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

IN THE WEATHER:

At 9 a.m., it was 53 degrees in downtown Portland.

Some high clouds start the day, but should clear out by mid morning, leaving a bright and sunny day, with mild temperatures and fall-like breezes.

Good thing, since it is fall and all.

FROM THE SUNRISE HERALD WEATHER WATCHERS: (Welcome back Mark and James!!)

Bill in Rockland says: At 5:45 this morning, it's very mild here at 50 degrees. We seem to be cloud-covered and there's no wind whatsoever. Balmy.

Shawn in Yarmouth says: An update ... It is still somewhat dark and gloomy outside and there is a light drizzle falling, but no wind and it is still pretty warm, but the drizzle makes it feel cooler and more damp than it has.

Mark in Brunswick says: Gray skies overhead, but it looks as though it may be clearing. A warm start to the morning with 52 degrees.

James from Cape Elizabeth says: At 6 a.m., while still rather on the dark side, it was 51 and mostly cloudy here in Cape Elizabeth. That's right, your intrepid Cape Elizabeth weather watcher has returned. Have a great day one and all.

_____________________________________________________________

ON THE ROAD:

• TWO SERVICE PLAZAS ALONG THE TURNPIKE WILL CLOSE PERMANENTLY over the next two weeks, with the anticipation of a new service plaza in West Gardiner opening its doors.

The northbound service plaza at mile 96 in Litchfield is closed as of today. Then, on Oct. 19, the southbound plaza at mile 83 in Lewiston will close.

The new service plaza in West Gardiner, which offers a greater variety of food options than the old plaza, is scheduled to open Nov. 17. Until then, portable toilets will be set up at the parking lots of the old facilities for travelers, although food and fuel will not be available.
_____________________________________________________________

ON THE OCEAN:

• A warm front passing over, that will be overtaken tonight by a cold front brings us this: southern winds blowing 5 to 10 knot, increasing 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots this afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet.

High tide in Portland: 11 a.m. and 11:27 p.m. Low tide: 4:48 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.

_____________________________________________________________

THE NEWEST NEWS:

News you need to know, now:

BUCKSPORT -- A Bucksport mill is giving new life to one of the oldest paper machines in North America, and it's saving jobs.

Verso Paper has upgraded a paper machine that was built in the 1930s. Instead of making just lightweight coated paper, the retooled machine can also make specialty custom order paper.

Mill officials say that the demand for lightweight coated paper used in magazines isn't as great as it used to be. So they found a new production option for machine B-1.

The machine has been making the specialty order paper since September. They say that has kept the mill from having to downsize. (AP)

– – – – – – – – –

BIDDEFORD -- A popular restaurant on Route 1 was destroyed by fire late last night.

The Dairy Queen Brazier at 447 Elm St. (Route 1) sustained such heavy damage in the fire, which started around 11:15 p.m., that fire officials are calling it a loss.

Although the structure of the building is still standing this morning, the inside was ravaged by fire. Firefighters received the call about the fire shortly before 11:30 p.m. and responded immediately. When the engines arrived, fire was shooting out of the side of the building, said one Biddeford fire official this morning.

The fire was knocked down within 20 minutes with the help of Saco's fire department, but the damage was already done. The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. The store is one of only a few Dairy Queen Braziers left in the state, as well as the nation. The "Brazier" name has been slowly phased out of signage and advertising since the early 1990s, according to Wikipedia. New locations that sell food alongside ice cream, as was the case in Biddeford, usually just carry the name "DQ Restaurant."

The fire marshal's office will be at the site this morning to investigate a cause.

View Larger Map
Location of last night's fire that destroyed the Dairy Queen Brazier in Biddeford.

– – – – – – – – –

AUGUSTA -- Today is the last day Plum Creek officials have to respond to the Land Use Regulation Commission's decree made Oct. 1: Accept our restrictions or leave without anything.

Plum Creek is seeking a LURC approval of a rezoning plan for 975 house lots and two large resorts near Maine's largest lake. LURC staff and commissioners are recommending a long list of changes to the plan. However, the two most contentious aspects of the plan - the total number of house lots and development on Lily Bay - remain in the proposal.

Plum Creek's proposal has been controversial since the day it was announced in April 2005. While supporters view the planned growth and resorts as a model for economic revival, critics predict the development will spoil the natural beauty that draws tourists to the region.

No matter what happens today, a final vote on the plan is not expected until early next year, and even then, developers would need additional approvals and permits before breaking ground on any of the Plum Creek projects.

LURC approval would also trigger the permanent conservation of more than 400,000 acres of forestland in the region, which commissioners have said was critical to their endorsement of Plum Creek's historic development plan.

– – – – – – – – –

LEWISTON - Police are investigating a Monday night incident that sent one man to the hospital with lacerations. Lewiston police Lt. Mark Cornelio described the victim as being in his late 20s and said the attack was not a random act of violence.

The incident occurred at an apartment at 193 Holland St. and was reported at 10:01 p.m.

The Lewiston Sun Journal can give you lots more information about this developing story BY CLICKING HERE.

– – – – – – – – –

SPRINGFIELD -- A man who fire officials presumed dead along with his two dogs after a fire demolished his house came home yesterday to find all his possessions in ruins.

Police and fire officials feared Grafton Burke, reportedly in his 50s, had died along with his dogs in the fire at 9 p.m. Sunday at the Mill Hill Road cabin he rented.

But he did not. And to find out more, you can read today's Bangor Daily News story by CLICKING HERE.

_____________________________________________________________

OF NOTE TODAY:

Events coming up you might want to know about:

IN PORTLAND Today, the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, News 8 WMTW and Central Maine Newspapers will sponsor a candidate debate between Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen.

Both are running for the District 1 Senate seat that Collins now holds. Today's debate, one of many being held around the southern half of the state prior to the election, is being held at 11:30 a.m. at the University of Southern Maine's Hannaford Lecture Hall. The debate is free and open to the public. It will be broadcast live on Channel 8 as well as on the WMTW website.

Can't make it to the debate? Or won't be able to watch it? Not to worry. There are others coming up, as well as detailed stories on candidates and their views at the Porland Press Herald Election Webpage, VIEWABLE BY CLICKING HERE.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: In this file photo from 1996, Allen and Collins shake hands after winning their respective primary races, he for Congress, she for Senate. Now the two go head to head for the same seat - the seat which Collins still holds.