Network outage disrupts Strafford County government services

A network outage disrupted phone and internet services for government agencies in Strafford County on Tuesday. The county's IT department had shut down the systems over the weekend due to suspicious online activity. Facilities including the courthouse, jail, and nursing home in Dover were affected. Officials expected to resolve the issue and restore normal operations by Tuesday afternoon. Strafford County Administrator Ray Bower explained that the outage forced staff to use manual methods for tasks like booking at the jail. Some operations continued at the sheriff's department without interruption. The courthouse, where a trial was taking place, also faced delays. County Attorney Emily Garod noted the reliance on email and the internet for court functions, making the outage a significant disruption. However, court operations resumed on Tuesday. Bower mentioned that previous disaster drills helped staff manage the situation effectively. People used mobile hotspots and cellphones for communication during the outage. A company from Concord is currently investigating the cause of the network issues. For those trying to reach the county attorney's office, it remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.