Saturday, November 7, 2009 in Lewiston, Maine

Auburn-Lewiston:
Broken clouds, 39.2 °F

Go Leavitt

Nov 07, 2009 1:59 am

Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Leavitt Area High School fans react as runningback Josh Strickland takes off on a long run during Friday night's playoff game against Hampden Academy. Story on Page C1.

Prison worker indicted

Nov 07, 2009 1:52 am

LEWISTON — A prison social worker arrested in a drug sting on Main Street in August has been indicted on charges that she schemed to sneak drugs into the prison system.

Kathryn A. Gerrish, 42, of Searsmont, was indicted by an Androscoggin County grand jury on charges of unlawful drug furnishing and trafficking in prison contraband.

Maine Drug Enforcement agents and investigators from the Maine State Prison system teamed up to arrest Gerrish on Aug. 26 in an operation that was finalized outside Marden's.

Van rolls in Lisbon; family unhurt

Nov 07, 2009 1:02 am

LISBON — A Lisbon Falls family escaped apparent injury in a rollover late Friday morning on Route 9.

According to investigating officer Jeffrey Williams, Christian Arsenault, 28, was driving north when he became distracted as he tried to brush an insect from his arm. His vehicle careened to the right, then crossed the southbound lane, struck a tree and rolled over. He complained of knee pain but declined medical attention, Officer Williams said.

His wife, Casey, 26, and 2-year-old daughter who were riding with him were not injured.

More damage

Nov 07, 2009 12:59 am
DURHAM — Damage to a Subaru involved in an accident Thursday in Durham and driven by Jennifer Fitzpatrick of Durham was estimated at $15,000. The information in a story on B2 of Friday's City edition was incorrectly reported by the Sun Journal.

Lisbon school clinic rescheduled

Nov 07, 2009 12:58 am

LISBON — The H1N1 vaccination clinic scheduled at Lisbon Community School on Saturday has been rescheduled to Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

School officials said that as of Friday, the vaccine had not been received.

The clinic at the school on Mill Street is for all students in grades kindergarten through 12.

For more information, contact Mary Ellen Bechard at 353-3055 or e-mail mbechard@lisbonschoolsme.org.

Police log

Nov 07, 2009 12:57 am
Charges

Lewiston

• James Foolman , 24, of 118 Walnut St., violating bail conditions, 12:34 p.m. Thursday in Lewiston.

• Henry DiMouro, 33, of 353 Lisbon St., violating bail, 6:59 p.m. Thursday at that address.

• Jennifer Louze, 28, of 126 Oak St., violating bail, 4:30 p.m. Thursday at that address.

• Erika Bean, 32, of 140 Granite St., Auburn, warrant charging driving with a suspended license, 12:34 a.m. Friday at Lisbon and Maple streets.

Briefly

Nov 07, 2009 12:45 am

Art club

LEWISTON — The Auburn-Lewiston Art and Literature Club will meet at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Woman's Literary Union House. Cindy Visbaris, a registered nurse and health educator at Bates College, will be the speaker.

Visbaris will discuss the healing programs she developed locally, helping adults use their creative processes to solve problems. She enjoys creating jewelry as well and is the owner of Sparklz and Stonz Artisan Jewelry. The public is welcome.

Giving tree

Reporters' notebook

Nov 07, 2009 12:11 am

'Tom' knows Tony Soprano

Fans of the HBO series "The Sopranos" may have recognized "Tom the Tow Truck Driver" in a recent political advertisement about Maine's Question 2. It turns out Tom, the gruff tow man who grumbled about his rich clients paying less excise tax if the referendum passed, was played by John Fiore, a veteran character actor from Boston known for his portrayal of Soprano family capo Gigi Cestone in seasons two and three of the hit mob drama.

Maine prison social worker facing drug charges

Nov 06, 2009 10:06 am
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) - A 41-year-old prison social worker is facing charges she tried to smuggle illegal drugs into a prison.

WMTW-television says an Androscoggin County Grand Jury indicted Kathryn Gerrish of Searsmont on charges of unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs and trafficking in prison contraband.

The station says Gerrish was arrested last August in a Lewiston parking lot after she allegedly tried to buy prescription drugs from an undercover state drug agent.

Swearing in

Nov 06, 2009 3:54 am

Amber Waterman/Sun Journal

David Carvalho, as Deputy Rory Riley, left, is sworn in by Zach Powell during a mock trial staged by Lewiston and Lake Region high schools Thursday at 8th District Court in Lewiston.  Students from Lake Region in Naples were defending "Casey Campbell," a character played by Aaron McDaniel, who allegedly made a bomb threat on Stephen King High School in a make-believe town in Maine. Carvalho and Riley attend Lewiston High School.

Three hurt in Durham crashes

Nov 06, 2009 2:57 am

DURHAM — Three drivers were hurt and four vehicles demolished in separate accidents on slush-covered roads Thursday morning, state police said.

Jennifer Fitzpatrick, 59, of Durham had to be extricated from her Subaru after it and a Toyota driven by Kenneth Koenke, 61, of Freeport, collided on Route 136 at 7:30 a.m., Trooper Mike Chavez said. Crews from Durham Fire and Rescue and Freeport Rescue got Fitzpatrick out of her car.

What do other high schools do?

Nov 06, 2009 2:54 am

Statewide, most high schools post grades online and parents are encouraged to monitor their children's work, according to the Maine Department of Education.

But the department does not keep track of which schools do not send home report cards. When a few area high school officials were asked if they stopped sending home report cards they responded:

Poland Regional High School: Yes.

Council election results

Nov 06, 2009 2:53 am

Editor's note: The results of the Auburn and Lewiston City Council elections were reported in Wednesday's edition in chart form. At readers' request, below is a summary of those results.

Lewiston

City Councilor Denis Theriault, who unseated former Councilor Ron Jean in 2007, was unseated by Jean Tuesday in Ward 4 voting. Jean, who served on the council from 1999 to 2007, got 1,064 votes to Theriault's 801 votes.

Lewiston man charged with OUI after Freeport pedestrian injured

Nov 06, 2009 2:43 am

FREEPORT — Police said a 14-year-old Freeport boy was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a car Wednesday evening. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and charged with operating under the influence.

Police log

Nov 06, 2009 2:18 am

Charges

 

Lewiston

 

• Steven Henry Lemote, 46, of 5 Bartlett St. on a charge of domestic violence assault, 6:24 p.m. Wednesday at 5 Bartlett St.

• Robert Roger Morin, 40, of 134 Bartlett St. on a warrant, 9:23 p.m. Wednesday at 101 Bartlett St.

 

Auburn

 

• Michael Anthony Eno, 24, of 117 High St. on a charge of violating condition of release, 11:55 a.m. Wednesday at that address.

Underpass finished, ribbon-cutting Nov. 20

Nov 06, 2009 1:57 am

AUBURN — Work extending the Riverwalk path under Court Street to West Pitch Park is finished, and an official ribbon-cutting is scheduled for later this month.

Auburn Community Services Director Eric Labelle said crews finished paving the path under Longley Bridge on Friday and removed barriers, opening the underpass. It connects Auburn's Riverwalk path, which runs along the Androscoggin River, to the path behind the Hilton Garden Inn.

Government at a glance

Nov 06, 2009 1:51 am
Board: Turner selectmen
Met: Monday, Nov. 2
Liquor license
Issue: New owners of Timmy Turner's Pizzeria are seeking to acquire a liquor license for the restaurant.
The scoop: The board heard from Harrington Ventures Inc. of Greene and the public about the liquor license request so that the restaurant could serve beer and wine to its patrons.

Grades go online: No more report cards at EL

Nov 06, 2009 1:20 am

Bonnie Washuk/Sun Journal 

Edward Little High School seniors Emily Dumont, left, and Hanna Mogensen, right, show how parents can look at their students' grades online. This year, Edward Little will not mail report cards to homes, instead asking parents to look online. All other Auburn schools will continue to send report cards to homes.

Bangor City Manager Barrett added to list of possible Lewiston Administrators

Nov 06, 2009 12:00 am

LEWISTON — City councilors have added a fourth name to their list of city administrator candidates: Bangor City Manager Ed Barrett.

Councilors interviewed Barrett at a hastily scheduled executive session at Lewiston City Hall on Wednesday night, then added him to their short list of candidates.

The council has scheduled a meeting for Nov. 18 to continue interviews with Barrett and the other candidates — Acting City Administrator Phil Nadeau, former Falmouth Town Manager John "Doug" Harris and former Gardiner City Manager Jeffrey Kobrock.

Leeds man indicted in hit-and-run

Nov 06, 2009 12:00 am

AUBURN — A Leeds man was indicted Thursday on charges stemming from a hit-and-run crash in September that left a Turner man in critical condition.

Donald White, 30, of 113 Anson Road, was charged with elevated aggravated assault, aggravated assault, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to appear in court.

The grand jury also charged him with theft by extortion in connection with an unrelated case.

Gustin son reacts to possible camp sale

Nov 06, 2009 12:00 am

SABATTUS — In the 1930s, Charles Gustin sent his two sons to a Boy Scout camp in Raymond in hopes that they would learn about the land and have fun doing it.

It turns out that Gustin, who worked in lumber and delivered mail, learned plenty himself.

"He fell in love with the idea of camping and the Scouts and what me and my brother were being taught," said George Gustin, now 77 years old. "That's when he became interested in getting some land where kids could have a camp and learn the ways of the wild."

Solidarity

Nov 05, 2009 4:42 am
Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
 
 Rob Walker, left, and Chris Galgay, both of the Maine Education Association, join Auburn teachers during a solidarity vigil outside Auburn City Hall on Wednesday evening. About 125 people gathered to show their support for a new contract prior to the start of the Auburn School Committee meeting. Auburn teachers have been working without a contract since August 2008, said union President Timothy Wegmann, a

Lisbon elects officers

Nov 05, 2009 2:58 am

LISBON — In the two-way Water Commission race in Tuesday's municipal election, incumbent Commissioner Stanley Doughty Jr. was re-elected to a three-year seat by defeating challenger Kenneth Wells, 2,009 to 1,241, Town Clerk Twila Lycette said Wednesday.

In other election news, Richard Graham of Webster Road was elected by two write-in votes to a three-year seat on the Budget Advisory Board in District I. 

Learning Origami

Nov 05, 2009 2:25 am

Experts: Fear in 'Yes on 1' ads changed the outcome

Nov 05, 2009 1:44 am

LEWISTON — Television ads about gay marriage made the difference in the yes side winning on Question 1 in Tuesday's election, political experts said Wednesday.

A "yes" vote favored repealing Maine's law allowing same-sex couples to marry.

The "No on 1" campaign had effective ads, but many were soft right to the end, which helped their opponents, pundits said.

Copyright 2009 Sun Media Group