Keene calls on Granite Staters to help break pumpkin record

Pumpkin festival to be featured on TV show

KEENE, N.H. — The city of Keene is calling on Granite Staters to once again break a world record.

On Saturday, the city will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival. In past years, as many as 29,000 jack-o'-lanterns have lined Main Street, but this year, Keene has a new challenge of taking on the current record-holder.

The competition between Keene and Highwood, Ill., will be featured on HGTV's "Pumpkin Wars."

"We are going to compete with Highwood, Ill., to see who gets the most lit jack-o'-lanterns and breaks the world record," said festival volunteer Luca Paris.

Pumpkin competitions are a tradition in Keene, but volunteers said they need to step it up this year to reclaim the record.

"To break the world record, you have to have 32,000 pumpkins-plus," Paris said. "To win this thing, we need to do somewhere around 40,000 pumpkins, so we are all carving like crazy."

He said the festival is hoping people from across the state will help the city break the record.

"You do not understand how much we want pumpkins from all over New Hampshire," Paris said. "Without the people from the rest of New Hampshire, we will not win this thing."

There is also an added bonus that could benefit schoolchildren. Discover Card is offering $1 per pumpkin to the winner of the show to help local schools.

Organizers said anyone who wants to help can bring one or two carved pumpkins with candles to Keene before 6:30 p.m. Saturday.


Story Credit:  WMUR 9

Miner Gets 30 Days for Occupying Forest Land

Monday, David Duane Everist, 52, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for unlawfully maintaining a residence on National Forest lands, and using those lands without an approved operating plan and cutting trees without authorization. Everist was previously found guilty in a one day trial in Medford’s U.S. District Court.

In October of last year, Everist moved two trailers onto the Twin Cedars mining claim in Josephine County and conducted mining activities without approval from the forest service.

Everist insisted the claim was his private property and the Forest Service had no jurisdiction over his claim and warned them he could have them arrested for trespass by the local sheriff.

This is Everist’s third conviction for violations of Forest Service regulations involving the same mining site.

In addition to 30 days in jail, he must complete three years of probation with conditions prohibiting him from residing, occupying, or conducting any mining activity on Forest Service or BLM lands.

Source: KAJO AM1270

EagleTribune.com : 12-year-old boy missing from Methuen

EagleTribune.com : 12-year-old boy missing from Methuen

The Methuen Police are trying to locate a missing 12-year-old boy.

His name is Joseph Christopulos III, and he was reported missing Friday at approximately 6:30 p.m. Foul play is not suspected at this time.

According to police, Joseph walked away from his foster home on Glen Avenue in Methuen, and had not returned home as of today at 6:45 p.m. The reporting party had contact by phone with Joseph on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The child has roots in Peabody and Lynn and attends school in Lawrence. If you see this child, call 911. Anyone with information relative to this missing child is asked to call Methuen Police at 978-983-8677.

Nashua Man Rescued In White Mountains

A Nashua man who was trail running in the White Mountains was rescued Saturday after he fell and was injured.

Kevin McDonald, 48, slipped and injured his knee on the East Pond Trail, according to Lt. James Kneeland of New Hampshire Fish and Game. This trail passes scenic East Pond and climbs across the notch between Mt. Osceola and Scar Ridge, reaching an elevation of 3,100ft.

Kneeland said two hikers came across McDonald and one went for help while the other remained with him.

McDonald was helped off the trail by Fish and Game officers and members of the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue.

East Coast hikers missing in Glacier National Park

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) - Rescue teams at Glacier National Park searched in wintery conditions and rugged terrain Sunday for two East Coast hikers reported missing by family members.

Park officials said 50 searchers were looking for 32-year-old Neal Peckens of Virginia and 32-year-old Jason Hiser of Maryland. Hometowns weren't available.

Weather was the biggest challenge facing searchers, who have found 18 inches of snow on the trail at higher elevations and five-foot drifts in some areas, spokeswoman Denise Germann said.

"The area they are working in is very steep and exposed," she said. "It's right along the Continental Divide, and it's very windy."

More rain and possibly snow in higher areas was expected on Sunday, she said. A helicopter dropped off some searchers inside the park early Sunday but Germann said low clouds moved in, preventing aerial searches.

The two were reported missing Friday after failing to catch a flight home from Montana. Their vehicle was found late Friday, and the search started Saturday.

Germann said it's not clear if they were prepared for cold weather, or if they have much experience in the backcountry. Searchers believe the two were hiking and not mountain climbing.

"We believe they are still in the park," she said. "We don't know what clothing or gear they've got."

Officials believe the two started hiking from the North Shore Trailhead at Two Medicine on the east side of the park on Tuesday and planned to return to Two Medicine on Wednesday, and then do some day hikes Thursday.

She said park rangers along with Flathead County Search and Rescue members were taking part in the search. She said some are on foot, some on horses and some searching with dogs.

The National Weather Service predicts mostly cloudy skies with a 50 percent chance of rain on Sunday with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s, dropping to the upper 30s or low 40s overnight. Winds are from the southwest at 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.