Operation Granite Hammer Nails NH, Crashes, Prostitution Sting, Missing Woman Case: Top 10 Stories

The first month of 2017 has almost ended and it was a busy one for news and information here in the Granite State. The 12 Patch news and community websites covering 13 communities as well as offering some regional and state news had about 1.13 million page views for the month.

Here are the Top 10 most read stories of the month.

1. NH Restaurant Owner Dies in Multi-Vehicle Everett Turnpike Crash: NHSP: A Merrimack woman was also injured this morning as a result of the accident in Nashua.
2. 11 People Arrested as Operation Granite Hammer Hits Concord: Concord Police, SWAT team make major drug bust on Hall Street; others arrested at the Merrimack County House of Corrections.
3. Operation Granite Hammer Strikes in Concord Again: Police: 11 were arrested on various drug charges; 9 were arrested in two apartments at the Regency Hill Estates on East Side Drive.
4. I-93 Shut Down Due to Crashes: UPDATE: I-93 South has re-opened at just before 4 p.m. NH DOT reports teams are clearing the roads. Speed limits are down to 45 mph.
5. Body Found Along Concord Railroad Tracks: Police are investigating an incident under the Water Street bridge just off Gas Street this morning.
6. Nashua 'Granite Hammer' Crime Sweep Nets 4 Arrests: Nashua police said they arrested Marcus Persons, Shayna Mcdonald, Lauren Munday, and Joel Smith.
7. Nashua Motel 6 Drug Bust: 3 Arrested: Nashua police arrested Andrea McHugh, Anthony Santiago, and Kayla Bausha. Police said they also seized heroin and crack cocaine.
8. Nashua 'Granite Hammer' Crime Sweep: 14 Arrested: The latest Nashua Granite Hammer crime sweep Thursday resulted in 13 arrests for drug crimes and one for prostitution.
9. Nashua Murder on Kinsley Street: Suspect Arrested: Devin Tappan was charged with murdering Javier Rivera Afanador in a Kinsley Street apartment, Nashua police said.
10. Nashua Rite Aid Inside Job: Clerk Arrested, Police Say: Lee Ann Houle, of Nashua, was charged in a fake return scheme.

Here are some other stories you may have missed during the last month:

• Amherst Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamp Fraud: Mary Sosa illegally received more than $115,000 in benefits she was not entitled to.
• FBI Searching Former Home of NH Woman Not Seen Since 1981: UPDATED: A home on Hayward Street in Manchester was the last place Denise Beaudin lived with Robert Evans when she disappeared decades ago.
• Four NH Men, One Bay State Man Arrested in Prostitution Sting: The five men were arrested yesterday as part of a Gangs, High Risk Offenders Strike Team operation and the classified ad site Backpage.com.
• One Arrested, Another at-Large After Bedlam in East Concord: WATCH: Christopher Stafford of Manchester was arrested after a chase, crashes yesterday; was busted for heroin trafficking in Maine in 2015.
• Concord Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Violent Pitman Street Attack: Steven Rossi allegedly coldcocked a woman inside a neighboring apartment, knocked out her teeth, and threatened to kill her with scissors.
• Convicted California Murderer Fingered in 'Allenstown 4' Deaths; Missing NH Woman Presumed Dead: NH AG: DNA to NH killings linked to Robert T. Evans, a convicted murderer who died in 2010. Cops say he may possibly be a serial killer.
• 5,000 Without Power in Exeter, Nearby Communities: UPDATE: Squirrel reportedly causes Unitil substation fire on the Seacoast.
• NH Man Uninjured After Crushing Crash with Tanker on Route 101: NHSP: Milford man walks away from crash after his Honda Civic slides into and underneath a tanker driven by a trucker from Somerville.
• Pats Fan, Habitual Offender Arrested on I-93 by Staties: Brendan Belanger was arrested after allegedly giving a state trooper a false name and date of birth after a motor vehicle stop.
• Alleged Sexting Teacher, Drug Dealers, Others Indicted: Roundup: 3 alleged Nashua welfare fraudsters, felon allegedly with a deadly weapon in Merrimack, alleged statutory rapist from Milford all indicted.
• Milford, Goffstown Residents Arrested for Drunk Driving: Police Log: Plus, a Milford man was arrested on domestic violence assault charges.
• Portsmouth Man Arrested for Massive $100K Pot Growing Operation: Christian Lydon was charged after a month-long investigation into marijuana manufacturing on Woodbury Avenue.
• Sheriffs Arrest Salem Man for Probation Violation, Derry Man on Civil Order: Reports: Plus, Raymond woman arrested on robbery charge, Salisbury man arrested for shoplifting, and Lawrence man faces four counts of theft.
• Mass. Man Steals Two Cars in NH, Refuses to Stop, Bagged Hiding in Lawrence: NHSP: Joseph Hart of Westborough allegedly stole vehicles in Manchester, Windham, was pursued on I-93, evaded spike strips.

As always, thanks for reading New Hampshire Patch.com sites.

Crash photo in the lower left hand corner credited to Jeffrey Hastings of Frame of Mind Photography. FrameofMindPhoto.com.