NEW LONDON, N.H. (AP) – Police in New London, New Hampshire, have charged the teen who crashed into a propane tank at Colby-Sawyer College this week and prompted an evacuation.

Seventeen-year-old Brennan Shanks of New London has been charged with reckless conduct.

Police Chief David Seastrand says Shanks drove off the road and onto a lawn area Monday that covers a dozen 1,000 gallon underground propane tanks. The crash damaged the valve on one tank, leading to a major leak and the evacuation of five campus buildings. No one was hurt the tank did not explode.

Man fabricated shark sighting

EDGARTOWN, Mass. (AP) – A 60-year-old man is facing a disorderly conduct charge after allegedly lying about seeing two great white sharks off a Martha’s Vineyard beach.

Edgartown Police Chief Paul Condlin said Michael Lopenzo warned people to get out of the water at the Joseph Silva State Beach on Thursday. Lopenzo claimed he had seen two sharks about 22 feet long and 3,000 pounds each while he was fishing.

Officials closed the beach, but Condlin said investigators later determined Lopenzo was lying.

Condlin say Lopenzo gave the name of a nonexistent boat and owner to detectives investigating the sighting.

Attempts to reach Lopenzo were not immediately successful.

A second beach was closed Thursday on the island – where the movie “Jaws” was filmed – after lifeguards at South Beach said they might have seen a great white shark.

The beaches were reopened Friday.

Teacher union backs Pingree

AUGUSTA (AP) – An umbrella organization for unions representing 25,000 teachers in Maine is throwing its support behind Democrat Chellie Pingree in the 1st Congressional District race.

The Maine Education Association announced Friday its decision to back the former Maine state senator and national director of Common Cause. She’s running against Republican Charlie Summers for the seat that’s being vacated by Rep. Tom Allen.

MEA President Chris Galway says Pingree has a history of supporting issues important to teachers including increased funding for public education and better retirement benefits for educators.

Suspect sentenced in home invasion

AUGUSTA (AP) – The final defendant in a Windsor home invasion is going to spend 19 years in prison for a robbery in which a 64-year-old man in a wheelchair was gagged and tied to a refrigerator.

Jacob McInnis, who’s 23, was ordered Friday to serve 16 years for robbery, conspiracy, kidnapping, burglary and theft charges stemming from the incident last July. He was on probation for a burglary and theft in York County at the time of the home invasion, so he must serve another 3 years in that case.

Three co-defendants, two of McInnis’s brothers and another man, were previously sentenced.

James McInnis Jr., 27, and Joshua McInnis, 25, were both ordered to serve eight years in prison; and Mark Miville, 34, was ordered to serve 12 years in prison.

PSB investigating nuke plant’s future

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – The Public Service Board is beginning the process that will decide whether to authorize the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to operate until 2032.

But some lawmakers are questioning whether the board will be able to complete its work before the end of the 2009 session of the Vermont Legislature.

Over the coming months, the Vernon plant will be studied by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the state Department of Public Service, and a citizens’ oversight panel.

To extend its license beyond 2012 the plant must get approvals from federal and state regulators and the Vermont Legislature.

Plant owner by Entergy Nuclear is now talking with Vermont utilities about a power purchase agreement in case the plant’s license is extended.

Dodds’ wife says he needs help

DOVER, N.H. (AP) – The wife of former New Hampshire congressional candidate Gary Dodds testified at his bail hearing that he desperately needs help following a confrontation between the two of them last week.

Cindy Dodds testified Friday that the two have been living apart for months, but have had regular contact. She had filed for divorce last month.

Prosecutors said she showed up at a hospital emergency room last week saying she had been kidnapped by Dodds. During a series of arguments, she says he told her he would rape her, blocked her escape, took her cell phone and car keys. She also says he stepped on the brake and grabbed the steering wheel while she was driving.

Gary Dodds has pleaded not guilty to assault and false imprisonment charges. A judge set bail at $25,000 personal recognizance and $10,000 cash, but prosecutors are trying to revoke his bail.

Dodds was charged with violating bail conditions imposed after he was convicted in February of faking his disappearance after a crash two years ago. In May, he was arrested after his wife reported that he had moved out of their home, had been acting erratically and had thrown her to the floor during an argument.

Friday’s hearing lasted several hours; it is scheduled to resume on Monday.