SCARBOROUGH

Man charged with flashing handgun in Route 1 traffic

A Saco man was arrested Wednesday morning after what police are characterizing as a road rage incident on Route 1.

Scarborough police said a woman contacted them on 911 around 11 a.m. to report that a car driven by a woman had cut her off in traffic and that her passenger — a man — had flashed a handgun at her.

The victim gave police a description of the vehicle and a partial license plate number.

Officers found the vehicle on Route 1 near Hannaford Drive. The driver and man were detained.

Aaron Gouzie, 26, of Saco was charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, trafficking in marijuana, and possession of about six ounces of marijuana.

The driver was not charged.

PORTLAND

Trooper lauded for quick stop of wrong-way driver

A state trooper was recognized Wednesday for his quick thinking when he stopped an elderly man who was driving the wrong way on Interstate 295 at the beginning of rush hour.

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree presented a “congressional statement” to Trooper Douglas Cropper.

Cropper used his cruiser to stop an elderly driver who was heading north in the southbound lane of Interstate 295 on June 29.

Cropper raced ahead of the wrong-way driver and pulled in front of him so his car crashed into the cruiser and came to a stop before he could crash into oncoming motorists.

In her statement to Congress, Pingree said Cropper put his life on the line to prevent what could have been a terrible tragedy. Pingree is married to S. Donald Sussman, majority share owner of the Portland Press Herald.

Republican lawmaker in ad to support gay marriage

Gay-marriage supporters have begun airing a new TV ad that features a Republican state representative who voted against same-sex marriage in a 2009 referendum but has since changed his mind.

In the ad put out by Mainers United for Marriage, Stacey Fitts of Pittsfield says he now thinks that government shouldn’t tell anybody “who they can love and who they can marry.” He said the Nov. 6 ballot question seeking to legalize same-sex marriage protects religious freedom and individual freedom.

The ad began airing Tuesday.

City officials want public’s input on new city attorney

City councilors are seeking public input before choosing a new city attorney.

On Friday, Mayor Michael Brennan and Councilors Jill Duson, David Marshall and John Anton will host a meeting at 7:30 a.m. in Room 209 of City Hall to collect feedback about what characteristics, skills and abilities the next corporation counsel should possess.

The council is working to replace Gary Wood, who held the position for 21 years before retiring in September. Staff attorney Danielle West-Chuhta has been appointed as acting counsel until a permanent replacement is found.

The corporation counsel is one of three positions directly overseen by the City Council. The other two are the city manager and city clerk.

In August, the council decided not to hire an outside consultant to assist with the search — estimated to save the city as much as $30,000.

CAPE ELIZABETH

Citizen of the year helped to shape town landmarks

The town has given its annual citizen of the year award to the resident who prepared the initial concept for the design of Fort Williams Park’s entrance.

John Mitchell, a Cape Elizabeth resident for more than 35 years, is the 24th recipient of the Ralph T. Gould Award.

As a young architect in 1976, Mitchell saw the advantage of putting a new road along a ridge with sweeping views of the Portland Harbor ship channel, said Town Manager Michael McGovern.

More recently, Mitchell volunteered as a design consultant for the first phase of the Fort Williams Arboretum project.

He also designed interpretive signs at Great Pond, served as the landscape consultant for the Shore Road Path and advised the town as it updated the master plan for Fort Williams.

AUGUSTA

Maine moves up in ranking for business tax climate

A tax research group says Maine’s ranking for its business tax climate has improved to No. 30 nationally.

The Tax Foundation’s 2013 list shows an improvement from Maine’s No. 37 ranking. The Washington-based, nonpartisan group’s index compares the states in five areas of taxation that affect business: corporate, individual income and sales taxes, unemployment insurance taxes and taxes on property.

Gov. Paul LePage is pleased with the new ranking. He notes that Maine had the biggest improvement in the Tax Foundation’s ranking this year, a result of the repeal of Maine’s alternative minimum tax and a change in treatment of net operating losses.

Additional changes to Maine’s tax structure, including lower brackets for individual income taxes that take effect Jan. 1, were not considered in this year’s report.

It’s peak time for fall colors in most of state, officials say

The peak of fall foliage has arrived, state officials said Wednesday.

Colors are at least 75 percent of peak in southern Maine and at peak along the coast and in western Maine, according to the latest weekly foliage report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

State forestry officials and park rangers said colors inland from Augusta south, and along the coast from Lubec south, are about as bright as they will get and leaf drop is low, with only 10 to 30 percent of the leaves off trees.

Leaf drop is slightly higher at about 30 to 50 percent in the western mountains and peak colors are holding on in the northeastern part of the state, including areas around Millinocket and Houlton, with moderate leaf drop, the department said.

The last of the park ranger-led foliage hikes will be held this weekend. The hike in Vaughn Woods State Park in South Berwick will be held on Saturday and a hike at Camden Hills State Park in Camden will take place Sunday. More information is at http://take-it-outside.com/hike2012.shtml.

Woman hit by car; Augusta man, 28, facing charges

A man is facing charges after reportedly hitting a woman with his car as she crossed Water Street on Monday night.

John Henderson, 28, of Augusta was issued a summons charging him with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, said Augusta police Lt. Christopher Massey.

The victim, Penny Ladd, 34, of Augusta, was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Massey said.

Hospital officials said Ladd was treated and released.

A driver who saw the 8 p.m. accident followed Henderson and reported his location to police by cellphone. Police caught up to Henderson on Washington Street, Massey said.

LEWISTON

Arrest made after gunfire incident at apartments

Police have made an arrest in connection with gunfire at an apartment complex last week. Police and federal agents arrested Tyrone Jones, 27, originally of Brooklyn, N.Y., in Turner on Tuesday and charged him with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, the Sun Journal reported.

No one was hurt by the gunfire Friday at the River Valley Village apartments, but residents say they were rattled. The motive is under investigation; police say there may be more arrests.

Jones was taken to the Androscoggin County Jail.

MAPLETON

Man hurt by potato machine; co-workers praised for help

Maine State Police say a Mars Hill man is in the hospital with injuries from an accident involving a machine that moves potatoes into storage bins.

Police say Gregory Cousins, 22, was working at County Farms LLC potato house in Mapleton on Wednesday morning when his clothing got caught in a bin piler — a machine that moves potatoes from a truck to storage bins — and got wrapped around Cousins’ neck.

Cousins was taken to Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, where he remained Wednesday evening.

Police credit quick actions of Cousins’ co-workers for getting him cut loose from the machine.

— From staff and news services