The defining moment of Thursday’s Maine State Police awards ceremony came when Lt. James Kelly, the presenter, got to 10-year-old Adrienne Tucker.

On Nov. 28 in Palmyra, the girl woke up to her mom saying that her boyfriend was going crazy and they had to get out of the house.

“As (Tucker) witnessed her mother being beaten by (Todd) Curry and threatening to kill them all, Curry went for a rifle,” Kelly read, becoming increasingly emotional. “Putting her own safety at risk, Adrienne alerted her 13-year-old brother, and then ran to her infant sister’s crib to bring her to safety.”

While watching her mother get out and believing that her brother had also gotten away, Tucker fled with her sister in her arms. Then, Kelly said, she heard gunfire and witnessed Curry shoot and kill her brother.

“Despite the harrowing situation, the brave actions of this young lady last November saved her little sister’s life,” said Kelly, who then bestowed to her the state police bravery award.

The crowd rose as one and gave the girl a standing ovation as she walked up to be recognized and photographed. Kelly continued to break down in the background.

“What she did was just unbelievable,” he said afterward. “Saving her sister’s life, and she’s only 10. That was a tough one.”

– Terry Karkos
Lowe’s at OPS?

Rumor: Oxford Plains Speedway will be sold and replaced with a Lowe’s home and garden center.

Fact: A Lowe’s store is planned for the town of Oxford, but the 11.8-acre site is several miles north of the speedway – on Route 26 opposite the entrance to the Hannaford supermarket.

Bill Ryan, the owner of OPS, believes a simple misunderstanding led to the rumor.

Developers Bob and Gary Bahre are leasing the site for the Lowe’s project. Bob Bahre is the owner of the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

“I think someone must have seen something that said ‘speedway’ and thought OPS was somehow involved,” said Ryan. “I think it was something as simple as someone said, ‘The guy who owns the speedway is developing a Lowe’s.’ “

Ryan plans to continue running auto races at OPS, a speedway since 1950.

– M. Dirk Langeveld
100 at the 99

Last year, Milton Chapman celebrated his 99th birthday at the Ninety-Nine Restaurant.

Next week he’ll celebrate 100 at … where else? The Ninety-Nine Restaurant.

“We couldn’t find a One Hundred Restaurant,” joked Chapman’s son, Bob.

Milton Chapman was born in Chesterville on Aug. 9, 1907. His father died when he was 6 and Chapman left home at a young age to work on farms and help support his family. As a young man, he began his career as a plumber, working at the Harry Nason plumbing firm in Auburn for years before starting his own business. He retired nearly 30 years ago, at the age of 72.

He and his wife, Lillian, were married for 68 years before her death in 2003.

Chapman now lives at Clover Manor Healthcare, an independent living facility. Although he uses a hearing aid and needs a walker for balance, he still exercises five days a week and reads voraciously.

On Saturday, a couple of days after he turns 100, Chapman’s son, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and friends will celebrate the milestone at the Auburn restaurant.

– Lindsay Tice

A weighty matter

Since opening at his new location, DaVinci’s owner Jules Patry has been on the move nonstop.

Good for business and, it seems, his waistline.

But Patry’s found an unfortunate downside in his unexpected downsize. He’d been looking forward to participating in The Fat Man’s race in Somerville, Mass., later this month.

Participants in the 10K race run a mile, stop, swig a Guinness, then scarf down a hot dog. On to the next checkpoint, where the sequence is repeated and so on until the race ends.

“It’s not for serious runners,” said Patry wryly.

But it is for people who can tip the scales at 200 pounds or more. Patry is 10 pounds shy.

Perhaps the solution is right under his nose. Alfredo sauce, garlic knots and a couple of pieces of cake from the dessert case should do it. Chow, baby.

– Carol Coultas