CAPE ELIZABETH

Coast Guard rescues two men after sailboat runs aground

Coast Guard crews helped rescue two people who were aboard a sailboat that ran aground just south of Portland Head Light early Saturday.

The Coast Guard received a radio call for help around 5:30 a.m. and sent a 47-foot lifeboat to assist the pair aboard the Benchmark, a 47-foot sailboat. Coast Guard officials said the two had been asleep and apparently the boat drifted too close to shore.

The rescue crew began towing the sailboat to Portland and had to use a pump to keep it from sinking, the Coast Guard said.

The sailboat was taken to Gowen Marine in Portland, where it was taken out of the water for repairs. The two men aboard were unhurt.

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The Coast Guard said the boat owner was uncertain of his location, but the boat owner’s use of a VHF radio facilitated the use of a new Rescue 21 system. That system uses the radio signal and radio towers to triangulate the boat’s position and allow crews to reach boaters in distress more quickly.

SACO

Prescription drugs taken during robbery of pharmacy

A Community Pharmacy drugstore was robbed Saturday afternoon, and the suspect got away with an undetermined amount of prescription drugs, police said.

Police said a man in his mid-20s to mid-30s with short brown hair and wearing white-rimmed sunglasses entered the store at Main and Pleasant streets shortly before 4 p.m.

According to a store manager, the man entered the store, went to the pharmacy counter and demanded drugs. He did not show a weapon and ran out a back door after an employee handed over drugs.

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The man was described as about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 180 to 200 pounds, with three to four days’ growth of beard.

He was wearing a white T-shirt under a dark gray or black zippered hoodie sweat shirt. The sweat shirt had an emblem on the front and writing across the back, although witnesses could not provide details, police said.

The man was also wearing blue jeans and white sneakers, witnesses told police.

An attempt to track the man using a police dog was unsuccessful.

AUGUSTA

Maine residents can fish without licenses today

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Wildlife officials are encouraging Mainers to get out their rods and reels for a weekend of free fishing.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said anyone can fish without a license as part of the department’s Free Family Fishing Days, which started Saturday and continue today, except for those who have had their license suspended or revoked.

According to the department, anglers have more than 30,000 miles of streams and rivers and 3,000 lakes and ponds in Maine where they can cast their cast their lines.

BAR HARBOR

College of Atlantic awards more than 80 diplomas

More than 80 graduates received their diplomas at the College of the Atlantic on Saturday.

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The Bar Harbor college held its 40th commencement Saturday afternoon. Students from 23 states and 14 countries earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Award-winning television and radio journalist Robert Krulwich delivered the commencement address. Krulwich now works as a science correspondent for National Public Radio.

The College of the Atlantic was founded in 1969 and has only one major: human ecology.

PORTLAND

Splash for Trash event postponed until June 16

Due to concerns about the weather, Saturday’s Splash for Trash event has been postponed until June 16.

Sponsored by the city and the Roddenberry Dive Team, the event was to feature scuba divers bringing up trash and debris from the ocean bottom off East End Beach from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.


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