AUBURN — A 22-year-old Greene man has pleaded guilty to torching an Auburn apartment building last April. Randen Schmidt pleaded guilty to arson, a felony, in Androscoggin County Superior Court on Thursday. In accordance with a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but two-and-a-half […]
fire
Winthrop student gets 1 year in Manchester fire case; also involved in Livermore Falls fire
AUGUSTA — The accused ringleader in a Feb. 21 blaze that leveled a vacant Manchester farmhouse pleaded guilty Wednesday to reduced charges. Jordan Conant, 20, of Winthrop was the final defendant to admit to his role in the Scribner Hill Road fire. Conant, who originally was charged with arson and aggravated criminal mischief, pleaded guilty […]
Bells, motorcycles all part of Sept. 11 remembrance
LEWISTON — Police, fire and veterans groups will all combine efforts Saturday morning to remember the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and to help local homeless people. The day will include a ceremony and breakfast at L-A Harley-Davidson on Main Street in Lewiston, a daylong motorcycle poker run and a surf and turf dinner at […]
Medical practices to return to Medical Arts Center
FARMINGTON — Seven months after a fire extensively damaged the east wing of the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center, hospital officials have announced that Franklin Health Pediatrics, Surgery and Urology will reoccupy their offices in the center on Sept. 13. A health facilities specialist for the medical division of Licensing and Regulatory Services of the […]
Animals perish in early morning fire on Old Jay Hill Road
JAY — Raymond Fleury had just brought four of his cows into his barn to milk early Thursday morning when he smelled smoke. In the few minutes it took to call for help, the historic wood-frame barn at 347 Old Jay Hill Road was burning, quickly igniting 2,000 bales of newly-harvested hay and killing cows, […]
‘Muse of Fire’ explores life of one of the greatest — and most feared — conductors of 20th century
LEWISTON — “Muse of Fire,” a one-man play about the art of conducting with music written and performed by David Katz, will be presented Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Franco-American Heritage Center. The play is directed by Tony Award-winning actor and Broadway director Charles Nelson Reilly, Based on true events, “Muse of Fire” dramatizes the […]
Police investigate ‘suspicious’ College Street fire
LEWISTON — Police, the fire department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office on Saturday were investigating a “suspicious” College Street fire that left one man in critical care. Fire Capt. Larry Morin said the fire started on the back porch at 92 College St. and spread up to the third floor before midnight Friday. Fire […]
Burning desire: A Lewiston mother struggles with her fire-setting 7-year-old
LEWISTON — Raequann Lunt started his first fire almost three years ago. He’d found matches and lit a sock in his bedroom. He was 5. Two years ago, he placed his pillow on the stove and turned on the burner. That fire gutted the kitchen. He was 6. In May, while Raequann (Ray-KWAN) was visiting […]
Rangeley officials, commissioners disagree on fire service costs
FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners told Rangeley officials Tuesday that the commission budgeted $18,542 for that town’s Fire Department to cover structure fires in some unorganized territories but wouldn’t pay for equipment. The county contracts with Rangeley for that service. Rangeley Town Manager Perry Ellsworth, fire Chief Rudy Davis and Capt. Dennis Marquis met with […]