PORTLAND

Mom, stepfather countersue former candidate Scarcelli

A former Democratic candidate for governor who sued her stepfather over her mother’s alleged mismanagement of low-income housing developments that the family company owns is now facing a countersuit.

Rosa Scarcelli’s mother and stepfather said in their countersuit that Scarcelli improperly used money from low-income housing projects to fund her unsuccessful 2010 campaign. Pamela Gleichman and her husband, Karl Norberg, filed the lawsuit this week.

Scarcelli’s lawyer told the Bangor Daily News that allegations in the suit about his client’s misuse of funds were initially threatened to dissuade her from filing her lawsuit and are now being aired “in an attempt to embarrass” her.

Scarcelli’s suit alleged that Gleichman neglected to adequately maintain the projects under her watch, and they are now under threat of federal takeover.

PORTLAND

Yarmouth’s Hartman hired as Portland football coach

Yarmouth High School’s head football coach will become the new head coach for Portland High School.

Superintendent of Schools James C. Morse confirmed Wednesday that James Hartman will be appointed to the position, replacing Mike Bailey, who resigned in December.

Hartman was chosen by a hiring committee of two staff members, two students, a parent and two school administrators. He brings 25 years of coaching experience at the youth, junior high school and varsity level to Portland.

More recently, Hartman, who lives in Portland, started and developed the Yarmouth High football program. He has been Yarmouth’s only football coach since the program was created five years ago.

Over the past two seasons, Yarmouth won 24 straight games and back-to-back Class C state championships.

SOUTH PORTLAND

After standoff, three men charged with CVS robbery

A robbery at a Portland pharmacy followed by a brief standoff at a South Portland home has resulted in the arrest of three men.

Police say a CVS store in Portland was robbed just before 8 p.m. Tuesday by people wearing Halloween masks and claiming to be armed with knives.

The suspects fled, but were traced to a home in South Portland based on a description of the thieves’ getaway vehicle. Police did not say if they made off with money, drugs or both.

Police surrounded the home, and after a brief standoff, the suspects were taken into custody.

Authorities said 29-year-old Ivan Papkee; 32-year-old Gustave Papkee; and 24-year-old Ryan Best all face robbery charges.

NORRIDGEWOCK

Woman fired as office clerk for town is elected to board

A former Norridgewock town worker fired after being accused of secretly recording Town Hall conversations has been elected to the Board of Selectmen.

Charlotte Curtis, 66, fired as office clerk in January by town manager Michelle Flewelling, will now serve on the panel that oversees Flewelling.

Curtis was elected Monday. She told the Morning Sentinel that she just wants to work to make the town better.

Although Curtis was fired from her 40-hour-per-week job, she retained the elected positions of town clerk and treasurer. It is unclear if Curtis can serve on the Board of Selectmen if she has unfinished business as treasurer.

Curtis has filed a complaint over her firing, claiming it was age discrimination.

BANGOR

Man found guilty of stealing $90,000 in welfare benefits

A Maine man has been found guilty of stealing more than $90,000 in federal welfare benefits over 15 years by claiming he lived alone when he actually lived with his wife.

Judge John Woodcock on Wednesday found Anthony Dinsmore, 50, of Columbia Falls guilty of stealing Supplemental Security Income benefits, which help low-income elderly, blind and disabled people. Dinsmore pleaded guilty earlier this week to making a false statement to the Social Security Administration.

Prosecutors say Dinsmore submitted forged and false documents claiming he and his wife lived at separate locations when in fact they were living together. His wife’s monthly income made Dinsmore ineligible for the benefits.

Dinsmore faces up to 10 years on the theft charge and five years for making a false statement.

BINGHAM

Man hospitalized with burns after using gas to restart fire

Maine State Police say a Bingham man was burned on his legs, arms and face after trying to restart a fire in his wood stove with gasoline.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire flashed as Brad Zinkovitch poured gas into the wood stove from a plastic container Tuesday night. He was rushed to Redington-Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan.

A woman and two children living in the house escaped the fire without getting injured, but four family pets died.

Fire officials say gasoline or any flammable liquid should never be used inside a residence.

OXFORD

Police: Driver whose son died in crash won’t face charges

Authorities say a Bethel woman whose 8-year-old son died from injuries suffered in a car crash while she was driving will not face charges. Prosecutors said there is insufficient evidence of criminal activity in the case to charge Jessica Thurston, 28.

Police said her son, Matthew, was injured Aug. 12 when the car she was driving struck a utility pole in Oxford, continued several hundred feet, at times airborne, and split a tree before bursting into flames. Thurston said she fell asleep at the wheel.

Matthew Thurston spent more than two months at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland before dying of his injuries Oct. 24.

FORT FAIRFIELD

Man dies, others escape fire in an apartment building

Fire investigators say a 38-year-old man died in an early morning apartment fire here Wednesday.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office said Norman LaPointe was found in his third-floor apartment after a fire was reported around midnight.

Officials say the occupants of two other apartments got out safely after being awakened by smoke detectors.

Fire investigators say the fire was likely caused by careless disposal of smoking materials.

AUGUSTA

Hearing gathers views on requiring ID for some drugs

A bill that would require people filling prescriptions for painkillers and some other drugs to show photo identification at the pharmacy is making its way through the State House.

Representatives of Maine doctors and pharmacies testified in favor of the bill at a public hearing Tuesday. Civil libertarians and others raised concerns about patient privacy and safety at the hearing.

The bill would require pharmacists to check photo IDs before filling customers’ prescriptions for controlled substances such as OxyContin, Ritalin, Vicodin and drugs used to treat insomnia, anxiety and muscle spasms.

Maine Attorney General William Schneider has said there is an epidemic of prescription drug abuse in Maine that has claimed the lives of hundreds.

Coast Guard is preparing for ice-breaking on Kennebec

It’s still winter, but there’s a sign that spring is around the corner: The Coast Guard is ready to bring ice-breaking operations on the Kennebec River.

Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Bob Albert said Tuesday that people should remove their ice shacks and fishing gear as soon as possible.

Starting Monday, the Coast Guard will break ice from Merrymeeting Bay to Gardiner to reduce the risk of ice jams and flooding as snow and ice begin to melt.

The 65-foot Portland-based Shackle, 65-foot Rockland-based Tackle and 65-foot Southwest Harbor-based Bridle will participate in the operation.

Promotion taps maple tree in front of LePage’s mansion

Gov. Paul LePage promoted the state’s maple syrup industry Wednesday by tapping a maple tree on the lawn of the governor’s mansion.

LePage was joined by state officials and representatives of the Maine Maple Producers Association for the annual Blaine House ceremonial tree tapping.

LePage touted Maine’s syrup industry ahead of Maine Maple Sunday, an annual event where dozens of sugarhouses open their doors to allow the public to view the syrup-making process and taste a few samples.

Maine last year produced 360,000 gallons of syrup, making it the No. 3 syrup-producing state.

CONCORD, N.H.

House votes to ban adding corn-based ethanol to gas

New Hampshire’s House has voted to ban corn-based ethanol as a gasoline additive.

The ban would not take effect unless at least two other New England states do the same. No other New England state has appoved a similar proposal.

The House voted Wednesday to send the bill to the Senate after supporters argued the use of ethanol has not benefited the environment as much as hoped. They also pointed out that use of corn to make ethanol has driven up food prices.

Opponents said the bill’s aim was unachievable because New Hampshire is too small to warrant a boutique gasoline mix without ethanol. They said it would be better to express disapproval of the policy by sending a message to Washington.