Top Stories - October 9, 2006

Baby Jordan’s chilling first night

Left: Police investigate the scene where a newborn was abandoned behind house on Bradeen Street in Roslindale. (Photo by Douglas McFadd)

For 14 hours, Mireya Jimenez listened to the squalling from the filthy back yard next door, her heart aching for what she thought was a frightened kitten.
Stricken to learn it was actually a newborn boy who’d miraculously survived an entire night in a garbage bag as temperatures hovered near 40 degrees, the trembling 53-year-old grandmother of 13 could only shake her head in disbelief.
“She’s very emotional,” said Mili Arias, Jimenez’ 14-year-old granddaughter. “She feels guilty.”
Boston police were anxious to speak to anyone who knew a woman near the end of her pregnancy - who now can’t account for her child - after yesterday morning’s appalling discovery in Roslindale of a discarded day-old white or Hispanic infant.
Authorities have named him Baby Jordan.

Man dies after being hit by log

A 72-year-old Preston Street man died after suffering massive head trauma in an accident outside his home on Saturday at approximately 6:54 p.m., according to police.
Police were not sure if next of kin had been notified and declined to release the victim’s name publicly as of press time.
The accident reportedly happened at 5 Preston St. on the corner of New Salem Street.
According to police, the victim was working with at least two other men at the time of the incident. A log apparently fell off a loaded truck causing the victim to sustain massive head injuries.

Mixed review for Route 128

Even in heavy rain, the trip from Waltham to Woburn, direct via Route 128, took only 10 minutes.
In the next two hours, though, author David Kruh noted that it’s not always that fast, and it wasn’t originally that easy to get around Boston’s suburbs.
The co-author of "Building Route 128," a picture history of one of the state’s most ambitious public works projects, gave a slide presentation and signed books Sunday at the Woburn Public Library. Among other things, he discussed his own commute, from Reading to Wilmington, which forces him into heavy traffic because Route 128 encouraged towns to base their growth on the automobile - which made the highway a self-fulfilling success and, at the same time, failure.

40 people treated at Portland-area hospitals

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine --About 40 people who were evacuated from a supermarket Monday night after complaining of nausea and other problems were treated at area hospitals, police said.
No one appeared to be seriously ill and all of those who were treated were conscious and walking, police said.
The Shaw's Supermarket at Mill Creek in South Portland was evacuated around 6:45 p.m. after several customers complained of nausea, difficulty breathing, or vomiting.
Police Lt. Robb Couture said the store was being checked for the source of the problem, but officials believe it was airborne and not related to food sold there. Couture says about 40 people who were in the store were treated.
"We are very concerned about the health and safety our associates, and we are working closely with officials to determine the source of the problem," said Judy Chong, a spokeswoman for Shaw's.
Firefighters were looking at the possibility of a problem with the refrigeration system.

Sources: Boston Herald, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Observer, Boston Globe