SEBAGO

Warden service says probe of shooting may take weeks

The Maine Warden Service says it could be a long time before the investigation of Saturday’s fatal hunting incident in Sebago is complete.

William Briggs, 61, of Windham shot Peter Kolofsky, 46, of Sebago in the chest about 45 minutes before sundown. Investigators said they believe it was unintentional and that Briggs was not impaired, but have offered no other details.

Warden service spokeswoman Edith Smith said commanders in the organization said it could take “days, weeks, maybe even months” before the investigation is complete.

“There’s a lot of evidence” to go through, she said. Once the investigation is complete, the Attorney General’s Office will determine whether to bring charges that Briggs did not exercise reasonable caution.

AUGUSTA

Streamlining panel identifies at least $25 million in cuts

An advisory committee looking for cuts to balance Maine’s state budget has found $25 million in savings, but its work isn’t over.

The Streamlining Committee will meet again Nov. 28 to finish its work before a Dec. 15 deadline. It needs to find $25 million in savings to balance the budget for this fiscal year, and has left the door open to finding $35 million in recommended cuts.

Minority Democrats, however, said they aren’t interested in pushing the total another $10 million. House Democratic Leader Emily Cain said the Legislature should decide whether to cut more than $25 million.

The cuts targeted so far avoid eliminating funding to Head Start and to a program that helps troubled youths transition to the community.

Consumers warned of scam seeking credit card numbers

Maine Attorney General William Schneider is warning consumers about a scam in which callers ask for credit and debit card numbers.

Schneider said Maine consumers are reporting they’ve received automated phone calls from companies claiming to be able to help lower interest rates on credit cards. The callers ask people to enter their debit or credit card numbers.

Schneider advises consumers to never provide any personal banking information based on automated phone calls. People who get one of those robo-calls should immediately hang up and contact the state consumer hotline at (207) 626-8849.

Sheriff says overdose may be reason for inmate’s death

An investigation into the death of an inmate Tuesday at the Kennebec County jail is pointing to a drug overdose, according to Sheriff Randall Liberty.

The sheriff said an autopsy on Nicholas Michael Powell, 22, indicated no physical problems. Results of toxicology tests are pending.

“Our investigation here also points to an overdose,” said Liberty. He said a number of inmates have been interviewed about the circumstances.

Powell, whose most recent address was Lewiston, had passed a drug screening test Monday.

Court and jail records show that Powell was serving a nine-month sentence for violating probation on a domestic-violence assault conviction. He had come into the jail in Augusta in September.

CARMEL

Teens killed in crash were to become stepbrothers soon

The teenage victims of a car crash in Carmel earlier this week have been identified as best friends who were soon to become stepbrothers.

Authorities said James McPhearson, 16, of Levant and Richard Picken Jr., 14, of Carmel were killed instantly Monday night when the car they were in struck a utility pole.

Police said the teens had just left McPhearson’s home and were headed to Picken’s house. Speed was a factor, police said.

Both boys attended Hermon High School. McPhearson was a junior on the football team, and Picken was a freshman. Principal Brian Walsh said the entire community is in mourning.

McPhearson’s mother is engaged to Picken’s father.

BANGOR

Mainers lead region, turn in 7 tons of excess drugs

Maine residents turned in 14,140 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs — more than 7 tons — during the Oct. 29 national drug take-back initiative, making it the No. 1 collection state in New England.

Police said Maine was the sixth-ranked state for the amount of drugs collected during the day, behind California, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Mainers also turned in more unwanted drugs per capita than any other state, according to the Bangor Police Department.

FREEPORT

Six-screen digital theater to open downtown Nov. 18

The six-screen Nordica Theatre will open Nov. 18 in Freeport Village Station with two highly anticipated new films, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1” and the 3-D animated “Happy Feet Two.”

The new digital theater is operated by Massachusetts-based Belmont Capital, said Myra Hopkins, executive director of Freeport USA. Belmont also runs Windham Five Star Cinema, Wells Five Star Cinema and Bangor Mall Cinemas.

Nordica Theatre is just off Main Street (Route 1) in the village center, at Mill and Depot streets, on the lower level of the Freeport Village Station commercial complex.

CONWAY, N.H.

Maine resident, second man charged in armed robbery

Police said a Maine resident is one of two suspects arrested in the robbery of a man who was making a nighttime deposit at a TD Bank here.

Joshua Riff, 21, of Conway was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and accomplice to robbery, police said. Michael Rehmert Jr., 32, of Fryeburg is in custody in Maine and awaits extradition to New Hampshire, where he faces charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

On Nov. 2, a worker from a local outlet store had pulled up to make a deposit when he was confronted by a man with a handgun who demanded his money and fled with it.