BIDDEFORD

Mayor chastises state Senate, vows ongoing push for racino

Mayor Joanne Twomey said Friday that she is disappointed by Tuesday’s Senate vote against a bill to allow racinos in Biddeford and Calais.

She said, “The entire delegation turned their backs on the 59 percent of voters” in Biddeford who supported the racino in a referendum in November.

The bill, L.D. 1203, would have changed state law to allow the facility with harness racing and slot machines.

Twomey spoke on the steps of City Hall in front of more than two dozen supporters of the Biddeford Downs proposal, a partnership between Scarborough Downs and Ocean Properties Ltd. She thanked Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, for supporting the bill, but admonished representatives and senators who voted it down.

She then led the crowd of city officials, local business people, residents and members of the harness racing industry in a chant: “We are in it to win it.”

The measure’s failure in the Senate, on a 19-15 vote, means it will go on the statewide ballot this fall.

“We are open for business and we will do everything we can to make sure this vote passes in November,” Twomey said.

BANGOR

Fireworks, Hollywood Slots bills signed by governor

Gov. Paul LePage signed two bills into law Friday along the Bangor waterfront.

One of the bills legalizes the sale and use of fireworks. The bill, which includes restrictions, won’t take effect in time for this July 4th holiday.

The second bill permits an expansion of gaming at the Hollywood Slots racino in Bangor. If Penobscot County’s voters approve, table games will be allowed at Hollywood Slots.

Both will take effect Jan. 1.

Gregory Campbell sworn in as Maine District Court judge

Gov. Paul LePage administered the oath of office Friday to his first judicial appointment, Gregory Campbell, to the Maine District Court.

Campbell, of Hampden, has been an assistant district attorney for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. The Bates College and the University of Maine School of Law graduate also was an assistant attorney general and assistant U.S. attorney. He has served several years in private practice, as well.

LePage expects to make his next judicial nomination in September, for a Superior Court vacancy. Judicial nominees must be reviewed by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee and need confirmation by the Senate.

Homeless man off the hook in theft-of-services case

Prosecutors have declined to pursue charges against a homeless man in Bangor who helped himself to an outdoor electrical outlet to charge a pair of cellphones.

Police charged Shaun Fawster, 23, last weekend with theft of services after an officer caught him charging phones on an outlet hidden behind some flowers. He was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon after the officer found a folding knife tucked under his shirt.

But Susan J. Pope, assistant district attorney, said prosecutors declined to pursue the case. Fawster, who’s a transient with no known address, couldn’t be reached for comment.

LYMAN

Sheriff: Use of deadly force justified in Landry shooting

York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette said he’s confident that a man who was shot to death by a deputy would have harmed officers or family members if deputies had not responded the way they did.

Ouellette on Friday announced the completion of an internal investigation into the fatal shooting of Andrew Landry, 22, on Jan. 15 in Lyman. The attorney general had already concluded that the deputy who shot Landry three times was justified in using deadly force.

The attorney general’s report indicated that Landry had been acting strangely at a relative’s home. He charged at one of the deputies while holding a pair of knives after being hit with a Taser.

Ouellette said encounters with unstable people represent “one of our greatest challenges.” He said the review indicates the department’s training and policies are sound.

PORTLAND

LePage to speak at forum on breaking cycle of poverty

Gov. Paul LePage will share his personal story of rising above poverty during a community forum hosted by LearningWorks on Wednesday at the Dana Health Education Center at Maine Medical Center.

The event, starting at 11:30 a.m., will be the third in a series of Community Conversations hosted by the social service agency.

LePage, who grew up in poverty with little family support, will be the keynote speaker. His story is expected to illuminate a panel discussion of ways to help people break out of poverty.

Panelists will include Suzanne McCormick, head of the United Way of Greater Portland; Vincent Conti, former head of Maine Medical Center; Cielle Pomerleau, a LearningWorks student; and Jeanne Whynot-Vickers, director of education at LearningWorks. Wright Express is the event’s primary sponsor.

Seating is limited and reservations are required for the event at 22 Bramhall St.

Call 775-0105 for more information.

YORK

Sixteen youths face alcohol charges after backyard party

Sixteen young people from Somerville, Mass., were charged with illegal possession of alcohol early Friday after police broke up a backyard party at a home on Gunnison Road.

A neighbor called police at 2:40 a.m. to report yelling and swearing nearby, according to a news release. When police responded, they found a large group of people around a fire pit with open containers of alcoholic beverages in clear view, police said.

Sixteen people were found to have been drinking and were under the legal drinking age of 21, police said. All were charged with possession of alcohol by a minor.

Eleven were adults: Mitchell Mello, 18; Patrick Tracy, 18; Jennifer Maillet, 18; Sammy Evers, 18; Casey Kotzuba, 20; Michael McMahon, 18; Samuel Post, 20; Michael Sampson, 19; Michael Stanton, 20; Sean Post, 19, and Fabio Dassantos, 18.

Five people younger than 18 were detained at the scene and released to parents or guardians, police said.

The adults are scheduled to appear in York County District Court on Sept. 8. The minors are scheduled to appear on Sept. 12.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Barbecue, museum opening to highlight July 4 event

The South Portland Historical Society will host a daylong event Monday at Bug Light Park.

The Fourth of July celebration will include live music, old-fashioned games, kite displays and a barbecue fundraiser. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with the opening of the museum at the park, which will be free to the public.

The barbecue fundraiser will begin at 11 a.m., with proceeds to benefit the historical society’s museum. The bluegrass string band Tricky Britches will play starting at 11 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m. there will be a ribbon-cutting for the museum’s engraved brick walkway. John Kierstead, in full costume as Benjamin Franklin, will read the Declaration of Independence at noon.

Sack races, three-legged races and other games will begin at 1:30 p.m. At 2 p.m., Weathervane Seafoods will present Lobster Lore, an education program for kids.

YARMOUTH

Rollover on I-295 causes minor injuries, stalls traffic

Two women escaped serious injury when the car they were in rolled over on Interstate 295 southbound in Yarmouth on Friday.

The accident occurred about 8:25 a.m. near mile marker 16.

State police say Christina Seeley, 25, of Freeport lost control while changing lanes. The Subaru rolled at least twice. Both Seeley and her passenger, Christina Wayashe, were wearing seat belts. Wayashe was taken to the hospital for minor injuries, police said.

Traffic was backed up into Freeport for about 45 minutes before both lanes were opened to traffic.

AUGUSTA

Police add patrols to deal with holiday weekend traffic

State police beefed up patrols as traffic picked up for the long Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Col. Robert Williams, State Police chief, said this is one of the busiest times on Maine roads, so additional patrols will monitor the traffic.

He said troopers will look for impaired and aggressive drivers, and occupants not wearing seat belts, with special enforcement using federal funding. He said troopers will be reminding motorists of the ban on texting while driving, which will take effect in September.

Painting Memorial Bridge expected to cost $12 million

A 62-year-old bridge over the Kennebec River in Augusta is due for a paint job that is expected to cost about 10 times the span’s construction cost.

The Memorial Bridge paint job is expected to cost about $12 million. In 1949, it cost $1.2 million to build.

Department of Transportation spokesman Mark Latti said the high cost of repainting the 2,100-foot bridge is due to its size and the need to remove lead paint without allowing it to fall into the river.

The bridge was last repainted in 1992. Latti told the Kennebec Journal that the project could take as long as a year.

SACO

University College to occupy new building on Saco Island

University College at Saco plans to move into a new building on Saco Island in time for the winter semester.

The Journal Tribune of Biddeford said the college will take over what’s referred to as Building 7, a two-story, 10,000-square-foot building behind the Run of the Mill Public House and Brewery.

University College at Saco, part of the University of Maine System, has been on the island for about 25 years. School officials are working with an architect to redesign the building.

FREEPORT

L.L. Bean rehires workers fired over tote bag orders

L.L. Bean says four of its workers in Lewiston who were fired for buying leather tote bags after the bags’ price had been inadvertently reduced on the company’s website are getting their jobs back.

L.L. Bean spokeswoman Carolyn Beem said the company has apologized to the women and will pay them lost wages. She said they will resume working “as soon as their schedules allow.”

The workers’ attorney said the four were fired after placing orders for themselves on the L.L. Bean website. The bag was originally priced at $169 but for about two days was erroneously marked down to $19.

ELIOT

N.H. utility’s plan to build switching station questioned

Residents are concerned about a New Hampshire utility’s plan to build a switching station in their neighborhood.

Public Service of New Hampshire bought 17 acres of forestland with plans to clear-cut some of it for the station. The Portsmouth Herald said neighbors say the clear-cutting is not needed and will mean the switching equipment will be more visible, further ruining the view and lowering property values.

PSNH officials said the station is being built to connect Central Maine Power Co.’s planned 345-kilovolt power line, which is part of the company’s upgrade, with power lines in New Hampshire. It will come before the town’s Planning Board on July 19.