WESTBROOK

Police chief leads workshop for security officials in Egypt

Additional Photos

Westbrook Police Chief William Baker sees the sights in Egypt, where he recently presented a three-day workshop on international police standards. Contributed photo

Westbrook’s Police Chief William Baker has returned from the Middle East, where he presented a three-day workshop on international police standards.

Baker made his presentation, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, to 30 high ranking members of the Egyptian Security Services.

Baker came to Westbrook from Washington, D.C., where he worked in the U.S. Justice Department’s International Training Section. That assignment took him to more than 40 countries. This was his first visit to Egypt.

Camper trailer destroyed by fire; no one injured

Fire officials say an unoccupied camper trailer was destroyed by fire Sunday night.

Westbrook firefighters were called to the scene of the fire at 127 Brackett St. around 7:30 p.m.

The fire was brought under control within a matter of minutes, but fire investigators are still trying to determine how the fire started.

No one was inside the camper and no injuries were reported. 

SCARBOROUGH

Police charge local man in several car burglaries

Police think they have found the individual who may have been involved in several recent car burglaries near the Wentworth Intermediate School.

Scarborough Det. Sgt. Rick Rouse said 22-year-old Michael Thompson of Scarborough was arrested Sunday on three charges of burglary of a motor vehicle and one charge of theft. He was being held at the Cumberland County Jail on $1,000 cash bail.

Rouse said police went to Wentworth Intermediate School on Wentworth Drive to investigate a report of a suspicious male looking at cars in the parking lot. He said Thompson cooperated with police officers, eventually admitting to car burglaries in the area over the past three weeks. Several stolen items were recovered during the investigation.

Police said Thompson may have been involved in other thefts and that more charges could be filed against him.

BRUNSWICK

Freeport man cited in crash of BMW, pickup on I-295

A Freeport man was cited Sunday night for imprudent speed and operating after suspension after his BMW crashed into a pickup truck on Interstate 295 in Brunswick.

State Trooper Justin Cooley said he issued citations to 25-year-old Len Wilson after his BMW collided with the rear-end of a pickup truck driven by Nicholas Knowlton, 25, of Portland.

Knowlton’s truck, which was carrying a load of gravel, flipped over, forcing police to shut down the southbound travel lane for nearly two hours.

Cooley said Wilson was traveling at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. Neither Wilson nor Knowlton was injured. The crash took place around 6:30 p.m.

BRADFORD

Teen missing since Saturday found and taken to hospital

The search for a missing Bradford teenager ended Sunday evening when 15-year-old Damien Clinton was found in the town of LaGrange. He was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, where he was evaluated for exposure and possible frostbite to his feet.

Clinton, who lives with his uncle, was cold, scared and not wearing any shoes when authorities found him just before 8 p.m.

Deborah Turcotte, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said the teenager had been missing since Saturday night.

AUGUSTA

State DOT gives heads-up on I-95 bridge project

Construction of a new deck on the Interstate 95 northbound bridge over Route 27 this fall could occasionally back up traffic as much as three miles and put more cars and trucks on Western Avenue.

State Department of Transportation officials told the City Council the deck, which is the main support surface of the bridge, is wearing out and needs to be replaced as part of periodic maintenance.

Work on the project is likely to start in July or August and be complete, other than a final coat of pavement, by Thanksgiving, transportation officials told the council on Thursday.

During most of the early stages of the project, both northbound I-95 lanes will remain open, according to DOT engineer Aurele Gorneau. But in the later stages, from Columbus Day to Thanksgiving, the northbound interstate will be down to just one travel lane. 

Blaine House tea aimed at raising autism awareness

Autism awareness activists say Maine is second in the prevalence of autism across the country, with one in 77 children in the state having an autism spectrum disorder.

On Thursday, the Pine Tree Society will host a tea at the Blaine House to raise awareness of the autism prevalence rate in Maine. The event will kick off Autism Awareness Month.

State officials, legislators and leaders from organizations that serve people with autism spectrum disorders and their families will attend. Pine Tree Society offers services to help Maine people with disabilities.

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

Trails closed to protect nesting peregrine falcons

Acadia National Park officials are closing several popular hiking trails to protect peregrine falcons that have been showing pre-nesting courtship behavior.

The closure of the popular Precipice Trail and other trails near the park’s Precipice and Valley Cove cliffs is expected to last until late July or early August. That’s about five weeks after any newborn peregrine chicks would be expected to take their first flights.

The peregrine falcon is listed as a Maine endangered species.

Acadia was selected in the 1980s to be one of the reintroduction sites for a peregrine falcon recovery program. Since 1991, more than 90 chicks have fledged on Mount Desert Island.

PORTLAND

Hundreds request details of Obama visit to Maine

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree says interest is growing fast in President Barack Obama’s planned visit to the Portland area this week.

As of Saturday afternoon, the Maine Democrat says more than 600 people had signed up on her Web site to receive more information about the visit when it becomes available.

Obama plans to visit Maine on Thursday, but an exact location hasn’t been announced yet. Pingree says her office will distribute information about the time, location and tickets as soon as the White House releases it.

It’ll be Obama’s first visit to Maine since being elected president. Obama also will visit Boston, where he’ll attend a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee.

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