Police ID driver in fatal crash

LEWISTON - A man who was killed Thursday night when his car clocked speeding faster than 100 mph on the Maine Turnpike slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer truck was identified Friday by police.

Luis Andrades-Garcia, 35, of Portland was driving a car owned by a friend from Massachusetts. Police said they don't know why he was speeding.

Police were first alerted to his erratic driving south of Lewiston. He then shot past a Maine State Police trooper in Auburn, which prompted a chase as that trooper tried to stop Andrades-Garcia.

Lewiston Holiday Tree

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Lewiston city arborist Steve Murch removes some of the strappings on the holiday tree after it's journey through town on it's way to Courthouse Plaza. For a video story, visit www.sunjournal.com

Wrong town

Dave Rossignol, pictured on Page B1 of Thursday's paper, is not from Sabattus. The incorrect town ran in the caption.

Pesky crow

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

A crow sneaks up behind a squirrel eating a snack on a ledge at Maple Street Park in Lewiston on Thursday morning. The pesky crow intimidated the squirrel so much that it dropped its treat. The crow swooped down and flew off with it.

Auburn's Holiday Tree

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Leta Richards of Lewiston, a frequent visitor to Rolly's Diner in Auburn, looks out their window Thursday morning as the 40 foot tall spruce tree across the street in Vincent Square in Auburn is cut down to be moved to Festival Plaza to be use as the annual Holiday Tree. The Twin Cities Holiday Celebration - Parade of Lights will be held this year on December 2nd.

Frozen leaf

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

An oak sapling, covered in ice crystals, is one of the last to hold its colors Thursday morning along Lincoln Street in Lewiston.

Five times a charm? Monmouth to vote again on police budget

MONMOUTH — For the fifth time on Tuesday, voters will try to decide a 2009-10 police budget for the town.

Over the past four votes, town leaders have adjusted the proposed budget up and down, responding to input from townspeople and trying to find a figure that would receive a majority vote.

Police log

Charges

Lewiston

• Joshua A. Lussier, 21, of 160 Webber Ave. on charges of disorderly conduct and refusing to submit to arrest or detention, 4:16 a.m. Wednesday at that address.

• Marquis Alexander Forbes, 20, of 8 Clachan Place, Rumford, on charges of disorderly conduct and refusing to submit to arrest or detention, 4:16 a.m. Wednesday at 160 Webber Ave.

• Leigh Ann Roberts, 34, of 108 Sabattus St. on a charge of violating condition of release, 5:06 a.m. Wednesday at 160 Webber Ave.

Auburn flagpole dedication Friday

AUBURN — The city of Auburn will hold a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, for the new flagpole and flags in front of Auburn Hall. Slated for dedication are the American flag, Maine state flag, the city flag and the POW/MIA flag.

The ceremony will be held in front of Auburn Hallon Court Street. Traffic on that portion of Court will be closed during the ceremony. The public is invited to attend.

New St. Mary's surgical suite work to begin in January

LEWISTON — Construction at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center should move from the emergency room to a new operating room suite sometime in January.

Hospital officials say the demolition of the office building at 95-97 Campus Ave. should begin once work on the emergency room wraps up in January. The office building connects the main hospital to the Lepage Conference Center.

Turner government at a glance

Government at a glance
Board: Turner Selectmen
Met: Monday

Building repairs

Issue: The Public Works building is in need of repairs, including overhead doors, a mezzanine gate, metal siding at the overhead door entrances, tool room lighting and exterior light fixtures.

The scoop: Selectmen toured the facility, noting the repair needs, and discussed buying supplies as well as pressure-washing the equipment more often.

Bliss Thru Shopping: Love is not a frozen smelt, but 'Welcome to Monmouth' T-shirt might be

One dead in turnpike crash

LEWISTON — One person was dead Thursday night after crashing a car in a construction zone on the Maine Turnpike and flipping the vehicle near Mile 81, police said.

A witness said the driver was traveling in excess of 100 mph with a police officer in pursuit in the northbound lane when the car crashed, flipped onto its roof and caught fire at about 7:30 p.m. The driver was not identified late Thursday night. The car bore Massachusetts license plates.

Veteran judge reflects on life on the bench

LEWISTON - Robert Clifford didn't go to law school to be a judge. He didn't become mayor and, later, a state senator to sit on the bench.

"No one sets out to be a judge in our system," Clifford told a group of about 60 people Thursday at the Lewiston Public Library. Clifford was the featured speaker at the monthly Great Falls Forum series.

The City of Lewiston raises its holiday tree

The City of Lewiston puts up its new holiday tree at the Courthouse Plaza in Lewiston on Thursday morning.  The tree was donated to the city by a Lewiston family.

Fewer students out sick at 2 Auburn schools

AUBURN — The number of sick students in two Auburn elementary schools is down significantly, and H1N1 flu vaccine clinics have been held in all schools, Assistant Superintendent Katy Grondin said Wednesday night.

"We successfully vaccinated 1,051 (elementary) students," she said. "That is excellent; it's more than a third." 

Handling the bird

Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Monique Verrill, 10, prepares a turkey for the oven while getting ready to feed 100 people at the Boys & Girls Club of Auburn/Lewiston clubhouse in Auburn on Wednesday. Four turkeys were cooked for the third annual family Thanksgiving dinner, which was held later that evening. Children, from left, are Dylan Tessier, 10; Verrill; Chelsey Edmonds, 11; Mariah St. Pierre, 11; and Tabitha Douglas, 10, all of Auburn.

Fishing for golf balls

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Dave Rossignol goes "fishing" for golf balls at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn Wednesday morning before teeing off with some friends. The telescoping device is specifically made to fetch golf balls that are submerged just out of the reach of a golf club. "This thing has paid for itself a dozen times over." said Rossignol. Fox Ridge is usually closed this time of year, but with the unseasonably warm weather, they decided to stay open a little while longer.

Blowing in the wind

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Tony Lepore uses a hand held blower to send thousands of leaves cascading over the embankment onto the side of the road by his home on Gamage Ave in Auburn Wednesday morning. He had already stuffed several dozen bags full of leaves, and he was only about half way done. The near perfect fall weather will continue for at least another day or two.

Police log

Charges

Lewiston

• Derek Edgerton, 20, of 34 Blake St., tampering with a witness, 10:47 a.m. Tuesday at 21 Walnut St.

• Daniel Richard Landry, 39, of 93 Knox St., warrants, 9:15 p.m. Tuesday at 196 Park St.

• Adam Michael Dumais, 21, of 272 Main St., Auburn, failing to register as a sex offender, 12:25 a.m. Wednesday at 292 Bates St.

 

Auburn

Councilors meet top job candidates: Councilors-elect included in meetings

LEWISTON — City councilors interviewed the top two city administrator candidates over three hours Wednesday night.

Councilors hosted councilors-elect John Butler, Ron Jean, Mark Cayer and Stephen Morgan as they interviewed first Bangor City Manager Ed Barrett and later Acting Lewiston City Administrator Phil Nadeau.

Both men are hoping to replace Jim Bennett, fired by councilors in July.

Time to replace rusty fire engine no. 5, councilors agree

LEWISTON — Rust on the city's fire engine number 5 prompted councilors Tuesday to fast-track plans to replace it.

Fire Chief Paul LeClair said he had planned to replace the 16 year old firetruck next year, ordering its replacement in July and taking delivery a year from now. Tuesday, councilors agreed to let LeClair order the truck in January, taking delivery early this summer.

A recent inspection by Northeast Emergency Apparatus changed his mind, LeClair said.

Leads 'promising' in Lewiston woman's killing

LEWISTON — A man captured Monday in connection with a recent killing in Boston has no connection to the August slaying of Erica Field, but investigators said Wednesday leads on the Field case were "promising."

Gregory Knight, 27, was arrested Monday night in an apartment at 928 Lisbon St. He was charged with murder in the shotgun slaying of another man who was gunned down in the Roxbury section of Boston last week.

Monmouth police chief accused of improperly trying to find out about post office box

MONMOUTH — The Attorney General's Office is investigating a complaint against the Monmouth police chief, who a town Planning Board member has accused of abuse of power.

According to a lawyer connected to the case, police Chief Robert Annese is accused of using the power of his position to track down the person who rented a post office box to which surveys about the Police Department had been mailed.

Two plead guilty in kidnapping, robbery case

AUBURN — A Leeds man is expected to spend four years in prison in connection with the kidnapping and robbery of a Livermore Falls man.

Donald White, 30, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Androscoggin County Superior Court to those charges a day after his trial got under way. A judge sentenced him to eight years in prison with all but four years suspended. He also was ordered to spend three years on probation.