Rep. Elaine Makas, D-Lewiston, is getting around slowly these days after breaking her left foot and right leg on a flight from Florida to Maine.

On Dec. 28 Makas and her 95-year-old mother were flying over Georgia, returning from a Christmas holiday.

Suddenly the plane was hit with unexpected, violent turbulence. Unfortunately for Makas, she was making her way back to her seat from the bathroom.

“I hung on for four or five good jolts, then lost my grip and got thrown against the wall,” Makas said.

She now cannot walk on either leg and has to use a wheelchair. Rep. Lillian O’Brien, D-Lewiston, is driving Makas to and from the State House.

“I look so pathetic,” Makas said Friday. At the State House she has a sign on the back of her wheelchair that reads: “Don’t underestimate me. I may have broken my right leg and left foot, but if it’s something that affects the people of Lewiston, I can still kick butt!”

– Bonnie Washuk

Tossed teddies

Hundreds of teddy bears headed to local charities have spent the past few weeks beneath a stairwell at the Colisee.

They’re only hibernating, though. Each bear remains bound for a child’s arms.

The teddies were gathered during a pre-Christmas Maineiacs game, when people were asked to toss the bears onto the ice following the first Lewiston goal.

It’s become a holiday ritual for the team, which supports a variety of local charities, including the March of Dimes, area Scouts and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

However, with hundreds of bears still stuffed under the stairs, some people worried that the bears might never reach the children.

They need not worry.

The Abused Women’s Advocacy Project scooped up its bears right away.

Two other organizations, Advocacy for Children and Androscoggin Head Start, are scheduled to pick theirs up shortly.

The bears will wait patiently.

– Daniel Hartill
Law needs tightening

The Ethics Commission called for parts of the Clean Election Act to be tightened by state legislators after fining four people for misusing campaign money.

The case involving Daniel Rogers, Jessica Larlee, Julia St. James and Sarah Trundy was a good test of the law, showing where it needs improvement, said commission Chairwoman Jean Ginn Marvin.

For example, if a campaign worker takes money to do a job but doesn’t do it, the state cannot force the worker to pay restitution.

And commissioners seemed frustrated Thursday because they could only fine Rogers $200 – not $5,000 as recommended by staff – for fake mailings.

He mailed campaign literature urging voters to “support homosexuals by voting Democrat” and attributed the message to The Coalition for Homosexual Marriage in Maine. No such group exists.

Existing language prevented the commission from fining Rogers for each piece of literature, something that may change.

– Bonnie Washuk