Super bowlers found

Talk about the power of the press. A day after a story ran about Jim Handy looking for bowlers, he announced he has his team.

In Thursday’s story Handy was having a hard time finding volunteers to play for the Lewiston School Committee team in the 6th Annual Super Bowling Saturday on Feb. 5. Few committee members wanted to play, or could play.

On Friday, Handy, who chairs the School Committee, announced he had his team. Members’ names, and bowling averages (out of a perfect score of 300), are: Handy, 126; School Committee member Sonia Taylor, 60; Jan O’Brien, Handy’s twin sister, 60; city councilor and former School Committee member John Butler, 150; and their best hope, Lewiston High student Cam Marcotte, 215.

Average scores of 60? Well, that’s what Handy said. Could it be Taylor and O’Brien are being modest?

Rep. Peggy Rotondo, D-Lewiston, said her team, the Lewiston Legislative Delegation, challenged their Republican colleagues from Auburn last year, and the same two teams plan to face off this year. “Last year they cleaned our clock,” Rotundo said.

Rep. Bruce Bickford, R-Auburn, has lined up some ringers, his two sons who bowl on the high school team.

Rotundo said she can’t bowl because of bum arms. “I still go to cheer them on, and to give Mike Beaulieu a hard time.”

The bowl-athon raises money for the Lewiston Education Fund, which gives out scholarships and teacher grants.

The time of the Annual Super Bowling Saturday, Feb. 5, has been changed. It wil be noon to 3 p.m.

– Bonnie Washuk

Speeder of the week

At the end of every week, Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland sends out a newsletter called the Communicator. It’s always a good read.

Here’s one reason why: It features a “speeder of the week” and tells about people driving 100 miles per hour or more.

This week’s “prize” goes to Tobie Clement, 43, of Portland. Trooper Roger Teachout recently saw Clement passing cars at high speed on the Maine Turnpike in Saco, McCausland said. Clement was driving a pickup, passing cars weaving back and forth around vehicles in all three lanes, Teachout said.

Clement was charged with driving at 90 miles per hour, following too closely and unsafe lane changes. He had a valid driver’s license, but his record shows he’s had his license suspended 27 times and has 34 prior convictions, McCausland reported.

– Bonnie Washuk