PORTLAND

Teen charged with hitting man with car, leaving scene

A Cape Elizabeth teenager was arrested early Sunday morning, charged with striking a pedestrian with his car on Commercial Street and then trying to leave the scene.

The accident happened just after midnight outside of Three Dollar Dewey’s, a bar in the Old Port, police said.

Police said Frank Underdown, 19, struck a 23-year-old man with his car and then kept going. The victim, who was not identified by police, suffered injuries and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Portland police stopped Underdown a short time later and took him to Cumberland County Jail, where he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and operating under the influence.

Underdown had posted bail by late Sunday morning, according to a jail officer.

BUCKSPORT

Train leaving paper mill derails, forces road closure

Public safety officials said a train derailed in Bucksport, causing part of Route 15 to be shut down.

Dispatchers told WLBZ-TV that a call came around noon Sunday that a train carrying paper products from the Verso Paper mill had gone off the tracks and the road was shut down between the mill and Town Farm Road. No injuries were reported.

Authorities said the Bucksport police and fire departments and railroad officials are repairing the tracks, but that it was unclear when the road would re-open to traffic.

AUGUSTA

Maine Lobster Month will include special promotions

Gov. Paul LePage has proclaimed August to be Maine Lobster Month.

The governor’s proclamation celebrates Maine’s lobstermen and this year’s bountiful harvest.

It also serves as a kick-off for the Maine Lobster Promotion Council’s new Lobster Lovers Campaign that includes promotions at retailers, restaurants and other places in Maine and New England.

Fishermen this summer have been dealing with a glut of lobsters that has driven down prices they get for their catch, as well as prices for consumers.

Penobscots receive grant to improve water quality

Maine’s Penobscot Indian Nation has received a federal grant of nearly $150,000 to improve water quality on tribal lands.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s grant will be used to improve water quality in the Penobscot River and Little Alder Stream.

The EPA says the money will be used to reduce sediments and nutrients entering the Penobscot River by stabilizing portions of an eroding riverbank and re-establishing nearby vegetation.

The grant will also help cut down on sediments and nutrients entering Little Alder Stream and its tributaries by better managing an all-terrain vehicle trail system that leads to a high elevation native brook trout fishery.

— From staff and news reports