The following news items are excerpts from The South Portlander, a daily blog by Linda Hersey, The Current’s South Portland reporter. Find it at www.southportlander.com:

(Posted Oct. 20)

The city’s loss is a gain for Southern Maine Community College.

City Manager Jim Gailey announced today that Finance Director Rob Coombs is resigning to become dean of finance at SMCC.

Here is the announcement to city workers and the council from Gailey:

“With regrets I write to inform you all that Rob Coombs, the City’s Finance Director, has submitted his resignation. Rob has accepted the Dean of Finance position at Southern Maine Community College. Rob has been a valuable asset to the City since 1997. His knowledge, leadership, loyalty and friendship will be sorely missed. I wish Rob all the luck in his new adventure and his professional development. Rob’s last day will be Nov. 24.”

Women officers in SoPo to be honored

This is a day for police news. Female police officers are about to be honored at a special awards ceremony. Two women officers from South Portland are among those being recognized.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the National Center for Women & Policing will hold its 14th annual conference on leadership and workplace issues for women in law enforcement. The conference is being hosted by the Portland Police Department and Maine State Police.

Lifetime achievement awards were to be presented to University of Southern Maine Police Chief Lisa Beecher and and South Portland Deputy Chief Amy Berry.

Rx Collection Day takes in 106,933 pills

The South Portland Police Department issued a press release today on the amount of drugs collected at the city’s first Rx Collection Day. The collection allowed residents to drop off unused and outdated medications, whether over the counter or ordered by a doctor. The idea was to get old medicines out of cabinets and keep them out of the waste stream, where they can pollute ground water. The effort also is aimed at drug abuse prevention. Prescription drugs found around the home are increasingly abused by young people.

The volunteer effort was organized by CASA, a local substance-abuse prevention council. Councilor Maxine Beecher helped to oversee the free drop off.

According to the police:

This event collected a total of 106,933 pills(dosages).

Of these 106,933 dosages, 6,743 were controlled substances, 91,733 were uncontrolled substances, and 398 were veterinarian dosages.

There were 66,499 prescription dosages and 40,036 over-the-counter dosages

All items collected are being disposed of at EcoMaine in Portland.