SKOWHEGAN

Gifford’s Ice Cream repeats as champion at Dairy Expo

A Maine ice cream company has taken home the top ice cream prize at a national dairy product contest for the third straight year.

Gifford’s Ice Cream was named the Ice Cream Grand Champion at the 2012 World Dairy Expo, held earlier this month in Madison, Wis.

The Skowhegan company won the grand champion award for its vanilla bean ice cream, while also taking home awards for its French vanilla and toasted coconut ice creams, its orange sherbet and its black raspberry chocolate chip frozen yogurt.

The expo each year holds contests for a number of dairy products, including ice cream, cheese, butter, yogurt and milk.

EAST MILLINOCKET

Raye demands that Michaud remove ad from airwaves

Kevin Raye, the Republican candidate for Maine’s 2nd District seat, is demanding that U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud pull an “attack ad” that Raye claims is false and misleading.

The 31-second TV ad illustrates State House renovations, including a kitchen and lounge costing $20,000, that were done when Raye was Senate president.

Raye said Democrat Michaud’s campaign used fake photos. Raye said the only kitchen in his office is a 14-by-10-inch sink with a dorm-size refrigerator, and the “lounge” is a conference room with a table, chairs and some work stations.

The Michaud campaign told the Bangor Daily News that it stands by its advertisement, although it acknowledged that the pictures in the ad were stock photos.

MANCHESTER, N.H.

Passenger from Portland skips out on $150 taxi fare

A taxi driver who drove a man from Portland to Manchester, N.H., says the passenger skipped out on the $150 fare after pulling a gun on her.

Tina Shaw told WMUR-TV that she was driving her cab for ABC Taxi when she picked up a fare at the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Portland on Friday afternoon. She said the man asked for a ride to Manchester and she told him it would cost $150.

Shaw said that when she arrived in Manchester, her passenger pulled out a handgun and demanded money. Shaw jumped out of the taxi and ran off. She told police she looked back and saw the passenger running away from the vehicle.

The suspect didn’t get any cash — but he didn’t pay the fare.

AUGUSTA

Five Maine communities seek business-friendly label

Five more Maine towns and cities are seeking to be designated as “business-friendly” by the state.

The Department of Economic and Community Development said Ellsworth, Fairfield, Lubec, Kennebunk and Topsham are under consideration for the third round of the state’s Certified Business-Friendly Community Program. The state will announce next month who makes the cut.

The communities are evaluated on whether they have a business-friendly approach and have streamlined licensing and permitting requirements and reduced red tape. Fourteen municipalities have earned the designation since the program was launched earlier this year.

Communities deemed as business-friendly are given a certificate and a road sign to tout the award. They are also promoted by the state as being business-friendly.

Consumer bureau offers guide for financing college

Maine’s Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection is offering a new publication covering all aspects of financing a college education.

The 60-page “Downeaster Common Sense Guide to Student Loans” outlines different ways to pay for higher education, including scholarships, grants, loans and other financing methods. The seven-chapter publication also includes a glossary of terms and other things that students and parents should know.

The free guide is available on the bureau’s website, www.credit.maine.gov, or by calling the bureau at (800)-332-8529.

NEWRY

Sunday River ski resort makes first snow of season

Western Maine’s Sunday River ski resort says it has made its first snow of the season.

The Newry ski area said it made snow on one of its trails Friday night to get an early start to the season.

Dana Bullen, president and general manager, said Sunday River is committed to making snow when the temperatures make it possible.

He said the resort has opened for limited skiing before Halloween for five years in a row.

BRENTWOOD, N.H.

Woman headed for prison on animal abuse charges

A 35-year-old woman is going to prison for four to eight years in what the judge called the worst animal abuse case she’s ever seen.

Jamie Labbe was sentenced Friday in Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood.

Labbe was previously convicted of attempted cruelty to animals and criminal mischief charges for forcing metal objects, including a cigarette lighter and a shower head, down the throats of two dogs as a way to seek revenge against her boyfriend while they were living together in Sandown. One of the dogs died.

The Eagle-Tribune reported that Judge Marguerite Wageling expressed concerns that Labbe posed a danger to the community.