PORTLAND

First lady plans Maine visit to raise funds for Democrats

First lady Michelle Obama is due in Maine this week to raise funds for Democratic candidates.

The Democratic State Committee says the wife of President Obama will visit Maine on Friday. A reception at Ocean Gateway in Portland will raise funds for the Democratic National Committee and Obama’s presidential campaign.

Mrs. Obama is expected to attend a luncheon in Cape Elizabeth before the reception.

WESTBROOK

Advertisement

Police seek help in search for woman last seen Sept. 20

Police are calling on the public to help them find a woman who was last seen on Sept. 20.

Tisha Jo Langley, 37, of Westbrook was last seen at the Big Apple store on Washington Avenue in Portland.

Westbrook police Sgt. Timothy Morrell said Langley was reported missing on Saturday. Westbrook police have since notified law enforcement agencies throughout New England.

Langley is white, with brown hair, green eyes and a tattoo on her back. She is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 110 pounds. If anyone has information on her whereabouts, call Westbrook police at 854-0644.

PORTLAND

Advertisement

Young voters group backs Marshall in mayoral polling

The Maine League of Young Voters has endorsed City Councilor David Marshall as its top choice for mayor of Portland, the group announced Monday.

The group used ranked-choice voting and asked its most active members to vote for their top five choices. Candidates who ranked second through fifth were Michael Brennan, John Eder, Markos Miller and Jed Rathband.

Dozens of the group’s members who volunteered at least eight hours in the past year were invited to vote on the endorsements.

The league held a mayoral debate Sept. 8 in which 15 candidates answered questions and challenged one another. In a less formal poll of 109 attendees after the debate, former Maine Rep. Michael Brennan was the top choice, followed by Marshall, Miller, Rathband and Mayor Nicholas Mavodones.

In other contests on the Nov. 8 ballot, the league endorsed Zeke Callanan for City Council District 4; Josephine Okot for the at-large school board seat; and Justin Costa for School Board District 4.

Advertisement

The league also said it is supporting the Yes on 1 campaign to save same-day voter registration. It opposes Question 2, which would allow casino gambling in Biddeford and Washington County, and Question 3, which would allow a casino in Lewiston.

The league also supports a “yes” vote on Question 4, the constitutional amendment concerning congressional redistricting, and a “yes” vote on the county bond question covering improvements to the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Cruise ships slated to bring 18,000 to Portland this week

More than 18,000 cruise ship passengers are expected to spend part of their vacation in Portland this week as the city welcomes seven ships.

Nicole Clegg, the city’s spokeswoman, said the first of seven cruise ships arrived Sunday night, and they will continue to sail into port throughout the week.

One of the largest ships, Caribbean Princess, is due to arrive this morning. It will be carrying more than 3,000 passengers. Mayor Nicholas Mavodones will present the ship’s captain with a key to the city, along with several locally harvested lobsters.

Advertisement

The largest ship to arrive in Portland this year, Explorer of the Seas, will dock Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Portland Ocean Terminal. Explorer of the Seas will have 3,114 passengers and 1,120 crew members on board.

In an economic impact study conducted last year by the University of Maine, researchers found that in 2008, more than 47,000 passengers from 31 cruise ships pumped between $5.8 million and $8 million into the regional economy.

UNION

Police say man electrocuted while installing fan in barn

Police say a 21-year-old man died in an electrical accident while installing a fan at a farm in Union.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Department said Steven Crossley was electrocuted Saturday afternoon at the Winter Winds Farm.

Advertisement

Sheriff Donna Dennison said Crossley incorrectly wired a power cord while installing a fan in a barn.

Dennison said a farmhand found Crossley and called police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

LIVERMORE FALLS

Man found wandering in Jay says he was stabbed near bar

Police in Livermore Falls are investigating a stabbing that took place early Saturday.

Police Lt. Thomas Gould said an injured 23-year-old man was found wandering on Main Street in Jay. The victim told police he had been jumped and stabbed near a Depot Street bar in Livermore Falls.

Advertisement

Gould said the victim was intoxicated and refused to provide details about the incident other than the location.

The man was hospitalized. His name and condition were not released.

Gould told the Lewiston Sun Journal that police have determined that no one at the bar was involved.

WESTBROOK, GORHAM

Slate of candidates now set in council, school board races

The slate of candidates for council and school board seats is set in Westbrook and Gorham, where nomination papers for the Nov. 8 election were due Friday.

Advertisement

For Westbrook City Council, Republican Matt Maloney of Seavey Street is challenging incumbent Victor Chau, a Democrat, in Ward 2.

In Ward 4, Republican Ernest Porell and Gary Rairdon, who is unenrolled, will try to unseat Democrat Dorothy Aube. Republican Michael Lawson is challenging incumbent Democrat Michael Sanphy for the Ward 5 seat.

Running uncontested are incumbents Brendan Rielly, Democrat, Ward 1; Paul Emery, Democrat, Ward 3; Michael Foley, Democrat, at large, and Republican John O’Hara, at large.

As decided in the Republican and Democratic caucuses earlier this month, Mayor Colleen Hilton, a Democrat, is being challenged by former Mayor Bruce Chuluda, a Republican. Republican Susan Rossignol is challenging incumbent City Clerk Lynda Adams, a Democrat.

For Westbrook School Committee, Democrats Alexander Stone, Veronica Bates and James Violette will run uncontested in Wards 1, 2 and 5, respectively.

In Gorham, incumbent Councilors Michael Phinney and Noah Miner will face Suzanne Phillips and Daniel LaVasseur for two open seats.

Advertisement

Competing for three seats on the Gorham School Committee are the current chairman, Dennis Libby, and Anne Lawrence, Sara Nelson and Timothy Burns — none of whom are current committee members.

Party affiliations are not stated in Gorham elections.

STATEWIDE

Four hospitalized after pair of weekend ATV accidents

Four all-terrain-vehicle operators and passengers were hospitalized after weekend accidents in Maine.

In Robbinston, two ATVs crashed in the woods Saturday while one was passing another. Rebecca Stanhope of Robbinston was hospitalized with a collapsed lung. Her husband, John, was treated for broken ribs and internal injuries.

Advertisement

In Sumner, Peter Harrington of Sumner crashed at high speed on a dirt road Saturday night, with the ATV hitting a tree. Harrington sustained serious injuries. A passenger, Harrington’s 11-year-old stepson, was treated at a hospital and released.

None of the riders in the two accidents was wearing a helmet.

LePage one of 10 governors on NBC News education panel

Paul LePage is one of 10 governors participating on an education panel in New York hosted by Brian Williams of NBC News.

The governor’s office said LePage is taking part in a panel discussion Monday titled, “The State of Education: The Governor’s Perspective.” The event is part of NBC News’ “Education Nation” summit, a weeklong series of discussions with educators, parents, policymakers, elected officials, business leaders, students and citizens.

LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said the event will be aired live on www.msnbc.com and www.educationnation.com beginning at 1:45 p.m.

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.