PORTLAND

Police looking for suspect who hit clerk, robbed store

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in their search for a man who hit a convenience store clerk on the head before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Lt. Gary Rogers said the suspect, a black man in his late 30s to mid-40s, entered the Big Apple convenience store on Park Avenue around 4 a.m. Monday.

When the clerk turned his back, the suspect hit the clerk in the back of the head with an unknown object. The clerk fell, and the robber removed cash from the register.

The clerk was taken by ambulance to Maine Medical Center with an injury that was not life threatening.

Rogers described the suspect as 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall. He was wearing a black jacket, jeans and a black winter hat.

Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to call Portland police at 874-8533.

BOSTON

Maine high schools win honors at Berklee jazz fest

Several Maine high schools won recognition Saturday at the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival, college officials announced Monday.

Cheverus High School in Portland placed third among Class 2 vocal ensembles, and student singer Rae Hawkinson won an outstanding musicianship award.

South Portland High School placed third among Class 4 large ensembles, and Cape Elizabeth High School placed fourth among Class 6 large ensembles.

From Waynflete School in Portland, drummer Sam Hansen won an outstanding musicianship award.

George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill placed third among Class 4 small combos. Brunswick High School pianist Sam Rowe won a superior musicianship award.

Fryeburg Academy won a first-place award among Class 2 vocal ensembles and a fourth-place award among Class 3 small combos.

Nokomis Regional High School in Newport placed fourth among Class 4 large ensembles, and student vocalist Justin Denicola won an outstanding musicianship award.

MANCHESTER, N.H.

Two Maine teams take top awards for robotics

Two Maine teams won top awards last weekend at the 2011 Granite State Regional FIRST Robotics Competition sponsored by BAE Systems at Verizon Wireless Arena.

A team from The New School in Kennebunk won this year’s General Motors Industrial Design Award, recognizing the form and function of its robot.

A team from Bonny Eagle High School in Standish won this year’s Motorola Quality Award, recognizing the robust concept and fabrication of its robot.

WASHINGTON

Skippy peanut butter jars recalled over salmonella

The company that makes Skippy peanut butter is recalling two of its spreads that may be contaminated with salmonella.

The recall affects several states, including Maine.

No illnesses have been linked to the recall of the Skippy reduced fat creamy and reduced fat chunky brands.

Unilever United States Inc. did not specify how many jars have been recalled. The 16.3-ounce plastic jars have use-by dates of May 16-21, 2012.

Unilever detected possible salmonella through its own testing. The recalled jars were distributed to retail outlets in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin, the company said.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems.

 

— From staff and news services