SCARBOROUGH

Suspect threatens clerk while robbing Shaw’s supermarket

Police said a man threatened to shoot a clerk Wednesday night at the Shaw’s supermarket on Payne Road if the clerk did not hand over cash.

The suspect, described as a white man in his early 30s, ran off with an undisclosed amount of money. No weapon was displayed during the robbery around 6:40 p.m.

The man was wearing tan Carhartt-style coveralls, a dark-blue knit watch cap, and a light blue scarf wrapped around his face. He is said to be between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall.

NORTH BERWICK

High winds blow over shed, tank, cause kerosene to spill

High winds late Tuesday and early Wednesday are being blamed for a large fuel spill in North Berwick.

Winds gusting up to 54 mph toppled a shed on Governor Goodwin Road overnight, which caused an external fuel tank to tip over and spill about 200 gallons of kerosene, said a spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP was notified Wednesday morning, and crews were working to excavate the contaminated soil.

The drinking water for the property, which uses a public water supply, was not threatened. There are other private wells in the area, however, and the DEP is investigating the threat of contamination to those wells, the spokeswoman said. There was no threat to surface water or wetlands, she said.

The fiercest winds blew from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. from the southwest, according to the National Weather Service in Gray.

AUGUSTA

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife names two division directors

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has named Michael Brown the director of its Fisheries Division and James Connolly the director of its Wildlife Division.

Brown previously served for 23 years at the Maine Department of Marine Resources. He worked with the public, commercial fishing groups and nongovernmental organizations to address fisheries issues concerning management and sustainability of marine and anadromous fish species in Maine and New England.

Connolly, who previously served for 11 years as a regional wildlife biologist with the department, had been serving as the acting Wildlife Division director since September. He has overseen the Bureau of Resource Management’s data processing and has been responsible for the wildlife management program in central Maine. 

State tells Mainers to watch for chimney sweeping scam

State authorities are warning southern Maine residents about a chimney sweeping scam being run by an out-of-state company not licensed to do business in the state.

The Attorney General’s Office said a chimney sweeping company contacts homeowners either by phone or by knocking on their door and offers a low-cost chimney cleaning. But after taking a look, the Delaware-based company then says the home needs a new, expensive chimney lining costing more than $1,000.

Authorities reminded homeowners to get a written contract before allowing a contractor do work on their home, and said residents have a three-day window in which to cancel the contract.

Suspicious contractors should be reported to police.

PRESQUE ISLE

LePage’s budget workshop is moved to a bigger venue

A public workshop to explain Gov. Paul LePage’s supplemental budget proposal, which includes major cuts to Medicaid, has been moved to Northern Maine Community College to accommodate a larger crowd.

Today’s meeting will be at the college’s Houlton Higher Education Center.

On Tuesday, more than 200 people turned out for a workshop in Fort Kent, also attended by LePage. WAGM-TV reported that many were concerned about cutting funds for private non-medical institutions.

LePage said Medicaid cuts are needed to avoid running out of money by April 1. Democratic state Rep. John Martin of Eagle Lake said there may be another way to keep the institutions funded.

The Aroostook Area Agency on Aging organized the workshops.

BELFAST

Belfast man is back in jail, accused of making threats

A Belfast man who was released from jail last week was back behind bars after allegedly sending 28 threatening text messages and photographs in less than 12 hours to a Unity man.

Chief Deputy Jeff Trafton of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office said Tyler Damon is charged with assault on an officer, terrorizing, refusing to submit to arrest, violation of conditions of release and harassment.

Trafton alleges that between midnight and 11 a.m. Saturday, Damon sent “life-threatening” messages and photos to the man, including pictures of Damon holding a gun.

The other man replied to the messages by asking to be left alone.

Trafton told the Bangor Daily News that Damon was then belligerent during his arrest. He is being held on $2,500 cash bail.

GLENBURN

Police identify woman killed, two people injured in crash

Police have released the identities of a woman who was killed and two men who were hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Glenburn earlier this week.

Police said Kristie Collins, 22, of Hudson was driving north on Pushaw Road about 1 p.m. Monday when she apparently lost control and crossed the center line, where her car was struck by a pickup truck. Collins was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the truck was identified as Josh Young, 20, of Glenburn and his passenger as Chris King, 20, of Orono. Neither was seriously hurt.

The crash remains under investigation, but police said speed and icy roads may be factors.

SHIRLEY

Driver who fell asleep, killed man not likely to be charged

Prosecutors said a driver who struck and killed a 67-year-old retired teacher out for his regular walk in Shirley earlier this month likely won’t face charges.

Piscataquis County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said the case is still being investigated, but he does not think charges are warranted.

Norman Pelletier was struck and killed Dec. 17 by a vehicle driven by John Ponkala. Pelletier was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said Ponkala fell asleep at the wheel as he and his two passengers were returning from a shopping trip. Neither speed nor alcohol was a factor.

Pelletier was a Vietnam veteran who taught and coached at schools in the Greenville area for 35 years before retiring in 2004.

— From staff and news services