PORTLAND

Southbound on-ramp at Exit 48 to be closed for eight hours

The southbound on-ramp at Exit 48 of the Maine Turnpike will be closed from 9 p.m. Monday night until 5 a.m. Tuesday for bridge reconstruction. No vehicles will be able to get on the toll highway from the Riverside Street interchange during the eight-hour stretch.

The northbound on-ramp at the exit has been closed as part of the reconstruction project, which is scheduled to be finished by November.

A release from the Maine Turnpike Authority said the latest closure is needed for re-paving, part of a bridge reconstruction project. Electronic message boards on the turnpike will announce the closing.

Both northbound and southbound drivers wishing to exit at Riverside Street will be able to do so.

RANGELEY

Trail corridor on west slope of Saddleback Mountain dedicated

A new multi-use trail corridor on the west slope of Maine’s Saddleback Mountain was dedicated Saturday.

The new “West Saddleback Connector” will serve hikers, snowmobile and ATV riders and other recreational users.

The connector is part of a growing network of trail systems in the region.

Sen. Susan Collins, who was present at the dedication, helped secure $4 million for the Department of Interior to buy 587 acres on the southeast side of the mountain.

AUBURN

Lightening possible cause of fire that destroyed Auburn barn

A fire — possibly caused by lightning — destroyed a barn at an Auburn nursery early Saturday morning.

Auburn firefighters responded to Gammon Landscape Nursery on Turner Road around 2 a.m. to find a barn at the business on fire. Fire officials were told the owners had seen a flash of lightning before the fire.

Firefighters from several towns — including Turner, Minot and New Gloucester — assisted in fighting the blaze. Auburn fire officials said the building was a “total loss.”

WELLS

Two ramps on Turnpike Exit 19 to be closed two nights for repair

Two ramps at Exit 19 of the Maine Turnpike in Wells will be closed Sunday and Monday night for re-paving, according to the Maine Turnpike Authority.

The southbound on and off ramps at Exit 19 will be closed from 10 p.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Monday. The northbound on-ramp will be closed for re-paving from 10 p.m. Monday until 5 a.m. Tuesday.

AUGUSTA

Warden Service joins national crackdown on impaired boaters

The Maine Warden Service is beefing up its patrols looking for impaired boaters this weekend.

The warden service is participating in a nationwide crackdown called Operation Dry Water that aims to reduce alcohol- and drug-related accidents on the water. It’s coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with states, the U.S. Coast Guard and other organizations.

For the initiative, the warden service increased boating patrols across Maine. Officials said every warden on duty this weekend is working on the water..

 

LePage, in weekly address, calls state’s new budget ‘only a start’

Maine Gov. Paul LePage is calling the state’s new $6.1 billion, two-year budget a step toward fiscal responsibility, but he says it’s only a start.

In his weekly radio address Saturday, LePage said the new budget is a “good down payment” but that he’ll continue working to reduce government spending. He says the budget contains the largest tax cut in Maine history, as well welfare cuts.

In the weekly Democratic radio address, Sen. Justin Alfond says Democrats are embracing the budget with “mixed emotion.”

He says Democrats don’t believe the budget will move Maine forward and that too much time was spent in the legislative session debating whoopie pies, gun rights, voting rights and other things that won’t help Maine’s economy.