Stephen King honored in DC

BANGOR (AP) — President Barack Obama jokes that without one of this year’s National Medal of Arts recipients there’d be “no really scary things like ‘Carrie’ and ‘Misery.”’

Stephen King, author of those books, was one of 18 individuals and three organizations to be honored by the president Wednesday for their contributions to the arts and the humanities.

King was recognized for combining storytelling with his analysis of human nature, and for thrilling readers around the world through decades of work. Other honorees celebrated in an East Room ceremony included actress Sally Field and chef Alice Waters.

Kennebec sheriff to serve as warden

WARREN (AP) — The Maine Department of Corrections has chosen Kennebec County Sheriff Randy Liberty to be the next warden at the Maine State Prison.

Deputy Commissioner Jody Breton said Thursday that Liberty will assume the new post at the state’s maximum security prison on Sept. 28.

Liberty has served 33 years in law enforcement. He joined the Kennebec County Sheriff ’s Department in 1989 and has been sheriff for the past seven years. In the military, he received the Bronze Star for his service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

SMHC to end overnight care in Sanford

SANFORD (AP) — Southern Maine Health Care will end overnight hospital care in Sanford due to low patient volume.

The Portland Press Herald reports the state’s fifth largest health care system is reorganizing its services and plans to eliminate about a dozen positions.

Officials say it will keep its 24-hour emergency center in the former Goodall Hospital in Sanford and add a walk-in care center. It will also open a new cancer care practice with more specialists.

Sanford patients needing overnight inpatient care will be sent to the Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford starting Oct. 23.

More than 28,000 win deer hunting permits

AUGUSTA (AP) — More than 28,000 Maine hunters won a lottery for the right to hunt deer this fall.

The lottery drawing for the state’s 28,770 “any deer” permits took place Wednesday. The state cut the number of permits down from 37,185 permits last year.

The state uses the “any deer” permits to manage the deer population by controlling the harvest of females.

Youth Deer Hunting Day is on Oct. 24. The main firearms season for deer runs from Nov. 2 to Nov. 28. There is also an expanded archery season that lasts from Sept. 12 to Dec. 12 and a muzzleloader season from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

Worker killed in accident at raceway

BANGOR (AP) — Officials say an accident involving the starting gate vehicle has claimed the life of a worker at the Bangor Raceway.

The death at the harnessracing track on Wednesday remains under investigation. Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway officials are cooperating with police, and an internal investigation also has been launched.

Police on Thursday identified the victim as 64-year-old Edwin Reynolds of Machias.

No races are scheduled until Monday.

Harness-racing events begin with a vehicle pulling ahead with a starting gate to give the horses and their drivers a running start. At the starting line, the vehicle pulls ahead and then off the track.

Portland holds remembrance on 9/11

PORTLAND (AP) — The city where two of the 9/11 hijackers set that fateful day in motion is holding a remembrance ceremony.

Portland’s fire and police departments are joining in the event. Fire Chief Jerome LaMoria and Police Chief Michael Sauschuck will participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at Fort Allen Park.

The ringleader of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks started the day at Portland International Jetport. Mohamed Atta and Abdulaziz Alomari flew from Portland to Boston, where they boarded a jet that Atta flew into the World Trade Center’s north tower.

Among the Maine victims were retirees Jackie and Robert Norton of Lubec and Portland lawyer James Roux, who were on hijacked flights, and Stephen Ward, a Gorham native in the north tower; and Navy Cmdr. Robert Allan Schlegel at the Pentagon.