News - EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

President's Day Automotive Special
President's Day Automotive Special
VIDEO: Cat Adoption
Solomente is the only cat left from a group of 51 exotic cats the MSPCA received last May. Solomente, one of the few non exotic breed cats brought in with the group, will soon be available for adoption.
VIDEO: Residents dig in to clean up Cambridge Street
On Saturday, residents from a Cambridge Street neighborhood in Methuen -- along with city officials and other volunteers from the region -- cleaned up more than 200 tires and other garbage that had accumulated at the end of the street.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
Public allowed at Solomon hearing
BOSTON — Fired Methuen police Chief Joseph Solomon's Civil Service hearing opened this morning. The public will be allowed to attend the proceeding, which will be held throughout the rest of the month.
Photo Slideshow: Spirit of South Carolina docks at Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Missing in Iraq: Lawrence Army Spc. Alex Jimenez
ON THE ISSUES: N.H. voters weigh in
Still unsure of who to vote for? Brush up on where the presidential candidates stand on the issues in the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary.
Body of missing Lawrence soldier found in Iraq
LAWRENCE — The bodies of two U.S. soldiers, including Army Sgt. Alex Jimenez of Lawrence, missing in Iraq since being ambushed more than a year ago, have been recovered.
Military officials told Jimenez family members in Lawrence and New York yesterday evening that their son's remains, along with those of Pvt. Byron Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich., were identified on Wednesday.
Photo slideshow: Last day of school
Photo slideshow: Last day of school
PHOTO SLIDESHOW:Sand and Sea Festival
PHOTO SLIDESHOW:Hershey Series Youth Track Meet
Officials: Clinton will concede delegate race to Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton will concede tonight that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, campaign officials said, effectively ending her bid to be the nation's first female president.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: St. John's Prep Graduation
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: The scoop behind Richardson's ice cream
Methuen police chief fired today
METHUEN — Mayor William Manzi fired police Chief Joseph Solomon today.
Solomon has been accused of a litany of charges, including mismanaging grant money and conflicts of interest. The 22-year veteran of the police department fought for his job during a seven-day discipline hearing, which started in February and ended April 14.
FIGHTING THE TIDE - updated April 21
VIDEO:Pioneer League 50th Opening Day
The Newburyport Pioneer League opened its 50th season April 19
Poll: Boston Marathon
Do you think you could finish the Boston Marathon?
History of the Boston Marathon
A timeline of historic moments of the Boston Marathon.
VIDEO: Marathon Runner Nancy McCarthy, 61
Newburyport resident NANCY McCARTHY, 61, ran her first Boston Marathon at 36 year old in 1983. The 2008 Boston Marathon marks the 26th marathon she's completed in the past 26 years, 10 of which were on the Boston course. The fitness instructor now helps others train for marathons, always reminding them about the importance of stretching.
VIDEO: Marathon Runner Julie Moore, age 42
North Andover runner JULIE MOORE, 42, completed her first of 17 Boston Marathons in 1988. She has run a total of 35 marathon since that year, preparing differently for each one. Weight training, however, is always a staple in her training.
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Marathon Mamas
VIDEO: Marathon Runner Carol Blanchard, age 52
Lawrence resident CAROL BLANCHARD, 52, ran her first Boston Marathon at 40 years old in 1996. The 2008 race is her 10th Boston Marathon, as well as her 21st completed marathon. She's perfected her training schedule over the years, and now routinely runs with a pal instead of alone.
Engineer recommends more Big Dig tunnel repairs
BOSTON (AP) — The engineering firm about to complete the Big Dig's stem-to-stern safety review said yesterday the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority should implement a few more repairs to ensure all the tunnels are safe to the traveling public.
Sand Wars Who owns the sand? Ongoing battle may delay solutions for Plum Island
Below the ocean surface, there's a small mountain of sand waiting to be dredged.
That sand — 130,000 to 150,000 cubic yards — would come from the navigation channel at the mouth of the Merrimack River that the Army Corps of Engineers has been digging out every few years.
Speak up: Interactive commenting now available on all stories
We are happy to introduce commenting as the newest feature on our Web site. At the end of every story is an area for you to leave your thoughts and opinions.
A beloved resort erodes Gradually, Salisbury Beach washes away
SALISBURY BEACH — Sand, more so than even than the salty waves that lap the shore, is the mother's milk of oceanfront resort communities.
Without it, children don't splash by the water's edge and families don't build sand castles. Frolicking by the seaside simply isn't possible.
Friction growing over sand Plum Island citizens group letter disputes deal on dredge deposits
PLUM ISLAND — A lawyer representing a group of Plum Island residents has warned state and local officials that they could be breaking the law if they attempt to implement an agreement that would allow dredged sand to be deposited off Salisbury Beach.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Red Sox open season in Japan
Plum Island: Mother Nature, Man contribute to erosion
PLUM ISLAND — Mother Nature plays her part, of course.
But those who have seen Plum Island's beaches and dunes morph for decades say it isn't just the winds of nor'easters, the waves of the Atlantic Ocean and the natural characteristics of a barrier island that account for the erosion seen in recent years.
Plum Island: Man's walls can't hold back the sea Some say erosion controls help, others say they hurt
PLUM ISLAND — Against the humbling power of nature, there's not a lot man can do to stop the ocean from destroying and reshaping the beach.
But just about every major manmade anti-erosion technology and technique to slow the process is employed at the mouth of the Merrimack River and along Plum Island. Even with those pieces in place, there are problems.
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Being Hillary
WEB EXCLUSIVE: The war in Iraq, five years later
'How many times are we going to save something?' Beach erosion, regrowth an endless pattern
They are three spots along Plum Island beach, separated by only 2 miles. But they each tell something of the island's endless and unpredictable battle with the sea.
On the island's northern tip stands a gazebo, built a couple of years ago by the nonprofit Plum Island Taxpayers Association. It's a pleasant spot set back far from the water — the Merrimack River ebbs and flows by 150 yards to the north, and on the opposite shore in the distance is Salisbury Beach. As your eyes swing east toward the sea, you can see waves break on the beach 300 yards away. To the south, across a long stretch of dunes, are dozens of houses clustered tightly together.
A legacy of erosion
1827 — The Army Corps of Engineers draws its first map of the Merrimack River entrance. It is located more than a half mile south of its 2008 position.
around 1827 — A jetty system is built near the mouth of the Merrimack River to control the route of the river mouth. It is a failure. Its ruins can still be seen today near Woodbridge Island.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Stained glass windows at Sacred Hearts Parish in Bradford
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Brad Delp - Through the years
Life after Delp: One year after singer's suicide, Beatle Juice carries on legacy
The night started like any other for members of Beatle Juice.
John "Muzz" Muzzy, Dave Mitchell, Steve Baker and Joe Holaday gathered at Johnny D's Uptown Restaurant and Music Club in Somerville around 4 p.m. for a sound check before a show.
'He was worth every penny' 'Sand-a Claus' lobbyist earns praise from beach towns
Washington lobbyist Howard Marlowe's clients seem to feel that his fees are money well spent.
A Daily News survey of administrators in five of the 34 cities and towns that retain the services of Marlowe & Co. showed unanimous satisfaction with the results obtained by the lobbying firm in various projects — including beach replenishment. (Marlowe also lists 18 other clients, either counties or nonprofit entities.)
Sand dollars: Costs of remedying Plum Island beach erosion in millions
PLUM ISLAND — Vincent Russo has owned a house on Northern Boulevard for 35 years. Two or three times a week, he walks a 2- to 3-mile stretch of the beach — from the south jetty to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
A case study in beach replenishment
Venice, Fla., is a community of about 20,000 people located on the Gulf of Mexico, a few miles south of Sarasota. It is a vacation destination, with a quaint shopping district of small shops and boutiques and a broad, graceful main boulevard that leads to its beach. Among its major attractions is its more than 5 miles of beachfront.
Pentucket wins the Division 3 North Finals
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Working in Wood
VIDEO: Sled Hockey
VIDEO: Rescued dogs
Romney quits campaign for president
John McCain effectively sealed the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday as chief rival Mitt Romney suspended his faltering presidential campaign. "I must now stand aside, for our party and our country," Romney prepared to tell conservatives.
Ex-gov: 'This is not an easy decision for me'
What follows is former Massachusett Gov. Mitt Romney's remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington:
McCain seizes GOP command on Super Tuesday; Clinton, Obama battle for Democrats
Sen. John McCain seized command of the race for the Republican presidential nomination early Wednesday, winning delegate-rich primaries from the East Coast to California. Democratic rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama traded victories in an epic struggle with no end in sight.
Tallying the votes: Follow the 2008 presidential primary election
Follow the 2008 presidential primary election
2007 New England Patriots
Pats fans geared up as big game kicks off
GLENDALE, ARIZ. | The crowd roared as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ran onto the field before the game.
All of the fans hadn't even found their seats at that point, but they still made enough noise to fill the University of Phoenix Stadium | the site of today's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.
Eagle-Tribune Web site content to be free Feb. 1
Beginning Feb. 1, all local news coverage published in The Eagle-Tribune will be free and available to the public at www.eagletribune.com. Readers will no longer need to log on to the online Plus Edition to receive complete access to the local news that appears in our print editions.
Throwing a Super party; Glendale braces for fans' arrival
Editor's note: Sportswriters Bill Burt and Hector Longo, reporter J.J. Huggins and photographer Paul Bilodeau are in Glendale, Ariz., to cover the Patriots' buildup to Super Bowl XLII and the doings of local fans who have made the trip.
Resolution seeks OT reimbursements from police officials
METHUEN - City Councilor Joseph Leone has filed a resolution seeking reimbursement of more than $170,000 in undocumented overtime paid under a federal grant to five high ranking police officials and the police chief's former secretary.
Methuen Pats fan competes for Super Bowl ticket on 'Ellen DeGeneres Show'
METHUEN - When Louann Santos answered the phone Tuesday night, she almost fainted when she heard talk show host Ellen DeGeneres' voice on the other end of the line.
Big screen TV is big draw; View of the game packs Pats fans into home
Four years ago, Luanne and Richard Bonanno became more popular, drawing repeat visits from friends and family alike, particularly during football season.
Downtown parking going from 25 to 50 cents; Selectmen approve other permit fee increases
ANDOVER - Those heading downtown to run errands will want to bring plenty of quarters.
Stokes to plead guilty next month; faces jail time
BOSTON - Former Lawrence School Committee member James Stokes will plead guilty to federal charges that he forged his military discharge and lied about being awarded a Purple Heart, a U.S. magistrate judge and prosecutor said in court yesterday.
Red Cross ends collections for fire victims
LAWRENCE - In just a little over a week, the Red Cross raised nearly $90,000 to help the victims of the South Lawrence fire, enough to recoup everything the organization spent helping the victims and to give them money for food, clothes and rent.
Treasurer Cahill has plan to pay for repairs to Groveland and other bridges
BOSTON - Long-delayed repairs to Groveland Bridge, which connects Haverhill and Groveland, would be completed within the next three years under a plan floated yesterday by state Treasurer Timothy Cahill.
Teachers: No contract, no open house
ANDOVER - Teachers at Andover High School will not participate in an open house for parents next month because of dissatisfaction over contract negotiations.
McCain edges Romney in Florida GOP primary
MIAMI | Sen. John McCain won a breakthrough triumph in the Florida primary last night, seizing the upper hand in the Republican presidential race ahead of next week's coast-to-coast contests and lining up a quick endorsement from soon-to-be dropout Rudy Giuliani. "It shows one thing: I'm the conservative leader who can unite the party," McCain told The Associated Press after easing past former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for his first-ever triumph in a primary open only to Republicans.
VIDEO: Bill Burt at Super Bowl Media Day
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Patriot's Media Day.
360 DEGREE PANORAMA: Super Bowl media day
Prosecutor: Missing N.H. candidate soaked feet
A one-time congressional candidate accused of faking a car accident and disappearing for a day may have spent part of that time with a campaign worker he allegedly was having an affair with, a prosecutor said.
State kicks in $400K to buy unused railroad bed in Bradford
Path would connect downtown, residents to river
Super Bowl-bound fans 'don't have to shovel sunshine'
GLENDALE, Ariz. - It's like a city within a city, a place where you can take in a concert, dine on cuisine prepared by top chefs and immerse yourself in a chocolate festival.
Trucking company banned from residential streets
NORTH ANDOVER - A Peabody trucking company is banned from residential streets in town for the rest of the year after police discovered two of its vehicles being driven on the roads without permission.
Red, white and blue everywhere; This is Patriots country
Walk into the home of Kevin and Cheryl Williams and your eye is immediately drawn to a lighted sign in their living room that reads "Welcome to Patriots Country."
Mother, teens face criminal charges in underage drinking case
LAWRENCE - A Hampshire Street mother and three teen-aged boys will all face criminal charges for their alleged roles in underage drinking parties the night before the death of Central Catholic High School senior Ryan Bourque last November.
Lawrence Pumps, employees, donate $25,000 for fire victims
LAWRENCE - The fire that devastated a city block of mostly multifamily buildings last week really hit home for Paul Reddick.
Chief, four officers and a civilian can't prove overtime; 'Potential' for discipline, mayor says
METHUEN - Five of the city's top police officers and a civilian Police Department employee collected $170,699 in overtime and stipends through a federal grant, but have yet to prove they actually worked the extra hours, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Family struggles over baby's heart condition; 1-year-old waits for transplant
LAWRENCE - At first glance, Amelia Castillo looks like your typical 1-year-old - she enjoys playing with her Dora the Explorer doll, listening to her radio and swaying to music.
City takes another shot at voter ID requirement
LAWRENCE - Voter fraud. Nary a city election passes without the utterance of those two words.
Pats fan has her own rules for winning
There are rules when watching a New England Patriots game in the Andrewchuk household.
Ogonowski declares candidacy for Kerry's Senate seat
A commercial for Sen. John Kerry makes Jim Ogonowski laugh out loud.
Politicians dig deep into pockets for flowers, charities; No limit on campaign money spending lets them open wallets wide
BOSTON - State Rep. Brian Dempsey shows he cares with flowers.
Tractor-trailer overturns in Methuen
METHUEN - A Pennsylvania truck driver was cited by police after the back end of his tractor-trailer flipped over on Lowell Boulevard yesterday.
Correction
Due to a reporter's error, a story in Friday's Eagle-Tribune incorrectly stated the amount of money a consultant suggested the North Andover School Department set aside for electricity costs for fiscal 2009. The consultant recommended $903,000 for electricity.
Search for a home begins
EDITOR'S NOTE: These two stories begin an occasional Eagle-Tribune series following two families who lost their homes in the seven-alarm blaze that consumed almost an entire city block early last Monday. More than a dozen buildings on Parker, Market and Springfield streets were either damaged or completely destroyed.
Massachusetts: The 'afterthought' in presidential politics
Few people around the Merrimack Valley have posted signs on their lawns or in storefronts to promote a favorite presidential candidate.
Mom and real estate agent by day; Emerging comedian at night
METHUEN - Erin Livingston Carroll looks kind of like Michael Jackson in one of her driver's license photos.
Brother, sister curling duo to go to nationals
ANDOVER - Other teens toss footballs, run cross country, swing tennis rackets. Andover siblings Richard and Leila Smith curl.
Firm plans to turn Pemberton Mill into historic hotel
LAWRENCE - The outfit that developed the 155-unit Washington Mills apartments now has plans to build a 110-room hotel in the historic Pemberton Mill off Canal Street.
Fire Chief says mutual aid saved lives last Monday
LAWRENCE - It took just four minutes for city fire officials to realize they would need all the help they could get to put out the blaze that burned down a block in South Lawrence early last Monday.
Families' dream up in smoke
LAWRENCE - Sixteen-year-old Felix Reyes Jr. flipped on the television early Monday morning and saw his house burning down.
Money on the way to fire victims Feds declare city block a disaster, loans offered
LAWRENCE - The federal government has declared the city block that burned this week a disaster area, making businesses, homeowners and renters eligible for financial help.
Gun used in UPS truckjacking recovered
LAWRENCE - The gun police said was used in the truckjacking of a UPS driver on Howard Street Tuesday night was recovered later in the evening in the driveway of a Leslie Street home, about two blocks from where the truck was found, police said.
A Super Bowl Sunday birthday wish: Pats 35-14
METHUEN - The first greeting at the Wells residence is from an active small poodle named Annie, who is clad in a New England Patriots jersey.
Lucky's Pizza held up at gunpoint
LAWRENCE - A gun-toting robber held up Lucky's Pizza and escaped with about $147 in cash, but not before locking the owner of the shop in the bathroom.
Federal appeals court upholds Sullivan decision Dismisses lawsuit by former Workforce Investment board member
Mayor Michael Sullivan didn't do anything improper in dissolving the Workforce Investment Board in November 2005, a federal appeals court has concluded.
Governor wants power to order disaster money sent to communities
BOSTON - In the wake of devastating fires in Gloucester and Lawrence, Gov. Deval Patrick wants the Legislature to give him emergency spending authority in the event of a disaster.
Woman who walked kids into traffic cited same night
BOSTON - A woman who killed herself and her sister's two small children by walking into oncoming traffic on Interstate 495 had a minor car accident and was cited by state police just hours before the double murder-suicide.
Tearful killer in Smart case pleads for freedom
A sniffling, red-faced William Flynn begged forgiveness yesterday for killing Pamela Smart’s husband. The sentence-reduction hearing capped a surprising chapter in one of New Hampshire’s most notorious murders.
Text of Gov. Patrick's State of the State speech
Text of Gov. Deval Patrick's State of the State address on Thursday, as prepared for delivery.

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