Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and onward...
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IN THE WEATHER:

At 9 a.m., it was 26 degrees in downtown Portland and the snow is now mixing with freezing rain. Boooo!

Pretty, pretty snow. Bad, bad ice. Good thing Santa brought this good girl a new set of tires for Christmas. Today is not a day for the bald ones.

The snow started a couple hours earlier than predicted, coming down hardest in the south. When I reached the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport exit at 5 a.m., it was near white-out conditions, with warp-speed sytle snow coming at me on the turnpike.

Seems everything with this storm is happening faster than expected, because in Portland at 8:30 a.m., it was already changing over to that dreaded wintery mix.

Did Santa get you a new snowboard for Christmas? Good thing. Regardless of what happens in the big city, the mountains will get full-on, fluffy snow, making for some great downhill rides.

Here's the view from the radar: Blue is snow, pink is ice.

There are already some school closings and delays to note. By clicking here, you'll be redirected to our storm closings page.

Guess who DOES have school today? Portland schools. So far they have not issued closings or delays. Neither has South Portland. So, Scarborough kids, be nice to your neighbors and don't tease them too hard when you are out sledding and they are stuck taking a math test.

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THE SUNRISE HERALD WEATHER WATCHERS REPORT:

Bill in Rockland says:The snow has only just started to stick at 5:45 this morning and is still pretty light. There's a slight northerly breeze and a chilly 23 degrees on the thermometer. I should say it bodes ill for the rest of the day. A la Hill Street Blues, "Let's be careful out there!"

James in Cape Elizabeth says: The snow is falling amidst a northerly breeze and 24 degrees at 5:30. It is a nice light 2-3" snowfall....for now, but if predictions hold true, we are going to see a mix here later on. Not fun!! Drive safely this morning as the streets are an unknown quality right now.

Shawn in Yarmouth says: It is a snowy 28 degrees here in Yarmouth this morning. It looks like we have about an inch on the ground and it is still coming. Haven't been out on the roads yet, but it sounds like a good day to work from home if you can. Stay safe out there!

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ON THE ROAD:

• Turnpike is down to 45 mph. The plows are having a hard time keeping up with the snowfall, especially in parts south. It's rather dangerous, actually, so add some time to your morning commute.

I-295 is also reduced, down to 40 mph.

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ON THE OCEAN:

We're still under a small craft advisory and will be the entire day. Easterly winds 10 to 20 knots becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 knots later this morning. Gusts up to 35 knots and seas 3 to 5 feet, building 5 to 8 feet this afternoon and 6 to 9 feet this evening. Coupled with the predicted snow and sleet....best to stay in port today!

High tide in Portland: 6:41 a.m. and 7:27 p.m. Low tide: 1:15 p.m.

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IN THE NEWS:

SOUTH PORTLAND -- Police are warning residents about a phone scam that seems to be coming from "your credit card company" but is really coming from somebody else.

The calls are coming from a 506 exchange (New Brunswick, Canada). The caller suggests that the grace period for a rate reduction is due to expire. Then the caller suggests pressing 1 for more information, at which point you are asked to give your credit card number and other personal information.

Although the warning was issued in South Portland, which has had a number of complaints about the call from its residents, it is safe to assume the call is hitting other communities as well.

My advice: Hang up the phone.

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LEBANON -- Rescue crews responded to a serious car crash with injury yesterday morning in which a car ran into a tree, causing major damage.

Rescue official said the crash was reported at 8:52 a.m. and occurred on the Milton Mills Road. When rescue crews arrived, they found a 2005 Ford Focus smashed into the tree. The car that had been traveling north on the road and lost control on a curve.

The driver, a woman who was not identified, was seriously injured, although not in a life-threatening way. She was brought to Maine Medical Center.

Assistant Lebanon Rescue Chief Jason A. Cole said fortunately the woman was wearing a seat belt..."Or else the outcome could have been much worse. The way the vehicle hit the tree, all of the damage and blunt trauma was to her door area, which caused her serious injuries."

Cole said the curve where the car lost control is one they are familiar with, as many other accidents have happened there over the years. The car was totaled.

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SANFORD -- Firefighters were called early this morning to the scene of a fire from yesterday after a report of a flare-up in a wall.

The crews returned to the scene at 20 Mill St. in the village of Springvale around 2:30 a.m. this morning. Although the situation was not dire, firefighters responded in force.

"We didn't want to take any chances because of the close proximity to the other houses," said Capt. Gary Cushing.

The building was empty at the time of the flare-up, as all four families who lived in the building were displaced by the fire.

A neighbor noticed the flames and called it in.

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VASSALBORO -- The town planning board approved a business permit for a topless coffee shop to be located on Route 3.

Donald Crabtree of Ellsworth seeks to convert an old motel into a coffee shop with topless waitresses.

Tuesday night's vote was unanimous.

Information provided by Central Maine Newspapers.

FROM OUR NEWS PARTNERS

• The Bangor Daily News is reporting that a lawyer from Searsport was given a 20-day suspended jail sentence and probation after being found guilty of indecent conduct. To read the full story on attorney Peter Mason click this link.

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COMING UP:

IN YORK COUNTY -- As long as the snow doesn't cancel it, there is a scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. tonight with the York County Commissioners that could get a bit feisty.

Commissioners will discuss the budget and one of the stickiest issues on the block - the possibility of cutting four full-time sheriff deputy positions.

It is an issue of concern for law enforcers, EMTs and other rescue people in York County.

''It all comes down to what calls we're going to answer and how long it's going to take to answer the calls, and at what point are we putting people's safety at risk here,'' Sheriff Maurice Ouellette said in a previous report (which can be read by clicking here). ''Somebody is going to get hurt out there, and that's what I'm concerned about.''

Jason Cole, assistant rescue chief and selectman for Lebanon, sent an e-mail to his colleagues, requesting that they attend the meeting to oppose the changes.

"Is it worth saving even say a dollar to eliminate 4 deputies?" Cole asked in his e-mail. "We already wait for sheriff's deputies on assaults, sex crimes, suicidal people before we can make contact with the patient. What happens if the cuts go through and we have to wait for a sheriff who is off-duty, to wake up, get ready and then drive to the call. How safe is that to them?"

The meeting will be held at the York County Courthouse, again, weather permitting. Postponement will be posted on the storm closings page.

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IN AUGUSTA -- Again, depending on the weather, a six-month session of the legislature is to begin today.

Among the events of the day will be a rally, organized by Maine Can Do Better, a coalition made up of 152 Maine organizations working together to influence and improve Maine's economic situation.

The rally, which is set to be held at 10:45 a.m. on the third floor of the state house, is organized to welcome lawmakers back and thank them for their public service.

Maine Can Do Better members plan to line the halls to offer their goodwill as lawmakers return to their work.

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