BANGOR

Felon drove drunk, had rifle, endangered child, police say

A grandmother from Alton is charged with being drunk and carrying an illegal gun while her 7-year-old grandson was in the front seat of her vehicle.

Authorities said an off-duty police officer pulled over a car driven by Cynthia Faulkner, 48, on Interstate 395 at about 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 after seeing the vehicle driving erratically.

Police said Faulkner appeared drunk.

Police told the Bangor Daily News they found a .30-caliber semi-automatic M1 carbine rifle in the backseat under a blanket.

Faulkner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, driving with a suspended driver’s license, endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor operating under the influence.

PORTLAND

Elite Airways wants to start nonstop flight to Melbourne

A new airline is looking to create nonstop service from several New England airports to Florida after receiving certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Based in Portland, Elite Airways hopes to establish nonstop regional jet service between Portland International Jetport and Melbourne International Airport in Florida.

Bryan Glazer, a company spokesman, said the airline is also looking at service to Portsmouth, N.H., Worcester, Mass., and possibly upstate New York cities, including Niagara Falls and Plattsburgh.

Glazer said the goal is to link those cities with nonstop service to Melbourne, which he described as an alternative to busier airports in Orlando and Palm Beach. He said the service would start with 50-seat regional jets, and use bigger aircraft if there’s demand.

 Supreme Court recognizes lawyers for pro bono work

Maine’s highest court is giving thanks to lawyers who are generous in giving free legal services.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court held a recognition ceremony in Portland on Monday for lawyers from southern and central Maine who gave 50 or more hours of free legal services in the past year for low-income and elderly residents.

The court will hold another ceremony in Bangor on Wednesday, and one in Machias on Friday. The court held an event in Biddeford last month recognizing lawyers from York County for their pro bono contributions.

Chief Justice Leigh Saufley said Maine lawyers rank second in the nation for the amount of free legal service they give. 

SKOWHEGAN

Police looking for girl, 15, who was last seen Oct. 25

Authorities were looking Tuesday for a 15-year-old Skowhegan girl who has been missing since late October.

Police told the Morning Sentinel that Samantha Quimby was last seen at her mother’s home on Oct. 25, hours after police tracked her down after she allegedly ran away from a foster home.

Police said they are concerned because Quimby is under a protection-from-abuse order issued last week following a request from the Department of Health and Human Services. The order names a relative who is not supposed to have contact with her.

She was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a purple zip-up sweatshirt. She weighs about 100 pounds and has long blond hair.

Anyone who sees her is asked to call police.

AUGUSTA

State won’t prosecute priest accused of embezzlement

The Maine Attorney General’s Office said it won’t prosecute a northern Maine priest following allegations of possible embezzlement of parish funds.

The Roman Catholic Diocese announced in April that the Rev. James Nadeau had taken a leave from the St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent pending an investigation by the attorney general. The nature of the investigation wasn’t disclosed, but Nadeau’s attorneys said it didn’t involve allegations of sexual impropriety.

In a letter to Bishop Richard Malone, Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin said Monday there’s insufficient evidence to initiate a criminal prosecution.

Malone said although Nadeau won’t be prosecuted, a financial audit of the parish revealed a number of problems and lack of compliance with diocesan policies. Malone said Nadeau will remain on leave until Malone decides how to proceed.

Maine Guard’s No. 2 retiring after 32-year military career

The Maine National Guard’s No. 2 commander is hanging up his uniform.

Brig. Gen. Donald McCormack is stepping down as Maine’s assistant adjutant general, air. His retirement marks the end of a 32-year military career that began after his 1980 graduation from the Air Force Academy.

McCormack came to Maine in 1991 and has served as the state’s assistant adjutant general since April 2011.

He’s being replaced by Col. John Derrico, who is commander of the 101st Air Refueling Wing.

Ethics panel rules candidate violated state election law

Maine’s ethics commission has ruled that a Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives and his campaign treasurer violated state election law when the treasurer spent money on the candidate’s behalf through an outside group.

The commission on Monday held off on assessing penalties pending further investigation.

The commission met in a special session Monday after the Maine Democratic Party filed a complaint alleging illegal coordination between the campaign for Mike Nadeau of Fort Kent and an outside group that spent nearly $1,500 on his behalf. Nadeau’s campaign treasurer, Philip Soucy, is also treasurer for that group, Citizens for Effective Government.

The Bangor Daily News reported that Soucy denied any coordination.

Nadeau challenged Democratic Rep. John Martin of Eagle Lake for an Aroostook County seat.

 

WESTBROOK

Sunday’s Guy & Ralna show canceled, to be rescheduled

Sunday’s scheduled concert by Guy & Ralna of TV’s “The Lawrence Welk Show” has been postponed, and may be rescheduled next year.

The concert was scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, as a benefit for the Frannie Peabody Center, an HIV/AIDS service organization in Portland. Tickets were priced at $45 to $55.

Officials at the Frannie Peabody Center said they were notified Monday that the show would not be held. A publicist for the singers said the reason for the postponement was expected travel problems caused by Superstorm Sandy.

Box office staff at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, where the tickets were being sold, began contacting ticket buyers Tuesday about refunds. Customers with questions about the tickets or refunds can call the box office, PortTix, at 842-0800.

A publicist for Guy and Ralna said Tuesday that the show will be rescheduled for 2013, but no specific date has been set.

 

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