BELGRADE

Alcohol suspected in crash that killed Oakland woman

Police believe alcohol played a role in a one-car, high-speed crash late Saturday that killed an Oakland woman and left two men seriously injured.

Kristin Lawler, 20, a passenger in a 2011 Toyota Corolla driven by her brother Travis Lawler, 22, died when the car left the road on a curve and slammed into a tree, said Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland.

Jackson Bolduc, 25, of Belgrade was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville with life-threatening injuries and subsequently airlifted to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, McCausland said.

A third passenger, Dylan Desroches, 20, was taken by LifeFlight to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with serious injuries, McCausland said.

Travis Lawler, a U.S. Marine home on leave from North Carolina, was taken to MaineGeneral for treatment of cuts and scrapes, Petrini said.

The crash occurred around 11 p.m. Saturday on Horse Point Road in North Belgrade.

“Troopers say speed and alcohol are going to be the cause of the crash,” McCausland said.

Petrini said it does not appear Kristin Lawler, Bolduc or Desroches were wearing seat belts. Investigators had not yet determined if Travis Lawler was belted in.

The crash remains under investigation, Petrini said. No charges had been filed as of Sunday evening.

Published reports indicate all four of the car’s occupants graduated from Messalonskee High School in Oakland.

LEBANON

Puncture wound sends skydiver to hospital

A skydiver was transported by ambulance to Frisbee Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.H., Sunday night after he suffered a leg wound during his landing.

Jason Cole, Lebanon’s assistant rescue chief, described the puncture wound to the man’s thigh as “traumatic.”

The accident took place just before 7 p.m. Sunday at SkyDive New England. The company, according to its website, has been in business for 28 years.

The skydiver appears to have been injured when he brushed against a pile of sticks on the perimeter of the landing zone, said Eli Bolotin, a safety and training adviser at SkyDive.

The man’s name, age and address were not available.

STANDISH

After fire destroys church, services move to library

Members of a Standish church that was destroyed last week after two teenage boys allegedly set fire to it met Sunday morning for services in their new home – the local library.

Pastor Greg Martin said about 20 people attended the service at the Richville Library in Standish, which will serve as the congregation’s new home for the immediate future.

Since Thursday’s fire at the Richville Chapel on Mosley Road, Martin said the church has been inundated with offers of assistance. A local contractor and architect have offered to help with rebuilding the church and at least two people have offered to donate musical organs.

Two local boys, ages 14 and 15, have been arrested and charged with arson and burglary. Martin said that the boys and their parents have not reached out to him since the fire.

“I could be angry if I wanted to be, because I am upset that someone would do that to a church,” said Martin, who has a teenage daughter about their age. “But, I can’t hold any anger, even though it’s the natural thing to do. We need to pray for these boys and hope they get the help they need.”

AMHERST

Police release name of man killed in head-on collision

Maine State Police have released the name of a man who was killed in a head-on collision on Route 9 in eastern Maine.

Police said 28-year-old Adam Dunham was killed at about 6:45 p.m. Friday in Amherst when his car veered into the path of an oncoming pickup truck.

The Bangor Daily News said the other driver, 59-year-old Robert York of Calais, was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with injuries that were not life-threatening.

The crash is under investigation.

AUGUSTA

Maine churches pass plate for gay-marriage opposition

Scores of churches around Maine passed the collection plate a second time at Sunday services to raise money for the campaign in opposition to November’s ballot question asking if same-sex marriage should be legalized.

Between 100 and 150 churches were expected to participate in the special Father’s Day plate offerings to raise money for the Protect Marriage Maine political action committee.

The offerings represent the kickoff of the PAC’s fundraising campaign to oppose November’s statewide referendum.

Referendum opponents said they expect to be far outspent by gay-marriage supporters in the campaign.

BELFAST

City receives $500,000 grant to help revitalize downtown

The city of Belfast has been awarded a $500,000 grant to help revitalize its downtown.

City officials said Belfast was the only community in the state to receive a grant from the Community Development Block Grant Downtown Revitalization program.

The funds will be used for street work, signage, parking, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping in downtown Belfast.

The goal is to improve the link between the commercial heart of downtown and the city’s downtown parks, as well as to stimulate future development.