BANGOR

Police check on woman with apparent fetus in plastic bag

Authorities are investigating what appeared to be a fetus that a woman was carrying in a plastic bag as she walked in downtown Bangor, police said Monday.

Police confronted the woman Friday afternoon after getting a call that she had a fetus, said Sgt. Paul Edwards. What appeared to be a fetus was in a sealed plastic container the woman was carrying in a grocery bag, he said.

Nobody was arrested, and no charges have been filed.

The state medical examiner was expected to conduct an examination Tuesday to determine whether it was indeed a fetus, and if so how old it was, whether it came from a miscarriage or abortion, and who the mother is, Edwards said.

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The woman, whose identity was not made public, was interviewed and released, he said.

“When we responded she came right to the police officer and handed it over,” Edwards said. He did not elaborate. 

Hampden man sentenced for possessing child porn

A Hampden man who was on Maine’s sex offender registry for sex crimes involving a child has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison on federal charges of possession child pornography.

Walter Mosher, 65, pleaded guilty in June and has been detained since his arrest in March 2012. He was sentenced Monday.

Federal prosecutors said Mosher’s computer contained images of child pornography, specifically images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Court records say he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to download images of child pornography.

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Mosher is on the Maine Sex Offender Registry for a 1986 case that resulted in convictions in Aroostook County of gross sexual misconduct, unlawful sexual contact and sexual exploitation of a minor younger than 14.

NAPLES

Authorities identify pilot who crashed on Long Lake

Authorities have identified the pilot of a small plane that crashed on Long Lake on Saturday.

He was identified as Anthony Longley, 57, of Casco.

Damage to the plane was minimal and the pilot was not injured.

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Officials say the single-engine Cessna crashed on Long Lake when Longley tried to land.

WATERFORD

Waterford residents vote against tar sands pumping

Another Maine town has voted to oppose any move to pump tar sands oil from Montreal though northern New England.

Residents of Waterford voted 56-34 Saturday to pass a resolution opposing the transport of tar sands oil.

Waterford became the third Maine town to oppose the transport of tar sands oil through the Portland-Montreal Pipeline. A total of 7.8 miles of the pipe runs through the town, crossing the Crooked River watershed. Environmentalists say a plan is in the works to reverse the flow of the pipe that now carries oil 236 miles from Maine to Canada.

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The Sun Journal reported that opponent Paula Easton said there is “enormous” risk in moving tar sands oil. Portland Pipe Line President Larry Wilson told voters they have been given information riddled with “mistruths.”

NORRIDGEWOCK

Police say report of gunman near school was unfounded

Maine State Police say a report of a gunman that prompted dozens of state troopers, deputies and others to converge on an elementary school was unfounded.

State police said two first-graders at Mill Stream Elementary School in Norridgewock told their teacher Monday morning that they thought they saw a man dressed in dark clothing near the school and that the man might have had a rifle.

Police said the class was put into lockdown and that nearly three dozen law enforcement officials responded to the school, along with dozens of parents.

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After the pupils were interviewed, police determined that no gun had been seen. The lockdown was later lifted and parents were informed there was no threat, but many parents took their children home.

AUGUSTA

Program aims to preserve public access to private land

Maine’s wildlife department has a new program aimed at preserving and enhancing public access to private land.

People who join the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Outdoor Partners Program agree to abide by a code of ethics to respect the law, public land, landowners and the environment. They also agree to assist a landowner in the upcoming year. The cost is $15.

In return, participants receive periodic newsletters and free passes to the Maine Wildlife Park, Swan Island and the North Maine Woods, as well as discounts to retailers including the Kittery Trading Post, L.L. Bean, Cabela’s and DeLorme.

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The money helps fund law enforcement in problem areas, investigation of trespassing complaints, and educational programs designed to maintain and improve public access.

More information is available on the department’s website, www.mefishwildlife.com.

AUGUSTA

Brigadier general takes over at Maine Air National Guard

There’s a new person in charge of the Maine Air National Guard.

Brig. Gen. Gerard Bolduc of Bangor was appointed during a ceremony at the Augusta State Armory on Monday.

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Bolduc will serve as the primary adviser to the adjutant general for all Air National Guard units in Maine. He is responsible for the command, control and operations of plans and programs affecting more than 1,000 Maine Air National Guard personnel based in Augusta, Bangor and South Portland.

Bolduc’s previous assignment was as the vice commander of the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor.

He succeeds Brig. Gen. Stephen Atkinson, who is retiring.

PORTLAND

Residents get to speak on India Street neighborhood

Residents and others will have a chance to weigh in on the future of the India Street neighborhood on March 16.

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An informal open house will be held from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Maine Jewish Museum, at 267 Congress St.

Residents, business owners and visitors are invited to share their thoughts about what parts of the neighborhood should be preserved and what should change.

Brief talks about the neighborhood’s history and architecture will be given by Greater Portland Landmarks and the Portland Society of Architects.

A walking tour will also be offered, as will complimentary snacks, chocolate and hot chocolate.

The India Street neighborhood was one of 10 communities selected as centers of opportunity by Sustain Southern Maine, a $1.3 million initiative funded by a federal grant and involving 40 organizations.

Sustain Southern Maine will issue a report that will assist the city in a neighborhood-wide planning effort.

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The India Street neighborhood lies between the Old Port and Munjoy Hill. It is generally bordered by Franklin, Congress, Thames, Commercial, Fore and Mountfort streets. 

Poet laureate project seeks nominations from the public

Are you a poet?

The Portland Poet Laureate Project is seeking nominations from the public of local poets who are qualified and interested in assuming the two-year post of Portland’s fourth poet laureate.

Nominators must live in Maine, and nominees must live in Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth or any of the islands off the Portland coast.

The deadline is April 25.

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For further details, visit mainepoetrycentral.com

Water main maintenance due to begin next week

Maintenance on water mains in Raymond, Standish and Scarborough is scheduled to begin next week.

Crews will work from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays starting next Monday, according to the Portland Water District.

Once that work is finished in May, the crews will start working overnight, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday in Gorham, Cumberland, Portland and Scarborough.

The Portland Water District plans to post the location of crews on its website, www.pwd.org.

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The crews will clean the mains with water flowing in the opposite direction of the natural flow. Sediment in the mains will be released from hydrants.

The water district asks customers who notice a change in the quality of their water to call 761-8310. 

Maine bicycling advocates join Washington conference

Nine bicycling advocates from Maine are taking part in a national gathering of bike advocates in Washington, D.C.

The Maine delegation is joining more than 800 others from around the country at the National Bike Summit, an annual event put on by the League of American Bicyclists. The summit runs through Wednesday.

The Maine group’s trip is being organized by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.

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The theme of this year’s conference is “Bicycling Means Business,” which will focus on the positive economic impacts of bicycling.

The summit includes speakers, workshops and meetings with members of Congress.

Maine’s participants plan to meet with the state’s congressional delegation Wednesday.

LISBON

Police probe who flattened tires on district school buses

Police are investigating to determine who let the air out of the tires on 15 school buses, causing the local school district to cancel classes.

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Lisbon Police Chief David Brooks said classes were canceled Monday after the district’s transportation director discovered the flat tires early Monday at the district’s bus lot.

In all, police said 23 tires on 15 school buses were flattened and had come off their rims. Police don’t have any suspects.

FARMINGTON

UMaine at Farmington plans to dig 80 geothermal wells

The University of Maine at Farmington plans to dig 80 geothermal wells as part of an ongoing effort to make the campus more energy-efficient and eliminate all carbon emissions by 2035.

The Kennebec Journal reported that the board of trustees approved spending as much as $1.55 million for the project, which will be completed within the year.

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Geothermal heating and cooling systems work by using the constant temperature below the surface.

A university report said the system would reduce carbon emissions by about 354 tons a year compared with oil.

The report estimates the geothermal wells will pay for the $1.55 million cost in energy savings in eight to 10 years and will save about 28,000 gallons of oil per year.

 


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