HARPSWELL

Bowdoinham man charged in burglary, theft of drugs

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Police say Michael Blasingame of Bowdoin was wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife when he broke into a woman's home in Harpswell on June 11 and stole her prescription painkiller.

A man from Bowdoinham has been arrested and charged with breaking into a home, knocking the 77-year-old homeowner to the ground and stealing her medication.

Michael Blasingame, 25, was charged Wednesday with robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and unauthorized taking, said the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. He was held on $50,000 cash bail.

The sheriff’s department said the suspect was wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife when he broke into the woman’s home in Harpswell on June 11 and stole her prescription painkiller.

The woman was treated for a cut hand that she suffered during the altercation.

TOWNSHIP 27

Searchers recover body of man who fell from boat

Game wardens say the body of a boater who was knocked into Big Lake in eastern Maine last weekend has been recovered.

The body of Scott James, 40, of Princeton was found Wednesday morning.

James’ body was found after the Maine Warden Service and volunteers resumed the search at 5 a.m. Wednesday, after suspending it Tuesday night because of darkness. The body was on the water’s surface about 300 yards off Greenlaw Island.

Scott was boating with a 16-year-old family member Saturday afternoon when a wave hit the boat, knocking him into the water.

AUGUSTA

Group from Montenegro gets emergency training

The Maine Emergency Management Agency is hosting a delegation from the eastern European country of Montenegro for emergency response and management training.

The agency says the delegation from Montenegro started two days of training on Wednesday in Augusta and South Portland.

The sessions are part of a Maine National Guard program that pairs foreign governments with states to improve military and civilian relations.

GORHAM

Fraternity to lose house over taxes, code violations

The Town Council has decided to seize a fraternity house that has more than $27,000 in unpaid property taxes and serious code violations.

The council voted 5-1 Tuesday to seize the fraternity house at 27 Preble St., owned by Gamma Omega Phi Kappa Sigma Inc. Councilor Noah Miner cast the dissenting vote. Councilor Phil Csoros was absent.

Students have until July 30 to find other living arrangements.

Town Manager David Cole said the fraternity owes $27,143 in property taxes. The Fire Department inspected the property on June 2 and found code violations including mold in a bedroom, a rotten floor, and several rooms without smoke detectors.

Cole said police have received 149 complaints related to the property since 2005 and have gone to the house 38 times.

BRUNSWICK

Conservation easement protects 54 acres on bay

A conservation easement will help protect 54 acres of what the Maine Coast Heritage Trust considers “significant wildlife habitat” along Maquoit Bay.

Susan Laskey, who owns the land, said the easement will let her family continue to farm the property while preserving land where wading birds, ducks and migrating shorebirds feed and rest.

The property includes 2,000 feet of tidal frontage.

The Maine Coast Heritage Trust said the easement will help maintain the health of the bay’s mud flats.

Two adjacent parcels have been conserved. One of the parcels is a 124-acre public preserve owned by the town of Brunswick.

The easement was prepared with help from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a statewide land conservation organization.

LINCOLNVILLE

Young winemakers win national challenge

The Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville has won a Double Gold medal in the NextGen Wine Competition for Millennial Winemakers.

The winery’s Artist Series Grenache won the medal in the “Young Winemaker’s Challenge,” which was limited to wines made by people ages 21 to 35.

The judging was held June 14 in Santa Rosa, Calif.

The competition attempts to answer the question “What do young wine drinkers want?”

The judges, all in the 21-35 age range, included chefs, sommeliers, wine educators and wine bloggers.

PORTLAND

Sewer project to delay Washington Avenue traffic

Construction on a combined sewer overflow abatement project is expected to cause traffic delays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the intersection of Bernard Road and Washington Avenue.

City officials say there will be limited access on Bernard Road and commuters should use Mona Road to enter or leave the neighborhood.

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