PORTLAND

Girl hurt by toppling tree released from Maine Med

The Massachusetts schoolgirl who was impaled by a tree branch during a thunderstorm in Lebanon earlier this month was released Thursday from Maine Medical Center.

Emily Malewicz, 10, of Millis, Mass., was discharged around 1 p.m., according to Jason A. Cole, the town of Lebanon’s assistant rescue chief.

Cole, who has been serving as a spokesman for the Malewicz family, said the girl went home after stopping off at Boston Children’s Hospital to meet with doctors who will tend to the wound on her back.

The girl was camping with her family on the night of Aug. 9 when a thunderstorm blew down several large trees at the Flat Rock Bridge Family Resort. One of those trees landed on the family’s tent.

Doctors removed a 12-inch-long stick that pierced her and missed her heart by less than an inch. She was initially listed in critical condition.

Lebanon’s Rescue Department has raised more than $6,000 to help pay for the girl’s medical expenses.

AUGUSTA

AG agrees Craigslist should delete adult services section

Maine’s attorney general is signing on to a letter saying Craigslist should remove its adult services section because the website cannot adequately block potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution and child trafficking.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Janet Mills said Thursday that Mills is signing the letter with attorneys general in at least 17 other states.

The letter acknowledges Craigslist could lose revenue by removing the adult services section. But it says no amount of money can justify illegal prostitution and the victimization of women and children.

Craigslist says it supports states’ efforts to stop illegal exploitation and hopes to work closely with them to prevent misuse of its site.

CAPE ELIZABETH

Teens golfing to raise funds for Pakistani flood victims

The captains of Cape Elizabeth High School’s golf team are playing for a higher purpose.

Playing for Pakistan is a fundraising initiative started by high school seniors Rob Macdonald, Brad Dickinson, Ben Berman and Wilson Laprade to raise money for Oxfam America and relief efforts for 15 million Pakistanis affected by massive floods.

The four golfers will attempt to play 100 holes in a week at Purpoodock Country Club, the team’s home course. In turn, they are inviting people to donate a fixed amount or pledge a certain amount per hole completed.

The four played 18 holes Thursday and already have six pledges of $1 per hole, Macdonald said. “We’re in pretty good shape for our first day,” he said.

Checks made payable to Oxfam America, Pakistan Relief and Recovery Fund, can be mailed to Macdonald’s attention at 32 Rockcrest Drive, Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107. Donations can also be made online by visiting Oxfam America.

GRAY

No more rain on horizon, and temps could hit 90s

A dry and warm weather pattern is returning to Maine after the state’s first drenching in weeks.

The National Weather Service says it expects dry conditions that returned Thursday and today to stick around for the next 7 to 10 days with increasing heat.

Meteorologist Tom Hawley says some places could see temperatures climb into the 90s early next week.

Wednesday’s rains drenched much of Maine in the first significant rainfall in the state in more than a month.

BANGOR

Councilors expecting design, cost estimate for new arena

Officials in Bangor are growing more confident they will be able to find the public and private support needed to build a new 7,400-seat arena.

The Bangor Daily News says city councilors are expected to soon receive a final design for the arena from the architect and an estimated cost.

Initial estimates were that the arena would cost at least $45 million to $50 million.

If the city also decides to renovate and expand the Bangor Civic Center, it could add another $12 million to $15 million to the cost.

TOWNSHIP 2, RANGE 9

Purse-snatching suspects sought in I-95 incident

Police in northern Maine are searching for suspects who stole a purse from a woman changing a tire on Interstate 95 in the location known as Township 2, Range 9.

A couple told state police they were stopped at mile marker 234 at about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday when someone stopped and stole the woman’s purse, which was said to contain “a substantial amount of cash.”

State police and officers from East Millinocket and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s department helped search for the pickup truck.

The Bangor Daily News says the woman whose purse was stolen jumped onto the pickup’s tailgate, but fell off. She scraped her knee.

Police say they found nothing.

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