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

August 4, 2012

Dispatches

From staff and news services

BOOTHBAY HARBOR

Trustees approve proposal to close emergency room

A plan to close the emergency room at St. Andrews Hospital in Boothbay Harbor has been approved.

The plan was approved Thursday by the board of trustees of the small hospital's parent company.

James Donovan, president and CEO of Lincoln County Healthcare, said the hospital isn't treating enough patients to warrant keeping the emergency room open. The hospital averages about 11 patients a day in the emergency room.

The emergency room will be replaced by a daytime urgent care center. The change will take effect in April and eliminate 50 jobs.

Residents who need emergency care are expected to go about 20 miles away to Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.

A spokesman for the Maine Hospital Association said the issues at St. Andrews affect other rural hospitals in the state.

EASTPORT

First of five cruise ships visits easternmost U.S. city

Eastport got its first visit from a cruise ship on Friday.

The visit by Blount Small Ship Adventure Line ship was the first of five scheduled visits in Eastport through the fall.

Maine's economic development office said the visits to Eastport are likely to bolster the $35 million economic impact of the cruise ship industry on the state.

America's easternmost city was so excited about Friday's visit that it trained local volunteer "ambassadors" to greet the dozens of passengers and crew members as they stepped off the ship. Many local businesses offered special tours, discounts and presentations.

Two more cruise ships are scheduled to arrive, on Aug. 15 and 26; and two other maiden voyages will arrive in Eastport, in September and October.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Bay State man arrested for fake $20 bills, drugs

A Massachusetts man who is suspected of passing counterfeit $20 bills faces felony forgery charges as well as drug charges.

Old Orchard Beach police arrested Fernando Paniss III, 41, of Milford, Mass., on Thursday after a clerk suspected he had tried to use three fake $20 bills at Palace Playland.

Police found Paniss nearby, based on a description given by the clerk, said Deputy Police Chief Keith Babin. Paniss had four counterfeit $20s, as well as white powder that turned out to be cocaine, and seven Percocet pills that were not prescribed for him.

Paniss is charged with aggravated forgery and two counts of drug possession. He was held in the York County Jail after he failed to make $5,000 bail.

EAST MILLINOCKET

Startup of second machine to restore 37 paper mill jobs

Great Northern Paper Co. plans to start up a second paper machine at its mill in East Millinocket, restoring 37 jobs there.

Company President and CEO Richard Cyr told the Bangor Daily News that the goal is to go into production by the first week of September. Cyr said the company already is advertising for experienced pulp and paper workers.

When the mill reopened in October, 215 employees were put back to work. Since then, Great Northern Paper has hired an additional 20 workers. It will nearly match that increase in the coming weeks.

In nearby Millinocket's Great Northern mill, which closed in 2008, Cate Street Capital's Thermogen Industries LLC subsidiary is planning a wood pellet production facility. The company wants to produce about 110,000 tons a year for sale in Europe.

MEXICO

State police seek local man to question in fatal shooting

Maine State Police are seeking a man from the western town of Mexico for questioning in a fatal shooting.

Thomas Joudrey, 30, was shot in the head early on July 24 at a trailer in Mexico's Riverside Park and died two days later, after being removed from life support.

(Continued on page 2)

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