SOUTH PORTLAND

Three juveniles may face charges for fire in field

Three juveniles could face felony arson or misdemeanor charges in connection with a fire that authorities say was likely set in South Portland’s Ferry Village neighborhood on Monday afternoon.

The fire burned two acres and scorched the siding of a house on North Marriner Street.

Police Lt. Frank Clark said it will be up to the District Attorney’s Office to decide whether to press charges against the youngsters. Failing to control a fire is a misdemeanor. Their ages and genders are not being released because they have not been charged yet, Clark said.

“We have identified the three juveniles we believe were involved in initiating the fire,” Clark said Tuesday. He said they have been cooperative.

Fire Chief Kevin Guimond said the fire started around 3:30 p.m. in a marshy area off Pine Street. There is also a Little League field nearby. The baseball field was not affected by the fire.

But Guimond said the house on North Marriner Street sustained about $2,000 in damage because the fire scorched its siding. The owners of the house and second nearby home used garden hoses to hold off the fire until the fire department arrived, Guimond said.

FRYEBURG

Gun, other items that could be used for robbery found

Police said they recovered a stolen handgun, ammunition and other paraphernalia commonly used in robberies from a backpack discovered Tuesday near Molly Ockett Middle School and Fryeburg’s recreational playing field complex.

Acting Chief of Police Joshua Potvin said local businesses have been warned. Their employees are being asked to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity.

“I’m pleased we were able to secure the weapon prior to it being discovered by a curious child,” Potvin said in a news release.

Officers discovered the backpack Tuesday afternoon on land behind ELA Sheet Metal off Jockey Cap Lane. In addition to a loaded .22-caliber handgun and ammunition, the backpack contained a bandanna, a ski mask, a hat, sunglasses, sneakers and gloves.

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office said the weapon was stolen from a home in Brownfield.

FRANKFORT

Speed appears a factor in car crash that killed man, 21

A 21-year-old man died in a single-vehicle crash Sunday night in Frankfort, police said.

The Waldo County Sheriff’s Department said the victim was thrown from his vehicle when it crashed on Loggin Road just after 8 p.m. Sunday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim’s name was not released pending notification of his family, but police say he lived locally.

No one else was in the vehicle.

The crash remains under investigation by police, who said speed appears to have been a factor.

BREWER

Police search for man who robbed convenience store

Police are searching for a man who robbed a Brewer convenience store.

Brewer police said the man robbed the Gulf convenience store just after 4 p.m. Monday. The robber did not display a weapon during the crime.

Police said the man ran toward State Street after the robbery, and may have crossed over the Penobscot Bridge.

Police asked anyone with information to call the Brewer Police Department at 989-7001.

HOULTON

Memorial Day weather included small tornado, hail

Memorial Day’s harsh weather in northern Maine included a small tornado that touched down in Houlton, the National Weather Service said.

A meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Caribou said the tornado touched down near Ludlow Road in the Canada border town on Monday afternoon. The tornado caused minor damage, including knocking down some trees in the area.

Meteorologists rated the tornado an “F0” on the Fujita scale, which is the weakest category on the six-point scale.

Monday’s weather also included gusts topping 40 mph, a funnel cloud that did not touch down and hail more than an inch in diameter that accumulated up to 3 inches deep in some areas. There were unconfirmed reports of crop damage from the hail.

There were scattered storms across northern New England. Officials said one of the biggest storms passed just south of Caribou during the city’s parade and wreath-laying ceremony.

Another storm in Hopkinton, N.H., produced hail the size of pingpong balls Sunday.

PORTLAND

Atlantic herring fishery is nearing its catch limit

The federal government says the offshore Gulf of Maine’s Atlantic herring fishery is nearing its catch limit and will be restricted for nearly a year.

The National Marine Fisheries Service said 92 percent of the area’s total allowable catch has been caught. The agency issued an announcement on Friday that the fishery will be closed until May 1, 2015.

Vessels that had received federal permits for Atlantic herring will not be allowed to retain or bring ashore more than 2,000 pounds of the fish per trip or per day. Vessels participating in other fisheries may retain and bring ashore an incidental catch that does not exceed 2,000 pounds per trip.

Atlantic herring is a popular canned fish and is also often used as bait for lobsters.