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 52 degrees with developing clouds in downtown Portland.

Even though you might see the sun this morning, grab a raincoat. The sun is not expected to stay with us long, as the forecast calls for partly to mostly cloudy skies and a chance of showers after 2 p.m.

It's a weather pattern that is expected for the most of the week.

From Bill in ROCKLAND: The morning is monochromatic: gray everywhere, calm, and 50 degrees. Not helpful for overcoming the Monday blahs.
From Mark in BRUNSWICK: Sunny skies and 48 degrees here in Brunswick this morning. Blooms are off the cherry tree, but the pear trees are still quite a sight.

From Shawn in YARMOUTH: Monday morning in Yarmouth brings clear blue sky, very light wind and 45 degrees. Looks like a sparkling start to the week. My lawn, however, is crying for rain!

From Karen in STEEP FALLS: This morning it's a chilly 47 degrees out here with bright blue skies. It's also quite breezy. Happy Monday!

ON THE ROAD:

Police from all around the state, especially in Cumberland County, remind us today to click it or get a ticket.

This is the day the state launches its crackdown on unbuckled drivers. Officers will be on the road looking for offenders. Get it? A police officer can stop you and give you a ticket just for not wearing a seatbelt. The law took effect on April 1 and first-time violators can get $50 fine.

In Cumberland County, the effort will be made with more police on roads where you don't often see them, and with traffic safety checkpoints. This will be most intense through the two-week “Click It or Ticket” program, which runs through May 30 and is funded in part by the Bureau of Highway Safety.

All in all, there are 72 police agencies participating in the crackdown. There's a good chance your community is one of them.

• Also, on the road, work begins this week during the overnight hours in the vicinity of the exit 51 off-ramp and toll plaza in Gardiner. This work will be done nightly from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. During this time, the ramp will remain open and there will be single lane traffic exiting the toll plaza area.

Crews will continue the milling and paving procedure in one lane until the lane is complete. During this period, there will be single lane traffic from the Route 126 overpass to just beyond the Exit 49 off-ramp during day and night. Currently crews are scheduled to work in the left lane. Once complete, the lane will be reopened to traffic and the other lane will be closed to conduct similar work.

Paving, however, is contingent upon night temperatures above 50 degrees and favorable weather conditions. And unfavorable conditions could make the paving take longer.

Overall, drivers are advised that there will be several crews working simultaneously on several projects this week and should be aware of changing traffic patterns, slow-moving construction vehicles and construction personnel.

Speed limits will be reduced to 55 mph for the safety of the public as well as workers. The public is asked to curtail all cell phone use and concentrate on travel through this work zone.

ON THE OCEAN:

Southwest wind blows 1- to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Conditions worsen through the day as showers move in.

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ALFRED — Donna J. Barlett, 38, of Wells is currently at the York County Jail, for a first appearance regarding charges stemming from a two-car head-on collision last month, where two people were killed.

Bartlett arrived at the courthouse on crutches surrounded by supporters, said Portland Press Herald staff writer Noel Gallagher, who is reporting the story.

Police say Bartlett was going south in the turnpike's northbound lanes on the rainy night of April 28 when her 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe smashed into an oncoming 2001 Lincoln Town Car. Two people were killed that night: James McLaughlin, 65, of Gorham, who was driving the town car, and Cooper Campbell, 15, of Portland, who was asleep in the back seat. The teenager's father, Steven Campbell, 48, was badly injured.

Bartlett, 38, was freed on $10,000 bail after turning herself in at the York County Jail Wednesday to face two charges of manslaughter and one charge of aggravated drunken driving.

"We made a decision in the interests of justice that she should be arrested and bail conditions should be set for her," said York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence.

Bartlett is not allowed to drink, use drugs or drive a car while the charges stand, and is subject to random searches.

After Bartlett's initial appearance in York County Superior Court today, prosecutors will present her case to a grand jury in an effort to get an indictment.

"That grand jury could add additional charges," Lawrence said.

Click here to read the full Portland Press Herald report from last week. Or, check back here throughout the day for updates on the story.

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SCARBOROUGH — Scarborough Downs driver Tim Nehila was injured Sunday as a result of a chain-reaction in the 4th race.

Scarborough Downs officials said Kingstar A, driven by Esau Cooper, Jr., went off stride, backed into the trailing Broadmoor and caused three horses to become entangled.

Nehila and his pacer, Right On Goalie, were at the end of the chain. They could not avoid the collision.

Nehila’s horse fell to the ground as Nehila was thrown from the sulky. Scarborough Downs emergency technicians immediately tended to the downed horse and driver.

Right On Goalie was able to walk off the track under his own power with only minor scrapes. Nehila, meanwhile, was transported by ambulance to Maine Medical Center in Portland for observation. He was later diagnosed with a broken shoulder which officials say will sideline him from driving duties for some time.

No other horses or drivers were injured in the incident and the race card went on as planned.

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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.

Give a standing ovation for Donald Holder, a University of Maine Orono graduate who was just nominated for a Tony Award, the Broadway version of the Oscars.

This recent nomination is for his lighting design work on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific." He won the Tony and a Drama Desk Award for his lighting design in the production of Disney’s “The Lion King." He also received Tony nominations for his lighting work on “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Movin’ Out” and “Gem of the Ocean,” among others.

As an undergraduate, Holder studied forestry, but he had a passion for music and theater. His interest in stage lighting was nurtured by the late Al Cyrus, whom Holder considered a friend and mentor. Holder went on to study drama at Yale, but he has maintained his connection to UMaine.

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