ELLSWORTH

Police hold man in beating death of wife on Christmas

Maine State Police have arrested an Ellsworth man in the beating death of his wife on Christmas Day.

Police arrested Chris Saenz, 30, on Friday evening.

He’s charged in the death of 29-year-old Hillary Saenz, whose body was found in the couple’s apartment Wednesday afternoon after Chris Saenz called for an ambulance.

Police say an autopsy has determined that Hillary Saenz died of blunt force trauma.

Chris Saenz is expected to make his first court appearance early this week. It was not immediately known if he’s being represented by a lawyer.

WILTON

Woman dies, two others injured in head-on collision

A Maine woman died and two people have been injured in a head-on crash on Route 2 in Wilton. The accident was reported at 2:45 p.m. Friday.

Police say 61-year-old Claudette Hutchins died Friday afternoon while being taken by ambulance to the Farmington hospital.

The driver of the other vehicle, 79-year-old Richard Harvey, was flown to Central Maine Medical Center by helicopter. The single passengers in each vehicle were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police are investigating what caused the crash.

SACO

Two motorists hurt in collision on Interstate 195

Two motorists were injured in a collision on the Interstate 195 spur in Saco at about 6 p.m. Saturday, police said. Police Detective Sgt. Corey Huntress said the accident occurred when one vehicle left its lane and was traveling in the wrong lane.

Rescue crews had to use extrication equipment to remove the drivers from the cars and both suffered serious injuries, Huntress said. Both were taken to an undisclosed area hospital and no information was available on their condition at press time.

LINCOLN

LePage visits paper mill that furloughed 200 employees

Gov. Paul LePage paid a visit to a paper mill that furloughed 200 workers this month.

LePage met Friday with Lincoln Paper & Tissue Mill executives to get the latest from officials and to see what the state can do to assist.

The workers were laid off after a boiler explosion.

Keith Van Scotter, president and CEO, told WABI-TV that the governor can’t promise the moon, “but at least he came here, met with us and tried to understand what we had to do.”

The governor also visited other businesses in the area Friday, including Pelletier Manufacturing in Millinocket. He said high energy costs are hurting local companies.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.

Memorial Bridge between Maine and N.H. illuminated

In the case of the new Memorial Bridge between Maine and New Hampshire, the action and cameras came before the lights.

The $81.4 million bridge opened to much fanfare in August, replacing one that was built in 1923 and closed in 2011. On Saturday, the memorial plaque and bridge towers were to be illuminated in the first phase of a project that eventually will include software to allow for a variety of colors and effects.

Members of the Memorial Bridge Illumination Committee raised more than $200,000.

The final phase of illuminating the bridge will be adding lights to the Portsmouth and Kittery approach spans.

– From staff and news services