CARMEL

Anxious petitioners want section of Route 2 repaired

Almost 1,800 people who drive U.S. Route 2 every day between the Maine communities of Bangor and Newport say the highway is “an accident waiting to happen” and they’ve signed a petition demanding improvements.

Carmel Town Manager Tom Richmond says he plans to present the petition to officials from the Maine Department of Transportation and to members of the region’s legislative delegation.

Department of Transportation Regional Engineer John Devin says officials are aware of the problems on Route 2, but there’s no money to fix them.

Devin tells the Bangor Daily News one estimate for improvements to the 14.5-mile stretch of Route 2 would probably cost $27 million.

PORTLAND

Nominations being sought for Register of Big Trees

Maine forestry officials are looking for a few big trees.

The Maine Forest Service is taking nominations through Dec. 31 for its 2011-12 Maine Register of Big Trees, which lists the largest known specimens of each tree type in the state. The forest service has been compiling the register since 1968.

The current edition has 159 trees, representing 149 tree species. But at least four of those trees have died, including the giant elm in Yarmouth nicknamed “Herbie” that was cut down this year.

Candidates are measured by state foresters and given a score based on height, circumference and average crown spread.

Visit http://projectcanopy.maine.gov for more information.

WATERVILLE

Chief says man hit by train may have consumed alcohol

Police say alcohol may have played a role in the death of a 26-year-old man who was struck and killed by a train in central Maine.

Police say Christopher Bourisk of Winthrop was stuck by a Pan Am Railways freight train in Winthrop at about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Winthrop Police Chief Joe Young tells the Kennebec Journal that Bourisk may have been drinking before he was killed.