WISCASSET

Fire razes empty building that once housed pizzeria

A Sunday morning fire destroyed a vacant building that had once housed a pizza shop here.

Lt. T.J. Merry of the Wiscasset Fire Department said the former Tony’s Pizzeria on Route 1 was engulfed in flames and smoke when firefighters arrived. The business closed about two years ago, Merry said.

He said eight fire departments sent crews and equipment to the fire, which was reported at 9:15 a.m. No injuries were reported.

The fire’s cause remains under investigation by the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

AUGUSTA

DOT crews back after aiding Vermont’s Irene recovery

State Department of Transportation crews are back in Maine after spending nearly two weeks in Vermont helping repair infrastructure damaged by heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Irene.

The department sent 149 workers who had volunteered to be a part of Vermont’s recovery effort, including maintenance crews, bridge inspectors, engineers and a dive team.

DOT regional manager Mike Burns said the crews worked 15-hour days to help repair roads, inspect bridges and do other tasks.

Groups get more than $1 million to fight abuse of women

The Maine Department of Public Safety has awarded more than $1 million in federal money to 27 Maine organizations to combat violence against women.

Officials said this is the 16th year that Maine has received money from the federal Department of Human Services’ STOP Violence Against Women program.

This year’s funding is being divvied up among sexual assault and domestic violence activist groups, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the courts.

LIMINGTON

Pilot recovering after ultralight craft crashes

A pilot is recovering from his injuries after crashing his ultralight aircraft into some trees in southern Maine.

Fire officials in Limington told WMTW-TV that the pilot, whose name was not released, and an instructor were flying the ultralight Saturday morning when it lost power and crashed into a line of small trees on a camp road near the Limington airport.

Crews rescued the pilot and instructor, who was not injured.

PORTLAND

Maine poet laureate to give reading at national festival

Maine’s poet laureate has been chosen to give a poetry reading at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Wesley McNair is one of five state poet laureates selected to speak at next weekend’s event, which is put on by the Library of Congress and is being held on the National Mall. More than 100 authors, illustrators and poets will make presentations at the event.

McNair became Maine’s fourth poet laureate in April. He has written or edited 18 books of poetry, essays and anthologies.

— From staff and news services