AUGUSTA

Good Samaritan helps man escape burning apartment

Michael Murphy didn’t think, he just acted, when he heard someone screaming that there was a man in the burning apartment house on Pleasant Street.

“I punched out the screen and heard the gentleman screaming for help,” Murphy said. “He thought he was going to die.”

Murphy, who was on his way to work Sunday morning at Plummer’s Funeral Home, two doors from the fire, had seen smoke coming from the building and saw a woman on the front lawn, yelling that there was someone still inside.

The window was open, so Murphy grabbed a folding chair off the front porch and passed it through.

“A hand came out of the smoke, and I put the chair in his hand  and pulled him out,” Murphy said. “I think I did what anyone would have done. Everyone’s out, they’re safe, and that’s what matters.”

John Murray, 62, was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland, with burns and smoke inhalation, according to Augusta Fire Chief Roger Audette. No information about Murray’s condition was available.

Fourteen other residents were left homeless by the fire, which heavily damaged the building at 26 Pleasant St.

TOPSHAM

Missing 14-year-old girl found unharmed in woods

A 14-year-old Topsham girl was found unharmed early Sunday morning, hours after she disappeared into the thick woods behind her Sunward Lane home, police said.

Topsham police Sgt. Robert Ramsay said the girl, who has the mental capacity of an 8-year-old, was looking for frogs in her backyard when she disappeared shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday. Police did a K-9 search of the area before calling in game wardens for assistance.

The girl was located unharmed sometime after midnight and was able to go home to her family after being checked out by emergency responders, Ramsay said.

“She was in the woods for quite a length of time. It was cold and rainy,” Ramsay said.

Residents of the area were notified the girl was missing through the town’s reverse 911 system.

BANGOR

Funeral for slain teen scheduled for Monday

A 15-year-old girl who police say was killed by a young man is being laid to rest. Funeral services for Nichole Cable of Glenburn are scheduled for Monday at the Bangor Baptist Church.

The Old Town High School sophomore’s body was found last Monday in a wooded area in Old Town more than a week after she was reported missing by her family.

Kyle Dube, 20, of Orono has been charged with murder in her death.

PORTLAND

Driver inexperience blamed when car goes into the drink

No one was hurt when a vehicle went off Widgery Wharf and into the water at 214 Commercial St. in Portland about  2 a.m. Sunday.

Portland police said three people were inside the 2000 Subaru Outback but managed to escape.

The car, which was completely submerged, was fished out of the water at the low tide about 6:30 a.m.
Police attributed the accident to driver inexperience and the windy, wet weather.

The incident is still being investigated. No charges have been filed.

The name of the driver was not immediately available.

NAPLES

Celebration of causeway postponed until Monday

Thank You Naples Day, a celebration of the rebuilding of the Naples Causeway, has been postponed.
The original celebration was scheduled to start at noon Sunday and continue into the night but officials rescheduled the event to Monday due to wet weather.

Monday’s weather is expected to be sunny and dry. The celebration includes performances and fireworks at 9:45 p.m.

The $11 million reconstruction project, which began in 2010, is almost complete.

– From staff and news services