VASSALBORO

Woman hurt as Jeep rolls over, pins her beneath it

Police said speed and alcohol were factors in an early morning accident Saturday that put an Augusta woman in the hospital in critical condition.

Julie Fuller, 26, was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston by LifeFlight helicopter after the single-vehicle accident, said Cpl. Michael Pion of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Route 201 in Vassalboro.

Pion said Fuller’s Jeep Patriot was traveling south on Route 201 and came around a corner too fast, left the road, crossed over the intersection with Burleigh Road and continued through some woods and into a cornfield, rolling several times and ejecting her from the vehicle.

Fuller, the only occupant of the Jeep, was pinned under the vehicle. Neighbors across the street heard her cries for help.

“She was very fortunate they heard her hollering for help,” Pion said.

No charges have been filed but could be pending, Pion said.

FRANKLIN

Ultralight crashes in pond, one passenger is injured

An ultralight airplane carrying two passengers crashed Sunday morning while landing in about 5 feet of water at Abrams Pond in the Hancock County town of Franklin.

Deputy Shane K. Campbell, who investigated the crash, said the pilot, 42-year-old Dean Young of Eastbrook, was not injured, but his passenger, 42-year-old Marijo Grant of Eastbrook was taken to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The 35-foot-long aircraft landed in the pond around 10:30 a.m. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Aviation Administration were notified.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

BELGRADE

Pontoon boat hits rock pile on Great Pond, three injured

The Maine Warden’s Service is investigating what caused a 25-foot-long pontoon party boat to crash on Great Pond late Saturday night.

Deborah Turcotte, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said the boat hit a rock pile on the southern end of Oak Island around 10:30 p.m.

Five people were on board the boat, which is owned by John Jabar, 50, of Belgrade. Turcotte said Jabar was injured but refused medical treatment. Two passengers were treated and released from Inland Hospital in Waterville, Turcotte said.

VIENNA

Missing boy found as pilot spots him in tall grass

An autistic boy who was reported missing Sunday afternoon by his father was found Sunday night by a pilot for the Maine Warden’s Service, nearly three hours after he disappeared.

Deborah Turcotte, a spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said 3-year-old Benjamin Lehr of Vienna was spotted standing in a field of tall grass several hundred yards behind his home.

His father, Jonathan K. Kehr, had reported his son missing around 2 p.m. A massive ground search was launched by the warden’s service, Maine State Police, and several local agencies, but it was warden service pilot Dan Dufault who spotted the boy in the field.

Turcotte said Dufault was able to see the child because he had removed the top part of his camouflage pajamas.

The boy was in good condition.

WINDHAM

Pedestrian killed Saturday on River Road is identified

Windham Police identified the man who died after being struck by a car Saturday on River Road as Michael Charette of Portland.

Charette, 45, was hit by a 1995 Toyota Camry driven by Paul Cady of Westbrook, police said.

The accident happened around 2:50 p.m. River Road was closed for hours from Anderson Road to the Westbrook line.

Charette was transported to Maine Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Windham police Sgt. David Thomas said the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office used a photo of Charette to identify him. He said Charette looked familiar to county sheriffs, and fingerprints later confirmed his identity.

Thomas said the case remains under investigation, but it appears the cause of death will likely be pedestrian error.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office will determine today whether it should conduct an autopsy.

WHITING

Fish truck overturns after blowing tire, driver hurt

Maine State Police say a truck carrying at least 22,000 pounds of herring overturned on a sharp curve, spilling the cargo and injuring the driver.

The accident happened early Saturday near the intersection of Route 189 and Route 1 in Whiting.

Trooper Andrew Foss said the driver blew a tire as he drove through the curve, causing the truck to flip on its side. He was hospitalized with leg injuries. The truck was owned by D.C. Airfreight of Winter Harbor and sustained $25,000 in damage.

Robin McPhail, says her mother lives near the intersection. She says it’s a bad corner — and it’s the third time a fish truck has dumped its load in the front yard.

LITCHFIELD

Inaugural music festival at fairgrounds this weekend

Country Fest Maine will debut this weekend at Litchfield Fairgrounds, offering two days of country, bluegrass and folk music by Maine musicians and international stars.

“It’s going to be a fantastic weekend,” said Connie Fletcher, of Richmond, central director of The Down East Country Music Association and a member of Potpourri, one of the groups scheduled to perform.

Special guests will include Leroy Van Dyke of “Auctioneer” and “Walk On By” fame; Malinda Liberty and her band; and Mrs. Maine America 2010, Dr. Christine Blake of Saco.

Admission is $6 per day or $10 for a two-day pass. RV and tent campsites are available and reservations can be made online at www.CountryFestMaine.com or by calling Fletcher at 737-0920.

The Litchfield Fairgrounds are located at 30 Plains Road.

 

PORTLAND

Surgeon, former mayor William MacVane dies at 95

Portland’s oldest living mayor died Sunday at the age of 95.

Dr. William L. MacVane, who lived nearly all his life in Portland, served one term as the city’s mayor in 1971.

His daughter, Lesley MacVane of Portland, said her father served on Portland’s City Council for nine years.

A thoracic surgeon, MacVane spent most of his career working at the former Maine General Hospital and later at Maine Medical Center.

He was born on State Street in Portland. His father, William L. MacVane Sr., served as a city selectman.

“He liked everything about the city. All the changes were hard for him because he remembers a city that used to have horses and buggies,” his daughter said.

 

Public lighthouse tours will happen again, on Sept. 18

The U.S. Coast Guard will be opening more than two dozen lighthouses for public tours for the second straight year.

Lighthouse fans can get their fill during Open Lighthouse Day on Sept. 18.

The Coast Guard, in partnership with the American Lighthouse Foundation and the Maine Office of Tourism, will open 25 lighthouses to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Additional information on all Maine lighthouses and a list of those that will be open during Open Lighthouse Day can be found at www.lighthouseday.com.

EASTPORT

Cooking Channel has show on Raye’s Mustard tonight

Raye’s Mustard and the turn-of-the-last-century stone mill where it’s produced in Eastport will be featured on tonight’s episode of FoodCrafters on The Cooking Channel.

The show will show preparation of the grainy, yellow mustard known as Raye’s Sweet and Spicy.

Kevin and Karen Raye are the fourth generation of Rayes to own and operate the mill, originally built to supply Maine’s once-thriving sardine industry. When Kevin Raye isn’t making mustard, he may be found in Augusta, where he serves as the Senate Republican leader.