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

September 14, 2012

Dispatches

From staff and news services

GREENVILLE JUNCTION

First-time bear hunter bags record 699-pounder

Maine officials say a hunter has shot a record large bear in Greenville Junction.

The 699-pound bear broke a nearly 20-year record.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says the bear was shot by Matt Knox, of Waynesboro, Pa., who visited the state last week for his first bear hunt.

The previous record-holder was a 680-pound bear taken in 1993.

State biologists have predicted a strong season for bear hunters. Officials now say this year's dryness and lack of berry and nut crops might mean that bigger bears will be searching of food.

BRIDGTON

Lake Region High senior identified as crash victim

Authorities have identified the Lake Region High School student who died in a single car crash last week on Kansas Road in Bridgton.

Austin J. Sloat, a senior at the school, was killed in the Sept. 5 crash.

Kathleen Beecher, superintendent of schools for School Administrative District 61, said high school students held a moment of silence last Friday for the 17-year-old.

Beecher said a celebration of Sloat's life was held Tuesday at the Crooked River School in Casco. Beecher said family and friends have erected a memorial cross at the crash site.

Bridgton Police Chief Kevin Schofield could not be reached but Schofield told the Bridgton News that the investigation into the crash is not complete.

Schofield told the newspaper that a second vehicle has been impounded by police. The chief would not elaborate.

A press release issued by Bridgton police said that excessive speed contributed to the accident, which took place at 2:15 p.m.

WINDHAM

Businessman, NASCAR fan humanitarian award finalist

The owner of Windham Automotive is a finalist for a humanitarian award from the NASCAR Foundation for his work raising money for Camp Sunshine in Casco.

Ronald Eby, 53, of Windham was one of four finalists selected for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award for NASCAR fans who help children through charity work in their communities.

For being a finalist, he received $25,000 for his chosen charity, Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Eby, whose daughter contracted meningitis when she was 2 years old and recovered, started raising money for Camp Sunshine by selling Mexican food off a flatbed truck at Windham's Summerfest.

He since has inspired others to raise money for the charity.

The winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 2 at a banquet in Las Vegas and will receive $100,000 for a charity.

To learn more about the finalists and vote for a winner, visit nascar.com/award.

BANGOR

Accused in hit-run fatality pleads not guilty to charges

A Brewer woman has pleaded not guilty to striking and killing a pedestrian with her car in Bangor, then driving away from the scene.

Patricia Giles remains free on $10,000 bail after entering her plea Wednesday to charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and falsifying evidence.

Police say Giles, 51, struck and killed Joshua Constantine, 37, of Bangor as he was crossing Main Street about 10:30 p.m. June 2. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Giles then allegedly drove away before turning herself into police about a week later.

Her lawyer says she was shaken up by the incident. Prosecutors say there is no evidence she was driving impaired and no evidence of negligence. 

Maine hospitals to feel impact of Medicare cuts

Maine's hospitals could lose hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs if proposed federal cuts are made.

The Maine Hospital Association said Wednesday that Medicare cuts called for under the federal deficit reduction plan would cost Maine $21 million and nearly 3,000 jobs in 2013. The cuts are scheduled to continue until 2021.

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