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

November 22, 2012

Local & State Dispatches

From staff and news services

ALTON

Results of three autopsies now expected on Saturday

State police say autopsy results are expected Saturday in the deaths of a husband and wife and his friend in the couple's rural home.

Spokesman Steve McCausland said he initially expected the results late Wednesday afternoon, but now expects them Saturday, in the deaths of Scott Reed, 43; his wife, Danielle Folsom Reed, 39; and Daniel Young, 41, of Bradley.

The bodies were found Monday evening in the Reeds' home in Alton, a town of about 800 people north of Old Town.

Police have not said how the three were killed or offered an explanation for their deaths.

McCausland confirmed that the Reeds were estranged and said their separation likely had something to do with their deaths.

AUGUSTA

Pittsfield Democrat remains winner in House District 29

Maine election officials say Democrat Stanley Byron Short Jr. of Pittsfield remains the winner following a recount of votes in the House District 29 race.

After Tuesday's recount, Short remained the winner over Republican Robert Engelhardt Sr., also of Pittsfield. The recount determined that 1,855 votes were cast for Short, while 1,844 were cast for Engelhardt.

Twelve Maine legislative candidate recounts have now been completed, leaving one House recount and one in a county commissioner's race to be completed on Monday. 

State warning employers about identity theft scam

State labor officials are warning employers about an identity theft scam that has spread to Maine.

The Department of Labor said the scam attempts to trick employers into responding to an email made to look like it comes from a state's "Division of Unemployment Assistance."

Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette said the email asks for information about a "former employee" trying to file for unemployment benefits and directs the employer to click on a link to a website address. Once at the website, employers are asked to give personal information of former workers.

Paquette said the emails are scams and were first reported in several other states last week and have now been reported in Maine.

Paquette said Maine businesses that receive the emails should call local law enforcement.

PORTLAND

Sprinkler system credited with dousing fire in chair

Firefighters are crediting a sprinkler system in a Cumberland Avenue apartment building with putting out a fire in an overstuffed chair.

Firefighters were called to 457 Cumberland Ave., Cumberland Park Place Apartments, at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday where they found water dripping from the second floor and heavy smoke inside an apartment, said Deputy Chief Robert Wassick.

Firefighters learned that a 74-year-old woman, who was on oxygen but had turned it off, had lit a cigarette and a spark or ash fell into the chair and started the fire. She tried to stamp it out, but couldn't, Wassick said, and retreated to a neighbor's apartment.

A single sprinkler head discharged, putting out the fire and setting off an alarm that summoned firefighters, Wassick said. The woman was treated for a burn to the side of her hand, he said.

The apartment will have to be renovated because of smoke and water damage but there was no damage to other units, he said, adding that without the sprinkler system, the fire would have been much worse.

CAPE ELIZABETH

High school announces TedxYouth event Dec. 7

Cape Elizabeth High School will host a TedxYouth event for its students on Dec. 7.

"This day-long program is designed to inspire our junior and senior classes to expand their horizons as they look toward planning their lives beyond high school," Principal Jeff Shed said in a prepared statement.

TEDxYouth@CEHS will be Maine's first full-day TEDx event for students at a public high school.

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