AG says court shouldn’t answer gov’s questions

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s attorney general says the state’s highest court shouldn’t offer an opinion on whether Republican Gov. Paul LePage can hire private lawyers without her permission.

LePage asked the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to weigh in on the issue last month. The Republican says giving Attorney General Janet Mills, a Democrat, power to deny him outside counsel could prevent him from carrying out his policies.

Mills responded in a brief Friday that LePage’s questions don’t constitute the “solemn occasion” needed for the court to render an advisory opinion. Among other things, her office has never denied him outside counsel. She says the possibility that it may at some point is too “abstract and uncertain” to meet the threshold.

Lawyers will make their arguments on Feb. 26.

3 die removing

snow in Portland

PORTLAND (AP) — Public safety officials in Portland, Maine, say residents should take precautions during snow removal after three people died within the past 10 days.

Portland spokeswoman Jessica Grondin says a postal worker found an unresponsive 83-year-old man leaning over the top of his snow blower. The two other residents who died were a 55-year-old man and a 78-year-old man who collapsed while shoveling.

Portland Fire Chief Jerry LaMoria tells the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/16okRnx) it’s not unusual for one person to die during snow removal during a Portland winter. But he says three close together is unusual.

He advises people who shovel to let someone else know they are out shoveling and to stay hydrated.

Oil pumped into

school septic system

WALDOBORO (AP) — A Maine school district is crafting a plan to remove hundreds of gallons of heating oil that were accidentally pumped into its septic system.

Steve Nolan, superintendent of Regional School Unit 40, said Friday that Maritime Energy pumped about 2,000 gallons of heating oil into a pumping station that connects the Medomak Middle School’s septic tank with its leach field. Nolan says a contractor later removed about 800 gallons but the remaining oil is believed to be in the leach field.

Nolan says the school in Waldoboro uses well water and is not allowing anyone to use water fountains until a groundwater check is finished. He says the school is giving students and staff bottled water for now.

Maritime Energy didn’t immediately return a call Friday.

Nat’l toboggan

contest to start Friday

CAMDEN (AP) — Camden is about to go down the chute.

The U.S. National Toboggan Championships are getting underway Friday in this coastal Maine town, where 6,000 to 10,000 people are expected to attend.

The 25th annual event invites participants to ride traditional wooden toboggans down a 400-foot chute at speeds that top 40 mph. Organizers say 425 teams from all over the U.S. and Canada are set to participate.

Other events include food, music, skiing and the “Down the Chute Beer & Wine Challenge.” The event continues on Saturday and ends on Sunday.

The contest has competitions for two-, three- and four-person teams. Last year’s winners were all from Maine and were called Two Wingnuts, Absolute Zeros and Instigator.

Restaurant owners

sue firefighters

BANGOR (AP) — The owners of a Bass Harbor restaurant destroyed by a fire in December 2013 have filed a federal lawsuit against firefighters they allege “purposefully and unnecessarily” allowed the business to burn.

The Associated Press reports that according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Bangor by Bob and Judy Cousins, owners of Cap’n Nemo’s, the volunteer department had hostility toward the restaurant for years.

The fire also destroyed the attached home in which the owners lived.

The suit says some firefighters on the scene of the fire “breached their duty,” and two firefighters stole from the scene.

The Cousinses are seeking the termination of the firefighters involved and damages of more than $1 million.

A lawyer for the firefighters says his clients “acted appropriately” and “did the best they could.”

House where 6 died in fire being demolished

PORTLAND (AP) — The owner of a Portland, Maine, apartment building where six people died in the worst fire in the state in 40 years is tearing the house down.

City officials say Gary Nisbet applied for a permit to demolish the Noyes Street home and a contractor was doing the work on Friday. A letter sent to neighbors says the demolition will be finished in two to four days.

The Nov. 1 fire was ruled an accident caused by improper disposal of smoking materials.

The fire killed residents Nicole Finlay, David Bragdon Jr., Ashley Thomas and Christopher Conlee; Topsham resident Maelisha Jackson; and Rockland resident Steven Summers. Several others escaped.

The district attorney’s office is expected to consider whether the building met all regulations.

Mich. homicide suspect’s vehicle found

FARMINGTON (AP) — A vehicle belonging to a Michigan man wanted in connection with the death of his wife has been found in Maine.

Police say the snow-covered Subaru Forester belonging to 66-year-old Harold “Butch” Knight was found last weekend in the parking lot of a Walmart in Farmington.

Its Michigan license plates had been removed and it may have been there for weeks.

Police also released surveillance video from the store that shows the white-haired Knight with dyed hair and mustache and wearing camouflage coveralls.

Knight and his wife, Sara Lee Knight, lived in Maine for several years.

Michigan police have issued a murder arrest warrant for Knight, for allegedly strangling his wife at their home in Fennville, Michigan.

Knight remains on the loose and is considered armed and dangerous.