Evacuation Drills Critical to Emergency Prep

Students at Thorntons Ferry participated in simulation last Thursday, middle school is next up on May 23.

Like a well-oiled machine students, teachers and administration worked together with Merrimack emergency and town officials to conduct an evacuation drill at Thorntons Ferry Elementary School. The drill was part of an ongoing series of emergency drills designed to keep the schools and Merrimack's police and fire departments as well as town administration current on what they would do with the possibility a school would need to be evacuated and the students moved off  campus. Last Thursday's scenario was one in which a fire call was made to the fire Department and the condition of the school was quickly determined to be dangerous to keep the children on campus It's a scenario that was familiar to training consultant Les Carter. The former …

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For the Record

Antihistamine Leads to Drunk Driving Charge

Merrimack man charged after sideswiping trees, hitting garage.

A Merrimack man was arrested for driving under the influence last week after mixing an over-the-counter drug with peppermint extract, which police say has a high alcohol content. James H. Sakelaris, 24, of 11 Cobblestone Drive, Merrimack, was charged with operating under the influence/driving while intoxicated – drugs, when Merrimack Police were called to his home for a report of a motor vehicle accident. They say they were alerted to a vehicle in the driveway with extensive passenger-side damage and identified Sakelaris as the operator of the vehicle. An investigation determined Sakalaris was under the influence of Coricidin and peppermint extract when he side-swiped trees along the driveway, police say. He then allegedly struck the …

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For the Record

LOG: Theft of Car's Blinker Components

A snap shot of Merrimack Police activity between May 13 and 14.

8:46 a.m.: Visited Reeds Ferry School to read to children. 11:13 a.m.: Responded to a motor vehicle accident on Route 101A. No further information was provided. 11:14 a.m.: Report of a school bus operating erratically on Greeley Street at the intersection with Daniel Webster Highway. 3:50 p.m.: Responded to Hilton Drive for a report of a burglary. 6:13 p.m.: Responded to Christopher Drive for a report of a missing male juvenile. 6:38 p.m.: Responded to Amherst Road for a two-car accident. Drivers were Jessica Luhtjarv and Lhea McCaffery, both of Merrimack. 9:32 p.m.: Responded to Woodridge Road for a domestic problem. 9:42 p.m.: Arrested Sarah Vaskelionis, 31, of 22 Woodridge Road, Merrimack, on charges of simple assault, resisting arrest …

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How to Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Here's what you can do to lend a hand in the wake of Monday's devastating weather event.

More than 50 people – many of them children – were killed when a deadly tornado hit Oklahoma on Monday. At least 200 were reportedly injured, and the images of devastation that have been repeated on television screens across New Hampshire have many here wondering what we can do to help. If you would like to help, you can do so from your computer or mobile device right now. Patch will be posting stories of locals who are working to help victims from afar. If you know of someone local was affected by the tornado or who is working to help the victims, please contact carolyn.dube@patch.com.

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Police Searching for Man Who Stole iPhone

Store clerks say Hispanic man cut security cord from phone and ran.

Merrimack Police are looking for a man they say made off with an iPhone after cutting the security cord at Verizon Wireless on Saturday. The man is described as Hispanic, approximately 5'8" or 5'9" and around 150 pounds. He was wearing blue jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt and he may have been riding a black freestyle-type bicycle. Police say they responded to the Verizon Wireless store in the Shaw's Plaza on Continental Boulevard at 12:34 p.m. on May 18. The clerks told police they were both busy assisting customers while another customer appeared to be browsing. He then allegedly cut the security cord that locks the phone to a table at the store and made off with the smartphone valued at around $700. One of the clerks did give chase …

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Troopers Nab Three for DWI, One for Drugs

NH State Police also respond to 14 serious accidents last week.

New Hampshire State Police Troop B made the following arrests between May 13 and 19. An arrest does not indicate a conviction. Date/Time Defendant/Age Location Arrested for Trooper 5/13 – 5:06 a.m. Misty Chase, 24, of Greenville Greenville Simple assault Trp. Meyer 5/14 – 11:50 p.m. Jesus Almarz-Garcia Manchester   Trp. Johnston 5/14 – 11:50 p.m. Jorge Ochoa-Montoy Manchester   Trp. Johnston 5/15 – 8:50 p.m. Seth Dubois, 20, of Meredith Hooksett Possession of a controlled drug Trp. Cedrone 5/18 - 1:27 a.m. Vincent Palermo, 72, of Seabrook Salem Driving while intoxicated Trp. Sloper 5/19 –  11 p.m. Linda Coombs, 43, of Pelham Merrimack Driving while intoxicated, conduct after an accident Trp. Dore 5/19 – 1:51 a.m. Rebecca McGibbon, 28, of …

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