Almanac editor apologizes for wet summer; more to come

LEWISTON — When it comes to foul-weather forecasts, Peter Geiger tells people not to shoot the messenger.

The editor of the Farmers' Almanac apologized Wednesday for accurately predicting a wet summer in the Northeast.

For June 1-3, the almanac predicted "cool weather after showers and thunderstorms." For June 4-7, it called for "low clouds and fog" with "rain and thunderstorms prevailing" over New England.

Historical Society cuts back

AUBURN — Financially squeezed by the sour economy and a poorly selling book, the Androscoggin Historical Society has eliminated its only staff position.

Michael Lord, who has run day-to-day operations for almost 13 years, will finished his job next week.

"In 20-20 hindsight, I guess I should have seen it coming," Lord said. "But I thought I was pretty secure."

The decision to lay off Lord was tough, society President David Young said Friday.

CITgolfcampSAP0626

Jose Leiva/Sun Journal

Callie Samson, 9, a student at Trinity Catholic School in Lewiston, takes aim at her target Thursday while hitting balls at Roy's Golf Driving Range in Auburn. Samson was part of group of youngsters participating in the St. Dom's beginner golf camp. Camp golf instructor Richard Paradis, a 2009 St. Doms graduate, said campers are learning more than just golf, they learn about life, hard work, patience and, above, all honesty and integrity.

Hit it again!

Ryan Lavoie, 15, holds a punching bag for Erik Wilson, 14, outside Wilson's home on Mitchell Street in Lewiston on Tuesday. Wilson is using the bag to get in shape, said the Lewiston High School sophomore.

Gilikson elected to Durham board

DURHAM — Newcomer Philip Gilikson was elected to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday with 41 votes in a four-way race.
Michelle Thibeault received 28 votes, Troy Planche, 11, and Malcolm Shove, 7. Jill Toher and Terry Kirk received one write-in vote each.
Gilikson will serve the rest of Christine Charette's term, which expires at town meeting 2011. She resigned in March.
Just 89 out of 3,421 registered voters cast ballots, Town Clerk Shannon Plourde said.

Gray man, 78, found dead in Little Sebago

GRAY — The body of a 78-year-old Gray man found floating face down in Little Sebago Lake on Tuesday afternoon will be examined by the State Medical Examiner's Office on Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

Police log

Charges

Auburn
• Keith James Craig, 48, of 27 Boothby St., Augusta, trafficking in dangerous knives and an unspecified warrant, 9:14 p.m. at Washington Street and Brickyard Circle.
• Jason Alec Pratt, 31, of 20 Johnson St., South Gardiner, domestic violence assault (with priors) and possession of marijuana, 9:14 p.m. at Washington and Brickyard Circle.
• Thomas P. Collins Jr., 35, of 87 University St. No. 42, Auburn, unspecified warrant, 11:46 p.m. Monday on Plummer Street.

Father, daughter hurt in N.H. crash remain hospitalized

HANOVER, N.H. — A Lewiston man and his 3-year-old daughter were listed in satisfactory condition Tuesday with injuries from a traffic accident Friday that killed three people, including the child's mother.

Christopher Caron, 27, of Lewiston was  taken to  Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, N.H., Friday night after the 2000 Ford Explorer he was driving collided with another vehicle at about 5 p.m. along Route 2 near Randolph, N.H.

Mischief at Pioneer Plastics plant investigated

AUBURN — Police are investigating a case of criminal mischief at Pioneer Plastics, Deputy Chief Jason Moen said Tuesday. It involved plant equipment but he declined to release what had been damaged and how badly.

"As we're setting up interviews with people we don't want to tip our hand," Moen said.

He expected detectives to spend the week interviewing employees. The company called police to report the damage Monday.

Street Talk with Mark LaFlamme: Butterfly may be responsible for everything

Here's a little known fact about me: I'm a big believer in chaos theory.

You know how it goes. A butterfly flapping its wings off the coast of Myanmar might set about a chain of events that culminate over time so that they have a direct impact across the world, perhaps as far away as Lewiston, Maine.

It's hard to fathom, I know. But watch.

That hard pumping butterfly causes a minuscule tweak — I mean just the displacing of a raindrop or two — to the weather pattern over the Indian Ocean.

Potvin could challenge Jenkins for mayor; candidates seeking nominations

AUBURN — Incumbents and a handful of challengers have stepped forward to fill opening seats on the Auburn City Council.
All seven city councilors and Mayor John Jenkins are passing petitions trying to guarantee a spot on the November ballot, according to City Clerk Mary Lou Magno. Nominating petitions for mayor, City Council and School Committee seats became available Monday. In all, 11 have taken out nomination papers.

They have until Aug. 20 to collect signatures and secure a spot on the ballot.

Six testing water for Lewiston Council bid

LEWISTON — Six candidates, including one sitting councilor, have signaled their intent to run for seats on the City Council this year, circulating nominating petitions.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no petitions had been handed in to the City Clerk's office. The petitions for a spot on the Nov. 3 ballot became available Monday.

By the numbers

Hummingbird
343: Number of species in the world
60 mph: Dive speed of bird
30: Percent of bird's weight that is flight muscles
5 to 10 years: Life span of birds
250: Breaths taken by bird every minute
Source: www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-the-hummingbirds.html

Moose killed by cops after roaming mall, downtown

LEWISTON — After rampaging through a local mall earlier in the day, a moose was shot Monday early afternoon by police in the backyard of a downtown apartment building.

The cow moose, weighing roughly 500 pounds, took refuge at the shaded lawn behind the Pine Street building after suffering a broken leg, police said.

Police used two rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun to kill the animal.

Unlicensed driver crashes through movie theater doors

AUBURN — It wasn't a drive-in movie theater, but that didn't stop a car from paying a visit to the lobby on Sunday.

A 21-year-old woman learning to drive in the parking lot of Flagship Cinema on Center Street mistook the gas pedal for the brake in the 1999 Ford she was driving at 11 a.m. Sunday, police wrote in an accident report. The theater was closed and vacant at the time, police said.

Police log

Charges
Auburn
• Teneitra Morgan Grenier, 28, of 227 Route 126, Monmouth, disorderly conduct, 12:59 a.m. Friday at Club Texas, 150 Center St.
• Janette Rich, 21, of 15 High St., violating conditions of release, 11:05 a.m. Thursday at that address.
• Roger Cornell, 67, of 250 Hackett Road, violating conditions of bail, 8:26 p.m. Thursday at the police station.
• Kyle M. Baril, 18, of 50 Maplewood Lane, Greene, domestic violence assault and criminal mischief, 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 603 Center St.

Teresa the turtle

Maine's Nadeau claims federal highway post

WASHINGTON — Former Maine Department of Transportation staffer Gregory Nadeau joins the Federal Highway Administration on Wednesday as deputy administrator.
Nadeau has served as the deputy commissioner for Policy, Planning and Communications for the MDOT since 2002, managing the state's transportation planning, freight and business services. He also served on the Maine Turnpike Authority's Board of Directors, and was the state transportation department's liaison to Maine congressional delegation.

Lewiston crime bulletin

Arrests
Justin Edwards, 18, charged with criminal mischief, refusing to submit to arrest, minor consuming liquor, and indecent conduct on July 1 at 7:21 p.m.  Officers responded to the area at the request of Bates Security personnel, who were chasing Edwards after he was seen urinating in public and then damaged a golf cart.
Burglaries
The Blue Goose at 69 Sabattus St. was burglarized overnight June 29-30. Entry was gained by removing an air conditioner. Liquor was taken from inside.

New Gloucester begins new fiscal year with new appointments

NEW GLOUCESTER — Selectmen began a new round of work Monday in the new fiscal year that began July 1.
The board worked at assigning its five members as liaisons to town volunteer committees and began spending funds that voters approved in May.

After grower's death, Wallingford's Fruit House taken over by Ricker orchards

Pete Ricker will be the new face that hundreds of people will see when they show up at Wallingford's Fruit House in Auburn to pick apples and eat homemade donuts this fall. Ricker will operate the orchards following the death of well known owner Peter Wallingford.

Motorcyclist remains hospitalized

LEWISTON — A Lewiston man remained hospitalized Monday following a motorcycle crash at Russell and Sabattus streets late Sunday night.
Aaron Bell, 30, remained in Central Maine Medical Center, according to a nursing supervisor, but no additional information was available about his condition as of Monday night.

Government at a Glance, Auburn City Council July 6

Government at a glance

Board: Auburn City Council

Met: Monday night

Growth rules

Biker hospitalized after Lewiston crash

LEWISTON — The condition of a Lewiston man taken to Central Maine Medical Center after a motorcycle accident was unknown late Sunday night.
Police in Lewiston brought in a reconstruction crew to investigate the accident that occurred shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Sabattus and Russell streets in front of Getty's Gas Station.
Few details were available late Sunday and officials declined to release the man's name until his condition could be determined.

Lewiston man remains hospitalized after N.H. head-on crash

RANDOLPH, N.H. — A Lewiston man remained in a New Hampshire hospital following a Friday evening head-on crash in Randolph, N.H., that claimed the lives of three people — including a Lewiston mother.
Christopher Caron, 27, of Lewiston, was listed in fair condition at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, N.H., according to a nursing supervisor. A passenger in the 2000 Ford Explorer he was driving — Rachel Metivier, 26, of Lewiston — was pronounced dead at the scene Friday night.