Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and this morning...

IN THE WEATHER

At 9 a.m., it was 45 degrees and overcast in downtown Portland.

A chance of showers today, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy through the day with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming south between 7 and 10 mph.

From Bill in ROCKLAND: Clouds are starting to dominate the skies at 5:45 on a windless 43-degree morning, but nothing dramatic going on. From Shawn in YARMOUTH: Today at 6:30 a.m. it was 42 degrees with cloudy skies and no wind. From James in CAPE ELIZABETH: I feel like a broken record, but at 6:30 a.m. it was 47 here. Skies have a milkiness to them but winds are calm. From Karen in STEEP FALLS: It's 48 degrees here. No hint of any wind or breeze. There are some high clouds, but other than that, bright blue sky. My parents flew in from California last night, so let's hope they brought along some warmth and lots of sunshine! Happy Thursday!

ON THE ROAD:

• On the Maine Turnpike, mind the 50 mph work zone speeds between miles 60 and 61 in Gray and between mile 67 and 68 in New Gloucester.

In Gray, a southbound lane closure is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for bridge work. And in New Gloucester, north and southbound lane closures are scheduled between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Mayall Road Bridge for bridge work.

ON THE OCEAN:

Gentle southeast wind blows 10 knots, the seas at 2 to 3 feet.

The gentle ocean will make for good search conditions for a Maine lobsterman lost at sea, 46-year-old Christopher Tobey.

Tobey, his 16-year-old son and another crew member were tossed into the waters when their boat capsized Sunday night off the coast of New Hampshire. The teen and crewman made it to Duck Island on the Isles of Shoals and were rescued Monday. Tobey is still lost and the Maine Marine Patrol, which has been waiting for a break in the rough ocean conditions, will go back to the water to look for the body of the lost seaman.

High tide today in Portland is 8:41 a.m. and then again at 9:07 p.m. Tide will be low at 2:48 p.m.

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BOZEMAN, Mont. — A district judge has ruled that 33 sled dogs found abandoned without food, water or shelter can be released to the owner's father in Maine while a criminal case is pending.

John T. Hessert, 24, has pleaded not guilty to one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty and 33 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. His father, 56-year-old Stephen Hessert, said he would be willing to keep the animals at his home in Maine.

Judge Holly Brown ruled this week that the dogs could be moved to Maine because they're not needed as evidence and the elder Hessert, a lawyer in Portland, Maine, is willing to bring the dogs back to Bozeman if they are needed. She also said Hessert's father would follow court orders, including caring for the dogs and keeping his son away from the animals.

But the decision angered some volunteers who have been taking care of the dogs since they were seized earlier this year.

"I'm shocked," volunteer caretaker Laura Cunningham said. "To think that they have to be sent back to the great unknown is sad and ridiculous."

According to court records, a man called animal control Jan. 30 to report that the dogs were being kept in an unsafe environment outside West Yellowstone near Targhee Pass.

The man said he hadn't seen the dogs' owner in several days and the dogs were emaciated and in poor condition.

A veterinarian examined the dogs on Feb. 2 and determined that they were all "well below normal health and had not been being fed enough food," according to court records. One of the dogs had a collar embedded in its neck and other dogs had frostbite.
(AP)

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PEARISBURG, Va. — The man convicted of killing two Maine hikers in Virginia in 1981 and believed to be connected to the shootings of two people last week has died.

Police say 54-year-old Randall Lee Smith was found lying on his side and unresponsive in his jail cell on Saturday, and was pronounced dead at a Pulaski County hospital. Lt. Ron Hamlin of the Giles County Sheriff's Department says an autopsy was inconclusive.

Smith was arrested last week when he crashed a pickup truck that belonged to one of two men who were shot on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.

The shootings occurred near the same secluded area where Smith killed Susan Ramsay and Robert Mountford Jr. in 1981. Mountford was from Ellsworth; Ramsey was from Mariaville.
(AP)

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SCARBOROUGH — Lions and musk ox and bears, oh my! Cabela's the outdoor outfitter that is giving Maine's L.L. Bean a big challenge, opens to the public today at 5 p.m.

But at 4:30 a.m. this morning, before the sun was even up, the place buzzed with employees putting the final touches on a store that is also part museum, part amusement park, part fudge shop.

The average stay in a Cabela's retail store, media reps say, is 3 1/2 hours and in Scarborough, it is easy to see why.

There are numerous creatures, big (African Lion, moose) and small (pheasants and fish) - all stuffed - on display. There is an three-panel, floor to ceiling aquarium stocked with fish native to the Northeast.

"It's really like a natural history museum," said Gail Shore, a press representative for the store.

For interactive fun, there is a "shooting gallery" much like the type found in amusement parks, where you hit the target and a groundhog pops out of a hole. Or a snake rattles in the grass. There is also a large fudge shop, with more sugar than any dentist would care to know about.

And then, there are also lots of things to buy for outdoor enthusiasts, from rare $15,000 rifles to live bait.

The ribbon is cut on the store tonight at 4:45 after speeches from the governor and a welcome by Joe Castiglione, the popular Red Sox broadcaster. And then the store opens for shopping and viewing at 5 p.m. Expect it to be packed. Officials are already expecting to shuttle people from off site parking lots, because they are certain the huge one surrounding the store won't be enough.

But early this morning, it was just a few employees busily working around the store as Shore walked around "Conservation Mountain." The store's centerpiece working waterfall, where trout swim in the pool, is coated with preserved animals native to the Northeast. Standing six inches away from the muzzle of a moose, she talked about how kids love to come to the store and just stare.

"Who gets to see these animals up this close?" she said.

The answer: Mainers, as they welcome in the store that's not just for catalogs anymore.

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PORTLAND — Pamela Henderson, who is charged with murder in connection with her son's death in March, will be arraigned in Cumberland County Superior Court today at 1 p.m.

Henderson was arrested Friday following her indictment by the Cumberland County Grand Jury.

According to court documents, Henderson said she fell asleep while taking a bath with Zachary, her 3-month-old baby, and when she woke up he was under water.

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A regular Sunrise Herald feature, combating the harmful rays of too much bad news. Get your daily dose of the good stuff here.

PORTLAND — The 16th Annual United Way Day of Caring will be held today, with more than 1,000 volunteers spending time at 56 nonprofit agencies in the Greater Portland area.

Also taking place that day is Heart of Sharing at the United Way of Greater Portland offices. United Way, the Ad Club of Maine and the Maine Public Relations Council have been partnering for 12 years to provide local nonprofits free marketing and advertising advice.

To learn more about what is going on where today visit the United Way Day of Caring page.

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KENNEBUNK — Camp Sunshine got a $1,000 boost from The Maine Police Emerald Society (MPES) which presented the camp a check last night during the club's monthly meeting.

The check represented proceeds from a raffle fundraiser organized by the law enforcement club.

“We’re very happy to support this great organization,” said Kevin Riordan, president of the 150-member club. “We admire the impact Camp Sunshine and its staff has on the lives of children and their families.”

Camp Sunshine, located in Sebago Lake in Casco, offers free experiences to children with life-threatening diseases and their families. Since its inception, the camp has provided a haven for more than 16,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. The MPES is a group of local, county, state and federal law enforcement officers of Celtic heritage, although all ethnic groups are welcome as associate members. Learn more at www.maineirishcops.org

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