spectacle to watch,” Clarke said.


The birds seemed to head out in the same direction, as through to a shared nest, she said.


Any other day of the week, when traffic is heavier, the birds on the highway could have caused accidents, she said.


“Something bad could have happened,” Clarke said.

Mating Bald Eagles Halt Traffic On Rte. 101 In NH

Possibly Mating Bald Eagles Halt Traffic On Rte. 101 In NH « CBS Boston

BEDFORD, N.H. (CBS) – Two bald eagles were spotted tangled in one another on Route 101 in Bedford, New Hampshire on Sunday morning.

Troopers who arrived on the scene and originally thought they were responding to an accident, but instead they saw a car stopped in the middle of the road to protect the rare birds.

Trooper S. Clark said the birds appeared to have been mating, though she wasn’t certain.

Because bald eagles are federally protected, troopers called in the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to protect them.

Crews tried to approach the birds, but they became agitated before detaching themselves from each other and flying away.

Clark said in her 24 ft on the force, she has never seen two eagles land on a highway.

NH Snowmobile Trail Report 2-24-2012

February 24, 2012 Update Snow is heading this way. Grooming will commence when storm is over. Predictions are for 2-7” statewide. This should drastically improve trails that are current open. Also be aware that some gates have been closed and posted as such and will not reopen. Use caution in other areas of the state as there is water and ice. Recommended to Stay off Lakes and Ponds where ice depth is unknown. Pittsburg- 2-4" new snow 6-8" base in higher elevations and 2-3" in lower. Grooming is ongoing, and conditions range from marginal to great. South of town and there could still be some problem areas and some areas are still closed and are posted as such. Please pay attention to all signage! There are still logging operations going on. Perry Stream Rd is closed to snowmobile traffic and stay on the side of Magalloway Rd; some shared roads and are posted 10 mph. Lakes are still considered to be unsafe! Annual Steak Feed and Poker Run Saturday Feb 25th. Poker Run 8am-3pm and Steak Feed is 4:30p-7:30pm. For more details go to www.pittsburgridgerunners.org. Colebrook- Lower elevations range from poor, bare ground, open water and ice, to fair spring like conditions Higher elevations range from good to great , watch for ice and open water bars Ride with caution For more info go to www.colebrookski-bees.com Stratford- 3" base, trails are groomed and riding is marginal to good. Some bare spots and open water bars. Caution some trails are getting icy.  Potato Hill trail is closed due to logging and also at junction of Corr 3 and 7. Groveton/Nash Stream- 2-6" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. 5 South Temporarily Closed. Caution some icy conditions. Diamond Pond/Coleman State Park- 4" new snow on a 6-8" base. Trails are groomed and riding is good to great. Several logging operations going on. Lake ice is marginal. Warming hut open Saturday and Sunday. Gas pumps open 24/7. For more details go towww.swiftdiamondriders.com Errol- 1-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. Use Caution some trails are getting icy. Cambridge- 1-3" base trails are not being groomed at this time and riding is marginal to moderate. Grooming will start again when conditions allow. Milan- 1-3" base. Trails are not being groomed at this time and riding is marginal to moderate. Twin Mtn- 2-6" base. Grooming is being done in the Base Rd at Jefferson Notch and all other grooming will start again when conditions allow. Riding is moderate. Dalton- No Report. Berlin- 1-5" base.  Trails are groomed and riding is moderate to good. For more details, go towww.whitemtridgerunners.com Berlin/Success- 0-2" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate. Gorham- 0-4" base. Trails are groomed and riding is marginal to moderate.   Use caution some open water bars. And use caution around logging jobs. For more info go towww.presidentialrangeriders.org Jefferson- 1-3" base. Trails are groomed and riding is moderate. Corr 5 in town of Jefferson is closed due to lack of snow. For more details go to www.waumbekmethna.com  Franconia Notch- 1" new snow on a 1-3" base. Trails are groomed at this time and riding is moderate. Corr 11 North of Notch is not groomed and riding is marginal. Campton/Thornton- 0-5" base. Trails are not groomed at this time and riding is marginal to moderate. Corr 11 Rail line not groomed use caution. Some bare spots and ice. Bear Notch- 1" new snow on a 4-8" base. Trails are groomed. Riding is good. Caution watch for some icy areas and in corners.  RR Tracks starting to show in some places. Use Caution and watch for mushers and skiers. Conway/ Chatham- 50% open 0-4" base. Not groomed at this time. Fields showing bare spots stay off. Corridor 19 and loops are icy and some open water bars. Riding is marginal. Ossipee- 60% open 1-3" base. Trails are not groomed at this time. RR Tracks exposed. Castle Trails Closed. From white lake out to Wonolancet loops is only riding and is marginal with some rocks and water bars showing. Pisgah State Park-  Closing this week Pillsbury State Park- Closing this week Rail Lines: Northern: Closing Ashuelot: Closing Fort Hill:  Closing Sugar River: Closing Concord to Lincoln:  No riding Additional Resources and Information Please be safe and ride with caution. Respect our landowners. Watch speeds and stay to the right. For more information contact brenda.drouin@dred.state.nh.us.  2012 NH Snowmobile Corridor Map   (For a printed map contact NHSA or the Bureau of Trails) Snowmobile Trail Conditions Reports Snowmobile Club Information Snowmobile User Information Snow Depth Map NH Weather Radar

Explore | Experience | What's Happening | Get Involved | Who We Are | Partner & Community Relations News | Calendar | Contact Us | Reservations | E-updates © 2010 NH Department of Resources and Economic Development 172 Pembroke Road P.O. Box 1856 Concord, NH 03302-1856 | T: (603) 271-3556 F: (603) 271-3553

Unprepared Hikers Rescued from Blue Job Mountain

Unprepared Hikers Rescued from Blue Job Mountain

CONCORD, N.H. – N.H. Fish and Game Conservation Officers and staff from the Strafford and Farmington Police and Fire Departments last night participated in a search for four hikers on Blue Job Mountain. The group was found and escorted back to the parking lot a little after midnight this morning, Friday, February 24.

Three men in their early 20s had set out at about 5:30 p.m. from the Blue Job parking lot. The mountain has multiple popular hiking trails, and it's a little more than a mile to hike to the top, where there's a fire tower. The men, from Rochester and Wakefield, were hiking without lights, backpacks, or any safety gear, and were wearing only sneakers. According to Conservation Officer Ron Arsenault, they got "turned around" at some point, and used a cell phone to call an older friend for help – the same man who had dropped them off at the trailhead.

The friend hiked up and managed to find the trio, at which point all four became lost and called 911.

The hiking party was advised to stay in one place. They managed to start a fire, which helped Strafford Police locate them on a logging road in Farmington, on the far side of the mountain.

For information on safe hiking, visit http://www.hikesafe.com.

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Copyright 2012 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.
For usage policy, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/usage_policy.htm.
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Hikers Rescued After Getting Lost On Blue Job Mountain - New Hampshire News Story - WMUR New Hampshire

Hikers Rescued After Getting Lost On Blue Job Mountain - New Hampshire News Story - WMUR New Hampshire






STRAFFORD, N.H. -- Strafford police said four hikers were found safe early Friday morning after they got lost while hiking on Blue Job Mountain.

Police said they received a 911 call at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday reporting that four hikers were lost. Police said earlier in the evening, a man had dropped three people off who wanted to hike to a fire tower on Blue Job Mountain. A short time later, the hikers called the man and told him they were lost. The man went to the mountain and found the lost hikers, but then all four of them got lost, police said.

After receiving the 911 call, officials told the hikers to turn off their cellphone to conserve power and light a fire to to keep warm. A Strafford police officer took a 4-wheeler, equipped with a GPS, to the area to search for the hikers. After spotting smoke from their fire, the officer found the hikers on the backside of the mountain at about 12:30 a.m. Friday.

None of the hikers was injured. Police said they were not dressed properly for the weather and with a storm approaching, there was an added urgency to locate them.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/30533238/detail.html#ixzz1nJ0OnmPZ

NHF&G News: Teen Attacked by Coyote in Hopkinton, N.H.

From: "N.H. Fish and Game" <jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov>
To:
Sent: February 23, 2012 1:57 PM
Subject: NHF&G News: Teen Attacked by Coyote in Hopkinton, N.H.

News from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
Phone: (603) 271-3211
Email: info@wildlife.nh.gov
For information and online licenses, visit http://www.wildnh.com

* * * * * * *

CONTACT:
Patrick Tate: (603) 868-1095
Liza Poinier: (603) 271-3211
February 23, 2012

Teen Attacked by Coyote in Hopkinton, N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. – Fish and Game Department personnel are alerting residents of Hopkinton, N.H., to the likely presence of a rabid coyote, following an attack on a local teenager yesterday (February 22, 2012).

The young man was walking the family dog in a wooded area near his home when the coyote approached him. The dog ran away, at which point the coyote attacked the teenager. The teen defended himself, reportedly punching the coyote in the nose until the coyote left the scene. During the interaction, the teenager was scratched and possibly bitten by the coyote. The teen sought medical treatment, and is receiving a course of rabies shots as a precaution.

Though there are occasional reports of rabid wild animals attacking humans in New Hampshire, Pat Tate, wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, said that the coyote attack was highly unusual. "It's the first time we know of that a coyote has attacked a person in New Hampshire," he said. Tate noted that earlier in the week, a local dog was also attacked by a coyote, and required veterinary care. "We suspect that it's the same coyote, and that the coyote is rabid, given the uncharacteristic aggressiveness of the attacks. For local residents, that means they should be aware of the presence of coyotes, and they should know the signs of a rabid animal." He added, "This incident, scary as it was, gives us no reason to fear wild animals in general."

Tate points out that it's not that unusual to see a coyote at any time of day or night. "The species is spread out around the state. Seeing a coyote in woodland landscape, one that's acting normal, is fine," he said. Normal behavior, for a coyote, is expressing no interest in humans or pets. "If a coyote displays any interest in a human – whether friendly or aggressive – that's unusual, and that's when you need to be on alert."

Martin Garabedian, chief of Law Enforcement for N.H. Fish and Game, says that Conservation Officers and Hopkinton Police Department personnel are in the area, looking for signs of the rabid coyote. "In the interest of public safety, when the officers find the animal in question, they will dispatch it and send it for rabies testing," he said.

If someone sees a coyote, Tate recommends yelling at it to instill fear. Healthy coyotes will retreat when faced with loud noises or thrown objects. "Obviously, you never want to approach a wild animal. But if you are in a situation where you are outdoors near a coyote, shout at it, make sure it knows you're a threat," Tate advises. "If it comes at you, hit it hard on the head and snout."

If Hopkinton residents see a coyote behaving aggressively, they are asked to notify Fish and Game Law Enforcement dispatch at (603) 271-3361.

###

Copyright 2012 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.
For usage policy, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Inside_FandG/usage_policy.htm.
Comments or questions concerning this list should be directed to jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov


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