Washington County judge sanctioned

BANGOR (AP) — A Washington County probate judge has been sanctioned by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court for not dealing with cases fast enough.

Judge Lyman L. Holmes was ordered by justices on Thursday to provide a list of cases taken under advisement for more than 30 days to the executive director of the Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability for every month until next August.

Probate judges are elected. They handle adoptions, wills, guardianships, estates and name changes.

Holmes has been the probate judge in Washington County for 22 years.

The Bangor Daily News reports that the sanction order says some people had to wait years for Holmes to make a decision in cases that should have taken months.

Holmes could not be reached for comment.

Gorham club owner charged with threat

GORHAM ( AP) — The owner of a Gorham nightclub and banquet hall has been charged with posting a threat to a member of the town’s code enforcement staff on a social networking site.

Police say 35- year- old Michel Salvaggio Jr. turned himself in to Gorham police Wednesday on a charge of criminal threatening.

He was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 19. He is barred from possessing guns or entering municipal buildings.

Salvaggio is principal owner of the Church Performing Arts Center.

The Portland Press Herald reports the club’s Facebook page includes a picture of a man pointing a handgun at the camera.

The site also includes a statement that criticizes town officials and accuses a member of the code enforcement staff of using ethnic slurs.