WISCASSET

State trooper on unpaid leave after sex charges

A veteran Maine State Police trooper has been placed on administrative leave without pay after being indicted on four counts of unlawful sexual touching and four counts of unlawful sexual contact with a girl under 14.

The Bangor Daily News reported that Gregory Vrooman, 45, of Nobleboro is also charged with four counts of assault and one count of tampering with a witness. The alleged incidents took place from December 2009 to November 2010, but details about the charges were not outlined in Lincoln County Superior Court files.

In a court document, Vrooman’s attorney wrote that the only witness is the alleged victim and that her story hasn’t been consistent.

Vrooman has worked with the State Police for 24 years.

PORTLAND

Officials break up jail drug-smuggling ring

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office say they have broken up a smuggling operation that moved prescription drugs into the county jail through the mail.

Drug agents and jail investigators charged four people with smuggling Suboxone into the jail. Suboxone is a prescription drug used to treat opiate addiction. The drug can alleviate withdrawal symptoms but also can produce a euphoric sensation.

The seized drug was in the form of small strips, similar to breath mint strips.

Police charged two inmates, Michael Harmon, 27, of Naples and Daniel Bokuniewcz, 24, of Casco, with criminal conspiracy to traffic in Suboxone.

Police say Bokuniewicz’ sister and his girlfriend mailed the contraband. Stephanie Bokuniewcz, 27, of Brownfield and Morgan Miller, 20, of Casco were charged with furnishing Suboxone and trafficking in prison contraband.

 

City hosts two food and drink competitions

Monday night served up two swanky parties featuring food and drink competitions.

The Signature Event, the kickoff party to Maine Restaurant Week, allowed more than 400 guests to vote for the best cocktail and dessert from more than a dozen entries.

The people’s choice award for best cocktail went to Academe at The Kennebunk Inn for its Sage Against the Machine drink. In the dessert category, the people’s choice winner was Walter’s Kit Katt bar with sea-salt caramel.

The party also featured a juried dessert competition judged by “Top Chef Just Desserts” star and Maine native Zac Young, Portland Press Herald food writer Meredith Goad and cookbook authors Dana Moos and Kathy Gunst. The judges picked The Salt Exchange’s Cream Stout gingerbread with smoked sea salt and bourbon caramel, black pepper, vanilla ice cream, candied bacon and cinnamon tulle.

Proceeds from the event, held at Portland’s Masonic Temple, go to support Maine Harvest Lunch.

Cold River Vodka held its Bartenders Bash at Ocean Gateway in Portland and attracted a crowd of more than 500.

The people’s choice award at that event was won by Old Port Sea Grill with its cucumber martini. Second place went to Hugo’s for its gin ginger fizz. Third place went to 50 Local for the Local Greyhound.

Bartenders cast their own votes, and the winner for the expert’s pick was Vignola’s Provincial cocktail.

Proceeds from the Bartenders bash go to Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters to Maine program.

AUGUSTA

Federal grants will fund airport improvements

Three Maine airports will be sharing more than $542,000 in federal grants to help fund improvements.

Sens. Olympia Snow and Susan Collins say the Millinocket Municipal Airport will receive two grants totaling $170,750 to buy land and rehabilitate airport infrastructure; the Central Maine Airport of Norridgewock received a grant of $136,750 to remove runway obstructions; and the Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport received $235,000 to conduct an environmental study.

Sens. Snow and Collins say airport infrastructure is a critical part of Maine’s transportation system, linking rural communities to major transport hubs.

They say the grants from the Federal Aviation Administration will help make critical improvements to the three airports, enhancing efficiency and safety.

 

Woodcock confirmed as comissioner of IFW

The Maine Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to confirm Chandler Woodcock as the new commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Woodcock, a former Republican state senator from Farmington, ran for governor in 2006. He earned praise from Democrats and Republicans.

Also Tuesday, the Senate voted 34-0 in favor of Paul Sighinolfi of Brewer to serve as executive director of the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board.

 

DHHS appoints two new managers to run agency

Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services has appointed two new managers to help run and reform the agency.

William W. Boeschenstein Jr. of Cape Elizabeth will be operating officer, and Bonnie L. Smith of Portland will be deputy commissioner of programs, Commissioner Mary Mayhew announced Tuesday.

Boeschenstein has spent more than 30 years in the banking and energy industries and founded and sold an investment management company. He will oversee the day-to-day operations of the department. He also will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the department to improve performance, efficiency and transparency, according to the announcement.

Smith is a 24-year nursing veteran who served as director of care coordination at Maine Medical Center and co-founded a nonprofit that provided health care in Latin America. She will oversee and coordinate DHHS programs and services.

BRIDGTON

New police chief hired after three-month search

Bridgton has hired a commander from the Brunswick Police Department as its new chief of police.

In an announcement posted Monday on the town’s website, Town Manager Mitchell Berkowitz said Kevin Schofield has been hired as the town’s new police chief after a three-month search.

Schofield is now commander of Brunswick’s Support Services Division. He is responsible for managing the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Emergency 911 Center and the Records Division.

Schofield, who lives in Topsham, has more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement. He was chosen from more than 20 applicants and will begin his duties March 31.

Bridgton’s former chief, David Lyons, retired in November to become a consultant teaching police tactics to Afghan law enforcement officers.

PALMER, Mass.

Suspect in child assault is captured in Maine

A Maine man who authorities say fled from a Massachusetts courthouse just before he was to be arraigned on charges of assaulting a teenage girl has been captured.

Police say Blaze DeCarlo, 40, of Levant, Maine, was captured in Bridgton about 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Prosecutors say DeCarlo showed up before his scheduled arraignment Monday in Palmer District Court on charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, but fled after learning the district attorney planned to request he be held on $25,000 bail.

DeCarlo was arrested on the assault charges Sunday in Wilbraham. He went to the police station voluntarily after learning police were investigating him. Police say the alleged victim is a 14-year-old girl.

It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.