WATERVILLE

Funeral arrangements for fallen soldier still incomplete

Funeral arrangements had not been finalized Sunday for fallen Army Spc. Wade A. Slack of Waterville.

Slack, 21, was killed Thursday in Jaghatu, Afghanistan, by “indirect fire” from a rocket or mortar fired by insurgents, the Department of Defense said.

Rick Hussey, a bartender at The Last Unicorn in Waterville, where Slack worked on and off as a cook from 2005 to 2007, said Slack’s relatives and friends gathered at the restaurant during the day Sunday. Slack’s brothers and sisters also have worked at the restaurant.
Hussey said funeral arrangements had not been made yet.

Slack’s remains were flown to the United States on Saturday night, touching down about 7:30 p.m. at Dover AFB in Delaware.
Slack, who attended Waterville Senior High School from 2003 to 2007, specialized in defusing explosives with the Army’s 707th Ordnance Battalion.

He enlisted in the Army on Sept. 1, 2006, and reported to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic training on July 11, 2007.

He was the son of Alan and Rose Slack of Waterville and Mary Slack of Waterville.

AUGUSTA

Augusta man dies after being pinned under tractor

An Augusta man was killed Sunday when the tractor he was riding overturned on a hill.

Armand Dostie, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, said Sgt. Christopher Massey of the Augusta police.

The accident occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. outside Dostie’s home at 945 West River Road.

Dostie was using the tractor, a large John Deere with a bucket loader, to mow his lawn, Massey said. The tractor overturned on a steep hill and rolled about 30 feet down the embankment.

“He was pinned under the tractor,” Massey said.

The tractor’s roll bar was not upright after the crash. Massey said he was unsure whether Dostie was using the tractor with the bar in the lowered position or the bar was bent during the accident.

“He was just out here mowing his lawn,” Massey said. “He does it often.”

PORTLAND

Man charged with assault after death of city resident

A 50-year-old man is under arrest on assault charges following the death of a Portland man Friday.

Police arrested Ernest B. Weidul, who is a transient, about 9 p.m. Saturday after he was pulled over and charged with operating with a suspended license.

Police were looking for Weidul in connection with the death of Roger Downs Jr., 46, of 635 Forest Ave.

Police said Weidul asssaulted Downs on Wednesday. Downs did not report the attack until Thursday, they said.

He was taken to Mercy Hospital, where he died Friday night.

Jetport gets federal grant for heating system upgrade

The city of Portland is getting a $2.5 million federal grant just as the Portland International Jetport embarks on a major expansion project.

U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, who announced the grant, said the low-emission heating system will help improve air quality for passengers and airport employees while reducing the use of conventional fuels.

The city last week marked the formal groundbreaking of a $75 million expansion at the jetport.