NAPLES

Farmington man ‘critical’ after motorcycle accident

A 55-year-old Farmington man was critically injured in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon on Tricky Pond Road in Naples.

Merle P. Sweetser was operating his 2005 Harley Davidson around 3 p.m. when he apparently lost control on a curve, skidded and struck a large rock, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said. Officials believe speed was a factor in the crash.

Sweetser, who was not wearing a helmet, was transported to Maine Medical Center by Naples Fire/Rescue with a head injury officials described as life-threatening. A hospital nursing administrator said Sunday evening that Sweetser was in critical condition.

STANDISH

Fight sends one to hospital, second man to county jail

An altercation on Sunset Drive in Standish on Sunday morning sent one man to the hospital and another to jail.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a fight in progress around 11 a.m. Officials said Sebastian Kelley, 23, of Standish, apparently had gone to the residence of David Solak to collect a debt. When Kelley arrived at Solak’s residence, a fight ensued.

During the fight, Kelley allegedly picked up a piece of pavement and struck Solak over the head. Solak, 29, was transported to Maine Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Kelley was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

MILBRIDGE

Body of missing fisherman found off eastern Maine

Officials say the body of a fisherman who went missing in April has been found in the ocean off eastern Maine.

Marine Patrol Lt. Alan Talbot told the Bangor Daily News that the body of 44-year-old Alton Jellison of Milbridge was found Sunday by a tour boat off the coast of Milbridge.

Jellison and his brother, 43-year-old Jack Jellison, went missing in mid-April after heading out in a small skiff. Jack Jellison’s body was found shortly after a search began.

ORONO

New Yorkers tasting wine suited for Maine lobster

People in the Big Apple are being introduced to a wine that is specially blended to pair with Maine’s signature seafood.

A wine producer last summer introduced “Big Claw” white wine in Maine. It is made in California and designed specifically to go with lobster, with a portion of the sales going toward the research and education efforts of the University of Maine’s Lobster Institute.

The wine — with its distinctive label showing a big red lobster claw — is now being introduced to New York City, with a ceremonial first pouring taking place June 14 at Ed’s Lobster Bar. The restaurant will also serve up a five-course lobster dinner that features lobster and corn chowder, lobster ravioli and a lobster roll.

GLENBURN

Police probe burglary spree, string of vehicle thefts

Police are investigating a string of burglaries and vehicle thefts in which five homes were broken into and at least five cars stolen.

Maine State Police told WLBZ-TV that the spree started around 2:30 a.m. Saturday when two cars were stolen from a home in Glenburn that had been broken into.

Over the next seven hours, police said, four more homes were burglarized, three more cars were stolen and seven more cars were broken into in Glenburn and nearby Bangor.

Police said at one point some teenagers were spotted driving two of the stolen cars, but they managed to avoid authorities before ditching the vehicles.

LEWISTON

Bates holds graduation, awards degrees to 455

Bates College awarded degrees to 455 graduates at its 110th commencement.

Students from 28 states and 26 other countries received degrees at Sunday’s graduation ceremonies.

The college also awarded five honorary doctorates, including one to longtime television journalist Jane Pauley.

Others receiving honorary degrees were Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Elizabeth Strout, hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris, climate scientist James McCarthy and obstetrics researcher Teresa Woodruff.

BAXTER STATE PARK

Searchers hunt for man missing in state park

Crews are searching in Baxter State Park for a missing hiker from Ohio.

Park Director Jensen Bissell said park rangers, Maine Warden Service personnel and volunteers began searching Saturday for 41-year-old Michael Hays of Stow, Ohio. The search was expanded Sunday.

Hays was last seen about 2 p.m. Friday on Mount Katahdin’s Pamola Peak. Park officials launched the search after Hays failed to sign out on a hiking register and his rental car was discovered in a parking lot.

Bissell said about 40 people were searching on the ground assisted by a Maine Forest Service aircraft.

ORONO

UMaine professor honored with Seligman Crystal

The director of the University of Maine Climate Change Institute on Sunday was awarded the International Glaciological Society’s Seligman Crystal.

Paul Mayewski left last week for Tromso, Norway, to participate in the International Glaciological Symposium: Ice and Snow in the Climatic System through Friday.

Mayewski, who has led nearly 50 scientific expeditions to some of the world’s most remote locations, is believed to have traversed more of Antarctica than any other explorer in history, according to UMaine spokesman Joe Carr. He is recognized as a pioneer in the use of ice cores to study climate change through the recovery, analysis and interpretation of ice cores from locations in Antarctica, Asia and the Arctic.