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

September 6, 2012

Dispatches

From staff and news services

BRIDGTON

Police suspect excessive speed contributed to fatal accident

Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred Wednesday afternoon on Kansas Road.

Police Chief Kevin Scholfield said the crash, around 2:15 p.m., involved a single motor vehicle and a lone occupant. Scholfield would not release the person's identity until relatives had been notified.

Police said it appears that excessive speed contributed to the crash, which is being investigated by a reconstruction specialist from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.

MOUNT VERNON

Vehicle hits lawn tractor, killing 76-year-old operator

A 76-year-old apple orchard owner from Mount Vernon was killed when the lawn tractor he was riding was hit from behind by a car.

Police said Manley Damren was riding the small tractor along the side of the road near Mount Nebo Orchard just after 5 p.m. Tuesday when he was struck.

The impact threw Damren off the tractor, and he hit the car and ended up on the side of the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The mower was pushed into the woods.

Police said it was raining lightly at the time and there is a slight curve in the road. The man driving the car, Charles Morse, 60, was not injured.

Police said the crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed.

AUGUSTA

Maine National Guard colonel wins unanimous endorsement

A legislative panel has voted unanimously to endorse Maine National Guard Col. James Campbell to serve as the state guard's adjutant general and commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management.

That and dozens of other nominations by Gov. Paul LePage face final confirmation votes Thursday by the Senate. But committee approvals are rarely overturned.

In his testimony before the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee's 12-0 vote Wednesday, Campbell acknowledged that the roles and functions of the National Guard "have evolved tremendously over the past 20 years."

Campbell joined the Maine Army National Guard in 1995 after nine years of active duty service. He has held a number of positions in the Guard, including assistant professor of military science in the University of Maine Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Award will recognize senator's Freedom of Information work

A state senator from Bucksport is to receive the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition's annual Sunshine Award for his efforts to keep government information open and accessible to the public.

Sen. Richard Rosen is being recognized for his efforts in his role as Senate chairman of the budget-reviewing Appropriations Committee. Rosen, a Republican, was instrumental in securing funding for an ombudsman's position in the state Attorney General's Office to handle complaints about implementation of Maine's open access law.

Rosen also sponsored legislation to clarify procedures for public information requests and to require each government agency to appoint and train an employee to be its "public access officer."

Rosen is to receive the coalition's 2012 Sunshine Award at a news conference Thursday at the State House.

Man, 28, faces felony charge of assaulting 4-year-old girl

An Augusta man has been charged with striking a 4-year-old girl he was supposed to be caring for and holding a blanket to her throat so tightly that it left marks.

Brent Ryan Lavallee was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail at a hearing Tuesday in Kennebec County Superior Court on a charge of felony assault.

Police said Lavallee, 28, was taking care of the girl Aug. 30 when he struck her and gave her a black eye, and left marks on her neck.

(Continued on page 2)

Tweet