Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

December 5, 2012

Local & State Dispatches

Body may be convicted killer's victim / Police release sketch of suspect in West End assault / $70 million contract for BIW announced ... and other news from around the state.

From staff and news services

LISBON

Police say body may be convicted killer’s victim

State police say the body of a woman found in the woods in Lisbon may be that of Christiana Fesmire, who has been missing since last year.

Buddy Robinson of Lewiston was convicted last month in Fesmire’s murder. He has not yet been sentenced.

Robinson and Fesmire, 22, lived in different units of the same building when she disappeared in July 2011.

Maine State Police said the remains were discovered Tuesday near the intersection of Wagg and Ferry roads.

The body will be taken to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for identification.

BATH

Collins, Pingree announce $70 million contract for BIW

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine announced Tuesday that Bath Iron Works has been given a $70 million contract that will enable it to continue to design, plan and modernize the Navy’s warships for at least another year.

The contract affects BIW’s work on DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, which began in 1989, and on FFG-7 Oliver Perry-class guided-missile frigates, a program that was launched in 1975.

“This contract represents $70 million of work at the yard next year, which is important to keep some of the best shipbuilders in the world on the job,” Pingree said in a prepared statement.

“It also represents the Navy’s continuing commitment to the surface fleet, which is crucial for the future of the Navy and for our national security,” Collins said.

PORTLAND

Police release sketch of man sought in West End assault

Police have released a sketch of a man being sought in connection with an attack in the city’s West End last month.

Police say a man ran up to a woman on Vaughn Street near Western Cemetery at 10 p.m. on Nov. 17, knocked her to the ground and assaulted her.

The woman described her attacker as a black man, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 and weighing 170 to 180 pounds. He was wearing a dark knit watch cap, a dark jacket and jeans, police said.

The woman was taken to the hospital, treated for injuries and released.

Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call 874-8533.

Lt. Scott Pelletier said it appeared to be an isolated incident and there has not been an increase in suspicious activity in the West End.

Diocese in ‘full compliance’ with charter on sex abuse

An independent review of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland shows that the diocese is in “full compliance” with the church’s charter to protect minors from sexual abuse by the clergy.

Dave Guthro, a spokesman for the diocese, said the annual audit found that all diocesan employees and active clergy had been subject to criminal background checks and that employees were implementing programs to protect children from abuse. The audit was conducted by StoneBridge Business Partners of Rochester, N.Y.

“We are 100 percent compliant in all areas of the audit, which was a three-day, thorough, on-site review by independent auditors,” said Bishop Richard Malone in a news release.

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was approved by the U.S. Catholic Bishops in June 2002.

Its mandates include procedures to remove clergy members or church employees who have sexually abused minors, and the reporting of all allegations of sexual abuse to authorities.

OXFORD

Casino’s six-month take: $30 million in net revenue

Oxford Casino executives say the facility has taken in more than $30 million in net revenue in the six months since it opened, but expansion plans remain uncertain.

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