OXFORD

Developer of project across from casino seeks tax break

A developer has submitted an application to build a $125 million hotel, restaurant and retail project across from the Oxford Casino.

Casalinova Development Group applied earlier this summer for a credit-enhancement agreement to develop a 550-acre property along Route 26. The agreement would allow the Oxford-based developer to recoup up to 20 percent of new tax revenue it generates in the zone and apply it to pre-approved infrastructure development, such as installing water and sewer lines.

The application is an initial step. Negotiations between the town and developers on the size of the credit agreement are ongoing.

The Sun Journal in Lewiston reported that, according to the application, the first phase would include the design and construction of a hotel, restaurant, day-care facility and water park, as well as infrastructure improvements such as water, sewer, electric and telephone. The project is not affiliated with the casino.

Town Manager Michael Chammings said the agreement is expected to be finalized in September.

GARDINER

Traffic backs up for miles as fire destroys truck on I-95

Fire destroyed a tractor-trailer truck Wednesday on the Maine Turnpike in Gardiner, backing up traffic for three miles.

Timothy Kingsbury, 46, of Blaine, was driving a flatbed truck on I-95 north at 12:30 p.m. when he smelled diesel fuel. When Kingsbury stopped in the breakdown lane to check under the hood, flames erupted, said state Trooper Patrick Munzing.

A passing trucker saw the fire, stopped and tried to put it out with his extinguisher, but couldn’t.

Northbound traffic stopped as the intense heat blew tires and caused the truck’s fuel tanks to ignite.

Gardiner and West Gardiner fire departments responded, and while they put the fire out, traffic backed up from mile marker 105 to a mile beyond the Gardiner toll.

Traffic was stopped for close to an hour, then was able to move slowly as one lane was opened, Munzing said. The truck was cleared from the scene at 2:50 p.m. and traffic in both lanes resumed.

BOWDOINHAM

Woman seriously hurt when car crashes in I-295 median

A woman was seriously injured Tuesday when her car overturned on Interstate 295 southbound in Bowdoinham, Maine State Police said.

Mona Lee Kelley, 56, of Steep Falls, sustained multiple injuries when she was thrown from the car in the median just after 6 p.m.

State police had been looking for the car after several motorists called to report seeing the car being driven erratically and striking a guardrail in Gardiner without stopping.

PALERMO

Police say Palermo man had sex with underage girl

A Palermo man has been charged with having a sexual relationship with an underage girl.

Jason Baldwin is being held in jail on $10,000 cash bail on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, refusing to submit to arrest and escape.

Police started an investigation late last month when Baldwin, 38, was found banging on a 16-year-old girl’s window. A spokesman for the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office told the Kennebec Journal that in follow-up interviews, the girl told investigators she had had a sexual relationship with Baldwin that started when she was 15 and had recently ended.

On Friday, a sheriff’s office detective went to Baldwin’s home, met him outside and told Baldwin he was going to arrest him. Baldwin said he wanted to call his mother, went inside and locked the door, police said. He eventually came out and submitted to arrest.

PORTLAND

Police look for two burglars, loot from pawn shop theft

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying two burglars who stole jewelry and electronics from Coastal Trading and Pawn at Union Station Plaza on St. John Street.

Police released a video showing the two men climbing over the counter, prying off the doors to several display cases and filling duffle bags with loot, mostly electronics such as tablets and cellphones as well as jewelry and coins.

The break-in early Monday set off an alarm, but the pair left 90 seconds after entering. Police found that the front door had been pried open. A police dog tried unsuccessfully to track the suspects.

The pair were both wearing white masks to cover their faces and sweatshirt hoods over their heads.

One was wearing a black sweatshirt with a red T-shirt over it and black pants, the other a gray sweatshirt with a black T-shirt over it and brown pants. Police could not determine their age, race or gender.

Police asked anyone with information to contact them at 874-8933.

 

Group opposes giveaways of old food for bear baiting

A group that wants to ban bear baiting is asking food suppliers to end free giveaways of past-their-use-date food for use by hunters.

Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting say many consumers would be surprised to learn that suppliers will give away their old food to hunters, who use stale pastries and other items to attract bears.

The group hopes to gather 80,000 signatures of Maine voters, exceeding the 57,277 signatures needed to qualify for the November 2014 ballot. The referendum aims to end the hunting of bears with bait, traps and dogs.

Thirty-two states allow bear hunting, but referendum supporters say none of them allow all three techniques: dogs, baiting and trapping.