FREEPORT

Police: Clamming official cited for quahog violation

One of Maine’s most outspoken advocates for the preservation of wild shellfish was cited on Saturday for harvesting undersized quahogs, according to police.

Chad Coffin, president of the Maine Clammers Association, could face a $1,000 penalty for harvesting the hardshell clams that were under 1 inch, the legal minimum size, said Freeport Police Chief Gerald Schofield.

Coffin was cited by Freeport Shellfish Warden Tom Kay about 12:45 p.m. on a clam flat near the Wolfe’s Neck State Park, the chief said.

The citation was the second in Freeport in three weeks, Schofield said.

State law prohibits keeping any undersized quahogs. Coffin did not respond to a message requesting comment.

LIVERMORE

Woman, 84, dies in blaze at Poland Hill Road camp

Fire officials say an 84-year-old woman died in a late-night fire at her home in Livermore.

The fire chief said the blaze at the camp on Poland Hill Road was reported late Tuesday night.

A spokesman for the state Public Safety Department identified the victim as Dorothy Goding, who lived alone at the home.

There were no reports of other injuries. The home was destroyed.

The fire remains under investigation with assistance from the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

BREWER

Eagle that ingested toxin recovers, is back in wild

A bald eagle found sick and disoriented on a Bangor sidewalk last month made a full recovery and has been released into the wild.

The female eagle was released in Brewer on Tuesday, not too far from where she was originally nesting.

Experts say the eagle was suffering after ingesting some kind of toxin, and spent several weeks recuperating at the Avian Haven bird rehabilitation center in Freedom.

Marc Payne, co-director of Avian Haven, told WABI-TV that it is extremely gratifying to see the eagle recover and fly away.

The center’s work is not done. The nonprofit is still helping the eagle’s two eaglets to recover. They will likely be released in the fall.

THORNDIKE

Mother accused of burning boy’s hand has died, DA says

Authorities say a Maine mother charged with deliberately burning her 6-year-old son’s hand on a wood stove as punishment has died.

Michele Dunworth of Thorndike had pleaded not guilty to charges of endangering the welfare of a child and domestic violence assault, and was awaiting trial.

Waldo County District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau told the Morning Sentinel the 30-year-old Dunworth died on May 11 of natural causes. A phone message seeking further comment from Rushlau on Wednesday wasn’t immediately returned.

Police say the boy had accidentally pushed his 7-year-old sister against the stove while they were playing in January, prompting the punishment. Dunworth said the burns were accidental.

The case has been dismissed.

WESTBROOK

Fight leads to new charges against pair of students

Two Westbrook High School students who were among the student-athletes involved in an underage drinking party that drew extensive news coverage this spring face new charges after getting into a fight at the high school, police said.

Capt. Tom Roth said police were called around 6:40 p.m. Saturday about a fight at the high school between Ryan Gilligan and Collin Joyce, both 18.

Both fled when police arrived. Gilligan was caught and charged with disorderly conduct, refusing to submit to arrest, violation of conditional release and possession of liquor by a minor. He was taken to the Cumberland County Jail.

Joyce, who police later identified from an in-cruiser video, was summonsed Monday on charges of disorderly conduct and refusing to submit to arrest.

Both are scheduled to be arraigned in Portland District Court on Aug. 5, Roth said.

In April, police broke up an underage drinking party at Gilligan’s home, where he was charged with refusing to submit to arrest and furnishing a place for minors to drink. Joyce, who was at the party, was summoned for consumption of liquor by a minor.

MARS HILL

Potato processor to begin $7.5 million expansion

A northern Maine potato processing plant is set to break ground on a $7.5 million expansion that will double the size of the facility.

Naturally Potatoes will begin expanding its Mars Hill facility on Wednesday. Company representatives say the expansion will double the facility’s production and storage capacities, allowing Naturally Potatoes to process 50 million pounds of Maine potatoes next year.

The facility is located on Maine’s border with Canada, about 15 miles south of Presque Isle. The company says it will add up to 15 jobs over the next 18 months.

The expansion will add 12,000 square feet of dry storage as well as double the refrigerated warehousing area. The company received town and state tax benefits to help with the expansion.

From staff and news services

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