EAGLE LAKE

Caribou man dies in Maine motorcycle crash

Additional Photos

Labor supporters march Sunday in front of the Blaine House in Augusta during a Labor Day celebration with workers from Maine unions. Marchers walked around the governor’s mansion and then gathered in Capitol Park for a cookout. Monday is Labor Day. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

Maine State Police say a 26-year-old Caribou man is dead after the motorcycle he was riding hit a guardrail on Route 11 in Eagle Lake.

Police say Jason Michaud was riding with three other people at about 11:45 a.m. Sunday when his motorcycle drifted off the right side of the road and hit the guardrail, throwing him down an embankment. He died at the scene of the crash.

Police say Michaud had received his motorcycle permit the day before and that inexperience played a major role in the crash. Speed was not a factor in the crash.

AUGUSTA

Maine names 3 Teacher of the Year finalists

Two elementary school teachers and one middle school teacher have been named as the three finalists for the title of 2013 Maine Teacher of the Year.

The Department of Education says the winner will be announced at a surprise all-school assembly in September.

The finalists are South Berwick second- and third-grade teacher Kathy Bousquet, Poland seventh- and eighth-grade special education teacher Shannon Shanning, and York fourth-grade teacher Beth Switzer.

The winner serves as an advocate for the teaching profession, education and students, and represents the state at a national Teachers of the Year gathering in Dallas, a ceremony in Washington with the president and the secretary of education, and at other events and conferences around the country.

AUGUSTA

Maine 2012 duck stamp goes on sale

Maine’s 2012 duck stamp is going on sale for stamp collectors.

This year’s edition of the stamp is now available from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The 2012 stamp was designed by Janine Folsom, of Skowhegan, whose painting of a pair of ring-necked ducks was selected from contest entries submitted by Maine artists.

The stamps, which sell for $7.50 each or $10 for a signed one, are for collection purposes only. Proceeds from stamp sales are used by the department for waterfowl habitat acquisition and management.

The stamps can be ordered in person or by mail from the department.

DENNISTOWN

Canadian motorcyclist dies in collision with moose

A Canadian motorcyclist died Saturday night after colliding with a moose on Route 201 in this town a few miles north of Jackman, near the Canadian border.

The man has not been identified, pending notification of his family, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The accident occurred about 8:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office said. The motorcyclist was headed north on Route 201 when he hit the moose and was thrown from his bike. A passer-by came upon the accident scene and notified police.

The sheriff’s office said the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. The moose was not located.

The accident is still under investigation.

STARKS

Blaze caused by candles leaves woman homeless

A fire started from unattended candles destroyed a house on Chicken Street early Sunday, leaving a woman and her pets homeless, according to Fire Chief Julie Costigan.

Carla Oliver had lit some candles and fallen asleep, but woke in time to discover the fire and rescue her two dogs and a cat from the two-story home, Costigan said.

Costigan was the first to respond to the blaze, which was reported at 1:05 a.m. and occurred about 1.5 miles from the center of town and a mile from Costigan’s home.

“She’s very devastated because she lost everything,” Costigan said later Sunday of Oliver. “She’s had a very rough year. She lost her husband not even a year ago.”

Oliver was not hurt in the fire, Costigan said.

“She could see the whole house in full flames. … She was very lucky.”

About 30 firefighters from Starks, Anson, Madison and Skowhegan battled the blaze, clearing the scene at 4:45 a.m., according to Costigan.

AUGUSTA

New website has calculator for predicting heating costs

Maine’s State Energy Office has launched a new website that includes a home heating calculator that allows consumers to estimate their annual heating costs.

The site, www.maine.gov/energy, also includes information and data on a variety of energy issues, policies and prices.

Ken Fletcher, director of the Governor’s Energy Office, said this is a good time for consumers to examine what kind of heating costs they can expect for the upcoming winter.

From October until mid-March, the site will include the results of the energy office’s weekly survey of heating fuel prices across Maine.

WESTPORT, Mass.

Necropsy fails to shed light on manner of shark’s death

A Massachusetts marine biologist who examined a 13-foot great white shark carcass found ashore near the Rhode Island state line wasn’t able to determine how the shark died.

Massachusetts environmental officials said state biologist Greg Skomal performed a necropsy on the shark Saturday and found no signs of trauma. Officials said what happened to the shark may never be clear.

A fisherman found the carcass Saturday morning on a rocky area on the Westport shore near Little Compton, R.I. Little Compton officials closed nearby beaches but reopened them Sunday. Police sent out a boat patrol Sunday to watch for other sharks.

Officials said they plan to leave the shark’s carcass where it is because it’s too heavy to remove. They say it weighs an estimated 1,500 pounds.

CONCORD, N.H.

Man surrenders peacefully after 13-hour standoff

Police say there was a peaceful end to a 13-hour standoff with a man who fired a gun twice inside his house in Concord.

Concord police said officers went to the home of Richard Jenness to check on his well-being at the request of family members Saturday but that he refused to come outside. Police said he eventually stepped out with a gun at his side and gunshots were heard twice after he returned indoors.

Officers set up a perimeter, told neighbors to take precautions, and summoned a state police tactical team.

Police said the 52-year-old Jenness was arrested for reckless conduct early Sunday after he exited the home without incident. He was being held Sunday at Merrimack County Jail; it was unclear if he had a lawyer.

— From staff and news services

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