Deal for spring demo of Bates No. 5 could go to council in December

LEWISTON  — A Boston demolition team could begin preparing to knock down the Bates Mill building No. 5 in March.

The city and demolition firm North American Site Developers Inc. of Boston will get an additional 60 days to work out the financial details for the demolition project.

The firm had the low bid on the demolition of the iconic sawtooth-roofed building that looms over downtown, agreeing to knock it down, remove all asbestos and back-fill the site for $782,000.

Former players turn into cheerleaders

What do you get when you add a $9 Wal-Mart plaid mini skirt with fake wigs and green-and-white body paint?

The "Winthrop Rowdies."

Former starters and 2009 graduates for the Winthrop Ramblers' football team Skyler Whaley, 19, and Chad Morang, 18, returned to the field Saturday afternoon, but not as players.

As cheerleaders of sorts.

"This is Braveheart," Whaley said. "Braveheart never gave up, and Winthrop will never give up!"

Trial set for Leeds men accused of kidnapping, robbery

AUBURN — Attorneys on Monday picked a jury for the upcoming trial of two men accused of kidnapping, assaulting and robbing a Livermore Falls man earlier this year.

Donald White, 30, and David Surette, 19, both of Leeds, are scheduled to go to trial next week, a clerk at Androscoggin County Superior Court said Monday. They are charged with multiple felonies stemming from a March incident.

Crash victim was caring, 'loved by her peers'

AUBURN — Lisa White, 36, was remembered Monday as someone who loved being a wife and mother, and who was caring with residents at the Clover Manor Residential Center, where she worked.

Her daughter, Marissa White, 4, was remembered as "daddy's little girl," a sweet, smiling child who loved books and going to preschool.

Mother and daughter died Saturday afternoon when a truck crossed the centerline and crashed into the White's Oldsmobile on Minot Avenue near Mac's Grill.

Man jumps from five-story building to avoid arrest

LEWISTON — A man trying to escape police by attempting to jump from a fifth-floor balcony to a  nearby tree is lucky to be alive after plunging five stories to the ground Monday night.

Lt. Mark Watson, of the Lewiston Police Department, said that 27-year-old John Esty Jr., of Lewiston, jumped off a balcony at 295 Bates St. shortly before 10 p.m. when officers arrived to arrest him on a probation hold. He was transported to Central Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Maineiacs, fans show appreciation for veterans

LEWISTON — It was all red, white and blue for Veterans Appreciation Day at Sunday's Maineiacs hockey game held at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Military families, veterans, those on active duty and plain old patriots gathered to cheer on the local hockey team while taking time out periodically to remember and honor those who have served our country. 

Police Log

Charges

Lewiston

• Matthew Scott Rouille, 19, of Naples, on a charge of operating under the influence at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 502 Canal St.

• Raymond John Cloutier, 57, of 33 Beckett St., on a charge of operating under the influence at 12:05 a.m. Sunday at 231 Farwell St.

• Daniel Ernest Konopka, 21, of 307 Bates St., on a charge of violation of condition of release at 1:45 a.m. Sunday at same address.

UMaine students to present their downtown Lewiston visions

LEWISTON —  A group of architecture students will present their visions for Lewiston's downtown at a special meeting on Nov. 13.

"They came up with some great ideas, very interesting but modest, too," said Ian Houseal, assistant to the Lewiston city administrator.

Lewiston crime bulletin

Incident report statistics

Between 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Lewiston police responded to 137 calls for service. Of those calls, 137 were motor vehicle stops.

Accidents: 38

Disorderly disturbances: 14

Domestic disputes: 22

Arrests: 35

Criminal mischief

A vehicle parked at 27 Bartlett St. had a window broken between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 4.

A residence at 481 Main St. was tagged with graffiti prior to 1 a.m. on Oct. 30.

War veteran attending Bates has heart still in Afghanistan

Jose Leiva/Sun Journal

Reporters' notebook

Current law has a bitter taste

Beware the law of unintended consequences — or rather, when creating laws, beware of consequences unintended.

Rep. Stacey Fitts, R-Pittsfield, has put forth a bill proposal to correct a law passed earlier this year that effectively bans wine shops and specialty stores from offering wine and other alcoholic beverage tastings.

Cassiel's offers haven for breast cancer patients

LEWISTON — Cassiel's Day Spa has partnered with "PIPS," whose mission is to help breast cancer survivors who are struggling emotionally and financially. It's a place where people who are experiencing the same pains of living with the disease can gather to laugh, hope and, sometimes, cry together.

PIPS co-founder Claudette Caron stresses that PIPS is not a club, but a haven that is open to all people in the community who are living with breast cancer. The group meets at Caron's home each month.

Film 'The Way We Get By' showing at CMCC

AUBURN — The award-winning documentary film "The Way We Get By" will be presented at Central Maine Community College as part of a weeklong observance of National Veterans Awareness Week.

"The Way We Get By" is a story about troop greeters, a group of senior citizens, who gathered daily at the Bangor International Airport to thank American soldiers departing and returning from Iraq.

Crash victims remain in hospital, police say

AUBURN — Victims of a fatal crash on Saturday afternoon in Auburn, which left two dead and three in critical condition, were identified by police on Sunday evening.

Lisa White, 36, of Auburn and her daughter, Marissa White, 4, were both killed in the accident, which occurred at about 2 p.m. on Minot Avenue near Mac's Grill on Saturday, according to Auburn police. Lisa White was killed instantly, and Marissa White died later at Central Maine Medical Center, according to police.

Police log

Charges

Lewiston

• Kenny Roy Giles, 33, of 291 Lisbon St., Lewiston, on warrants at 5:28 p.m. Friday at 391 Lisbon St.

• Keith Dale Gammon, 43, of 101 Birch St., Lewiston, on a charge of violating conditions of release at 9:15 p.m. Friday at 43 Walnut St.

Photos: At the train show

Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Fender bender sends two to hospital

LISBON — Two drivers escaped with apparently minor injuries in a rear-end collision Saturday morning on Route 196 in Lisbon center.

Officer Gabrielle Mathieu identified the drivers as Catherine Saxon, 58, of Lisbon and Nathen Schneider, 36, of Lisbon Falls.

Free events offered for veterans

GRAY — The Maine Wildlife Park will offer free admission to veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 11. That's also the day the park will close for the season.

The Maine Wildlife Park has more than 30 species of native wildlife on display, plus wildlife gardens, nature trails, and other interactive exhibits and displays. The park will be open Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Regular admission to the park is free for ages 3 and under; $5 for ages 5 to 12; $7 for adults; and $5 for seniors. Groups of 15 or more pay $3.50 per person. 

 

Development, teamwork keys for city administrator candidates

LEWISTON — Leadership, team-building and an eye toward economic development: all things candidates for the city administrator job say they'd bring to the city if they are hired.

Councilors are considering four finalists, one of whom will replace Jim Bennett, who was ousted in July. The City Council has scheduled a meeting with at least two candidates on Nov. 18.

All four have years of experience in Maine municipal government.

Honesty, ingenuity top traits officials want in new administrator

LEWISTON — Mayor Larry Gilbert has a long list of wants for the new city administrator, but Gilbert sums up his list with one word: professionalism.

His list includes honesty, integrity and an ability to encourage teamwork as important aspects of the job. He also mentions innovation, experience and respect from his peers in municipal government as important traits. 

Help comes for abandoned cats

A week ago, Martha Truscott, Diane Jellison and Cynthia Parent couldn't get anyone to help them — or even return their calls — as they struggled to care for more than two dozen abandoned cats in Lewiston and Auburn.

Now they have so many offers of help that they're a little stunned.

"I couldn't believe it. I was kind of overwhelmed," said Jellison of one women who donated a carload of cat food and blankets Friday. "I was just standing there going, 'Oh, my word.'"

7 Jordan brothers: For their service, their names will live on — engraved for all to see in Veterans Memorial Park

POLAND — Two days before the war in Europe ended in 1945, Laurence Jordan woke in a tent hospital in Austria. His wounds, the result of a German bazooka shell and a gunshot to the jaw, left him in so much pain that he wanted to die.

"I remember waking up with bandages wrapped around me with little holes for my eyes and mouth," said Jordan, now 85. He prayed, seizing on a New Testament plea to "give thanks in all circumstances."

He would learn that surviving ran in the family.

Vets Day prayer service Wednesday

LEWISTON — Prince of Peace Parish at Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus St., will host a community-wide Veterans Day Prayer Service on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The service will begin at 6:30 p.m.

This is the sixth year that Holy Family has offered the "We Remember and Give Thanks" evening of refection, honoring those who have served and those who are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is community service and all are invited, no matter what their denomination or faith affiliation.

Two killed in Minot Avenue crash

AUBURN —  A woman and her 4-year-old daughter were killed Saturday afternoon on Minot Avenue when a pickup truck pulling a trailer veered into oncoming traffic and struck the woman's car, police said.

The accident occurred at about 1:55 p.m. on Minot Avenue near Mac's Grill, according to Auburn police who did not release the names of anyone involved in the accident, pending notification of relatives. 

Go Leavitt

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.