YORK COUNTY

Driver crashes fishing derby, winds up facing OUI charge

A man accused of drunken driving literally crashed a York County ice-fishing derby Sunday, driving his truck wildly over the ice and ramming into both a snowbank and the vehicle of someone who tried to help him, the York County Sheriff’s Office said.

According to a sheriff’s office news release, 19-year-old Shapleigh resident Derek Guertin drove his 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck onto the frozen Little Ossipee Lake during an ice-fishing derby organized by the Alfred and Limerick American Legion posts, which drew about 1,000 attendees.

Witnesses told authorities that Guertin “revved” his engine and was driving recklessly on the ice close to fishermen and spectators, the release said, adding that at one point he lost control of his vehicle and got stuck in a snowbank. After several tries, a good Samaritan managed to pull Guertin out of the snowbank, it said.

“Guertin repaid the gesture by backing into the Samaritan’s vehicle,” causing damage to its rear bumper, the release said.

Guertin had to be physically restrained and failed to cooperate after he was arrested, it said. The arrest occurred about 1:30 p.m.

He was charged with operating under the influence and was being held at the York County Jail pending the posting of $400 bail, the release said.

PORTLAND

Police charge local woman with robbery at Walgreens

A Portland woman is accused of threatening to blow up a Walgreens store unless an employee gave her drugs.

Police said they charged the woman with robbing the Walgreens pharmacy at 340 Allen Ave. in Portland on Sunday morning.

Lt. James Sweatt said Elisabeth Sanborn, 34, of Portland entered the pharmacy about 9 a.m. and asked an employee for prescription drugs, indicating that she had an explosive device. She left with an undisclosed amount of drugs, police said.

About 11 a.m., Sanborn returned to the store and was arrested on a charge of robbery, police said. After a search involving a police dog, police found no hazardous devices or explosives.

Police are urging anyone with information about the robbery to contact them at 874-8575.

Latest storm hits Down East with up to 20 inches of snow

A snowstorm that was expected to deliver up to 6 inches to the Portland area Saturday night stayed farther to the east than expected, according to the National Weather Service.

Portland received just 1.8 inches of snow, while surrounding areas in Cumberland and York counties got between 1 and 3 inches, said meteorologist Michael Cempa of the weather service’s office in Gray.

Meanwhile, several areas Down East got between 12 and 20 inches of snow, Cempa said.

The “jackpot” was Princeton, in Washington County, which received a full 20 inches, he said.

Southwest Harbor was a close second with 17.7 inches, Cempa said, while East Machias received 16 inches, and 12 inches fell on Ellsworth.

Augusta had just 2 inches of snow, and Bangor received 4.5 inches, Cempa said.

AUGUSTA

Hannah Pingree, Katz begin political television program

Assistant Senate Republican leader Roger Katz and former Democratic House Speaker Hannah Pingree are starting a new weekly political television program in Maine.

On “Pingree and Katz, The Maine Event,” the two will discuss topics from welfare reform to gun control. The show, which will air throughout the state on Time Warner Cable Channel 9, will also feature guests invited to debate the issues of the day.

The show will air every Tuesday at 7 p.m. and can also be streamed online through the show’s Facebook page.

In their first episode, which aired last week, Katz and Pingree discussed the legalization of marijuana with guests including Republican Sen. David Burns of Whiting and David Boyer, Maine political director for the Marijuana Policy Project.

Nominations sought for Teacher of the Year award

Maine officials want to know the names of the extraordinary teachers in the state.

The Maine Department of Education is seeking nominations for the 2015 Teacher of the Year award. This is the first year the public can nominate a candidate for top teacher. Previously, only school principals and superintendents could submit nominations.

Teachers must be employed at a Maine public school and must have a four-year degree to be considered for the award.

The state will recognize a teacher from all 16 counties. The Teacher of the Year will be selected from those 16 and will be announced at a surprise school assembly in the fall.

– From staff and news services

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