PORTLAND

FDA: Portland Shellfish to stop shipping some products

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Upper Guinea Road in Lebanon was shut down for about 20 minutes Thursday morning after an excavator slid off a trailer and tipped over, landing on the side of the road. Lebanon Rescue Department photo

The Food and Drug Administration says Portland Shellfish Co. has agreed to stop shipping ready-to-eat lobster, shrimp and crab products.

The FDA said Portland Shellfish officials signed a consent decree, approved Thursday by a federal judge, that arose from an inspection last year that revealed listeria contamination at a processing plant and in a ready-to-eat product. The bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

The FDA said the company ships its products to retailers in Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Washington, New Jersey and Louisiana. It has been the subject of four recalls in the past two years.

The consent decree calls for the FDA to approve various plans to ensure product safety. A message left with the company’s general manager wasn’t immediately returned Thursday evening.

Organizer of elected mayor movement now a candidate

The man who led the effort to establish a popularly elected mayor in Portland is now a candidate for the job.

Jed Rathband, who ran the committee that campaigned for the city charter change, said he filed papers to register as a candidate on Thursday. Charles Bradgon and Zouhair Bouzrara also have registered as candidates.

Candidates can’t start circulating petitions to get on the ballot until July 1, but the registration allows them to set up campaign committees, start raising money and take other steps to prepare for a race. Ballot petitions, which require at least 300 signatures, must be returned by Aug. 29.

In November, Portland voters decided to make the mayor popularly elected, with a four-year term and a full-time salary. Under the previous charter, mayors – including the current officeholder, Nicholas Mavodones – were city councilors who were elected by the council for a one-year term in what was considered a part-time position.

Two Mainers among winners in Audio Slam radio contest

Last weekend’s Audio Slam contest, held during the Great Northeast Radio Rally, produced four winners. Taking first place was AJ Frazier of Radio Rookies in New York. Second place went to Vikky Cruz, also of Radio Rookies. Third was Patrick Presby of Blunt Youth Radio in Portland. Fourth place went to Jesse Newcomb, an independent producer based in Portland.

Twenty-six contestants entered the Audio Slam, which was run in a format similar to a poetry slam and held at Space Gallery in Portland. Participants submitted four minutes of produced audio and played it live in a series of one-minute rounds.

The audio clips were judged by Josie Huang, a reporter for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network; Bill Nemitz, columnist for The Portland Press Herald: Paul Santomenna, founder of Strategic Narratives; Kerry Donahue, an assistant professor at the Columbia School of Journalism; and Suzi Piker, an online content producer at The Portland Press Herald.

The slam and rally were hosted by the Blunt Youth Radio Project, which produces a weekly public affairs program that airs on WMPG.

FALMOUTH

Pleasant Hill fire station, closed in 2009, is for sale

The town of Falmouth has finally put its oldest fire station up for sale.

The Pleasant Hill Fire Station at 44 Allen Avenue Ext. has been listed for $190,000, although the assessed value of the land and building is $343,000.

Fire Chief Howard Rice said the fire station, which was built in 1923, was taken out of service in July 2009 as part of a trial run by the Town Council to save money. Councilors later decided to close the station permanently.

The neighborhood, which abuts North Deering and the area covered by Portland’s Engine 4 Co., has generated a minimal number of calls since it was closed, with Portland’s fire company responding to many of them.

“It has been working out well,” Rice said.

The deadline for offers is April 7. Two open houses have been scheduled – Feb. 1 at noon, and Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. The property has been listed by the Boulos Company.

AUGUSTA

LePage permits oil delivery drivers to stay out longer

Gov. Paul LePage has signed an emergency order to allow heating oil delivery drivers to be on the road longer to make sure homes stay warm during some of the coldest days of the winter.

LePage said the emergency proclamation signed Thursday will allow the Department of Transportation to grant a waiver to permit delivery drivers to stay out longer.

But LePage also wants to remind drivers who pick up extra hours to stay safe on the roads.

The order will stay active for 10 days or until the governor declares the end of the emergency.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Pingree granted request to serve on two committees

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree says she will serve on the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees during this congressional session. The Maine Democrat says she requested both assignments.

It will be Pingree’s second term on the Armed Services Committee, which will address issues such as defense spending and the war in Afghanistan. Her subcommittee assignments to Personnel and Seapower will deal with Navy shipbuilding jobs and other matters.

This will be Pingree’s first term on the Agriculture Committee. The appointment drew support from Russell Libby, president of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.

BANGOR

Turkey hunter gets 30 days after shooting fellow hunter

A Maine man who shot and injured a fellow turkey hunter last May is going to jail for 30 days.

A judge on Thursday imposed a 60-day sentence but suspended half of it. Joel Susen, 29, of Lincoln must begin serving his sentence this weekend.

The Bangor Daily News says Susen told the judge he mistook the victim for a turkey, and he asked that the victim and others find it in their hearts to forgive him.

He pleaded no contest to assault while hunting.

Adam Jewell, 30, of LaGrange lost an eye and still has pellets imbedded in his face, neck and torso.

AUGUSTA

Judge allows Maine to join suit on health care overhaul

Federal judge Roger Vinson in Florida has accepted an amended petition that includes the six additional states – Maine, Ohio, Kansas, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Iowa – in a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

Maine Attorney General William Schneider said the cost of joining the Florida lawsuit against President Obama’s health care overhaul is “negligible.”

He said all citizens should have access to “good quality and affordable health care.” But he said “the repairs to the system cannot be based on an unconstitutional foundation.”

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