A prostitution sting at a Portsmouth hotel last week resulted in the arrest of three Massachusetts residents on charges alleging prostitution and other crimes. The Portsmouth Police Department has received an increased number of prostitution complaints in recent years, according to Police Capt. Janet Champlin.

“We think it’s ongoing,” Champlin said. “It’s the oldest profession, as they say, and it is still thriving.”

Champlin believes the increase in prostitution has resulted from Portsmouth’s growing reputation as a tourist destination.

“We attribute a lot of that to the influx of new hotels, more commerce happening, more businesses being built, especially out at Pease. We get more people on a daily basis coming into Portsmouth,” she said. “We’ve seen a real increase in the number of tips we’ve received on Crime Stoppers and intelligence that we’ve garnered from informants and other sources.”

Prostitution is more underground and covert than it used to be, Champlin said, with Internet solicitations largely replacing “streetwalkers.” Although the three suspects arrested last week were from Massachusetts, police believe prostitutes have entered the Seacoast from across Northern New England.

“They’re from all over. We know that there are prostitutes coming here from Maine, Southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts,” Champlin said. “It’s a perfect destination for them because we are so centrally located to all three states.”

The three individuals were arrested at an unspecified hotel on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Rebecca N. Sheffield, 25, of Boston, faces Class A misdemeanor charges of prostitution, conspiracy and possession of a controlled drug. She is free on $2,500 personal recognizance bail. Jermaine Gavin, 32, also of Boston, faces Class A misdemeanor charges of prostitution and conspiracy. He is free on $100 cash and $2,000 personal recognizance bail. Travis Bogarty, 33, of Roxbury, Mass., faces a Class B misdemeanor charge of prostitution. He is free on $1,500 personal recognizance bail. All three are scheduled to be arraigned at Portsmouth District Court on Oct. 15. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail.

Champlin declined to reveal the name of the hotel where the suspects were arrested or to discuss details of the sting operation, noting the hotel has been cooperating with police to rid the community of prostitution. She said the department will conduct more prostitution stings in the future.

Anyone with information pertaining to the ongoing investigation is asked to contact the Portsmouth Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit at 603-436-2511, or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 603-431-1199 or 207-439-1199, or visit the Web site at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org.

Swett withdraws from Senate race

Democrat Katrina Swett became the second candidate to withdraw from New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race since former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen announced her candidacy earlier this month. Swett announced during a news conference late last week that she would drop out of the race and put her support behind Shaheen.

“In this time of extraordinary challenge and risk for our nation, we have to unite behind the strongest possible challenger to John Sununu and that candidate is clearly Jeanne Shaheen,” the Bow resident said.

Swett, wife of former U.S. Rep. Richard Swett, reaffirmed her belief that the country has been moving backward under the Bush administration on issues like the Iraq war, the environment, energy independence and stem cell research. She called Republican Sen. Sununu a “cheerleader” for President Bush’s policies.

Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand dropped out of the race about a week prior to Swett, leaving former astronaut Jay Buckey as Shaheen’s only Democratic opponent. Swett praised Shaheen for her accomplishments as governor, saying she opened doors for Democrats across the state.

Swett, who noted that her first grandchild was born on Sept. 18, promised to remain active in New Hampshire politics. After 10 months of planning her campaign, she confessed that she was disappointed to exit the race.

“I have to be honest and admit that it is with real regret that I am stepping aside in this Senate race,” she said. “I have poured my heart and soul into this effort, and it has been a wonderful experience.”

Pease airport gets $3 million for upgrades

A three-year, $6.3 million grant will enable Portsmouth International Airport at Pease to conduct a number of much-needed improvements to its facilities. The funds, provided by matching grants from the Federal Aviation Administration and the N.H. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics, includes $3 million for upgrades that will help convert the former Air Force base into a civilian airport.

A total of $1.8 million will be spent on the purchase of new snow removal equipment, while $500,000 will go toward terminal improvements to meet security requirements and $700,000 will go toward design of a new apron pad for de-icing and holding aircrafts. The remaining $3.3 million will be spent on construction of new de-icing areas over the next two years.
N.H. Senators John Sununu and Judd Gregg, who worked to secure the FAA funding, said the grants should provide economic and safety benefits for the airport and its passengers.

“This funding represents a commitment from the Federal Aviation Administration to the long-term safety of the Pease International Airport,” Sununu stated in a release.

“I am pleased the FAA has recognized the robust and expanding economy of the region and provided these funds to aid the continued successful transition of Pease,” Gregg added.

comedy club to open at The Page

A new comedy club opens in the Port City this weekend, featuring two shows every Saturday night. Operated by well-known comedian Jimmy Dunn, The Comedy Oasis is located downstairs from The Page (formerly called The Sports Page) on Hanover Street.

The club will be a collaborative effort between Dunn, The Page and The Comedy Connection of Portland, Maine. Dunn has traveled the country as a professional stand-up comedian for almost 20 years. He is best known in the Boston area as host of Fan Attic on the New England Sports Network and as a traveling correspondent on the Red Sox Pre Game Report during the 2004 season. He has also made appearances on Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Inside This Old House. He shared a jail cell with Matt Damon in the movie “Stuck On You,” and he is author of the book “Funnyball.”

Dunn has vowed to continually bring professional, nationally touring stand-up comedians to the club every week. The first show will feature Dunn, PJ Thibideau and surprise guests on Saturday, Sept. 29. Shows begin at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.