GORHAM

Man arrested on charges of sexual contact with kids

Gorham and Frye Island police arrested a 48-year-old man, who police say volunteered with children, on charges of unlawful sexual contact with two girls who were younger than 12.

Michael R. Emerson of Frye Island and Gorham, turned himself in Friday. The felony assaults allegedly occurred on Middle Beach Road on Frye Island and on Dow Road in Gorham, according to a statement from police.

Police ask that anyone who suspects their children may have had contact with Emerson to call them at 893-2810 or 222-1660.

Emerson’s bail has been set at $50,000.

AUBURN

Woman pleads not guilty to theft of welfare benefits

A Livermore woman accused of obtaining more than $10,000 worth of welfare benefits she was not eligible for has pleaded not guilty.

Tiki Thomas was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty to 20 counts of theft, welfare fraud, forgery and other charges Thursday in Androscoggin County Superior Court.

Authorities say Thomas, 35, obtained state and federal benefits over a four-year period that ended last year by saying she wasn’t getting child support when she really was, or that she was working in a low-paying job.

The Sun Journal reported that the theft charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.m.

CUSHING

Police charge acquaintance in shooting death of man

The Medical Examiner’s Office says a man who was shot to death in this coastal town died from multiple shotgun wounds.

The autopsy was done Friday in Augusta on the body of Richard Mills, 48, who police say was shot in his driveway Thursday evening.

Officers charged Andrew Kierstead, 40, of Tenants Harbor with murder.

He was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center for evaluation and he remained under police guard Friday.

Steve McCausland of the Maine Public Safety Department said the two men knew each other but he declined to say what may have led to the shooting.

ALFRED

Saco woman going to prison for stabbing friend 29 times

A Saco woman accused of stabbing a man she described as her best friend has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Pamela Young was sentenced this week after pleading guilty to elevated aggravated assault for the December 2010 stabbing of Dale Berube. Young and Berube were roommates.

Berube was found by emergency responders in a bathtub with 29 stab wounds to the face, neck, head, chest, sides, arms and hands.

The Journal Tribune reported that Young, 51, apologized in court, saying she did not realize how bad her substance abuse and mental health problems were.

PORTLAND

Hall students will remain at Cathedral next week

Students and staff won’t move back to Hall Elementary School until at least after next week, according to an automated telephone call from the Portland School Department.

The call, from Peter Eglinton, chief operating officer for the schools, says the district is still waiting for the results of environmental testing at Hall, which suffered extensive water damage after a fire two weeks ago.

The district hopes to have the students moved back to Hall by Oct. 5, Eglinton said in the message, which is posted on the school system’s website. Students missed a week of classes and this week have been attending classes at the former Cathedral School between Congress and Cumberland streets.

Depending on the test results, the district plans to have a meeting with parents and staff to discuss the move back to Hall.

BREWER

Summers holding series of town hall-style events

Republican Charlie Summers is holding a series of town hall-style meetings in his campaign for the U.S. Senate. The first of five of the meetings was scheduled Friday at a bank in Brewer. Summers called the meetings “conversations” with Mainers.

He said he will share his views on how to cut spending, keep taxes low and grow the economy.

Additional gatherings are being held in October in Kennebunkport, Waterville, Bath and Portland.

Summers is running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Olympia Snowe, who is not running for re-election.

NEWPORT

Duo arrested for robberies at two Rite Aid pharmacies

Police have arrested two people they say are responsible for robberies and attempted robberies at pharmacies in Newport and Pittsfield.

Jonah Masse, 25, and Sydney Duff, 20, were arrested at their Dixmont home about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

They are charged with two counts of robbery each. They are being held at the Penobscot County Jail on $50,000 cash bail each.

Newport Chief Leonard Macdaid told the Morning Sentinel that his department had been working with several other law enforcement agencies.

The Newport Rite Aid was robbed of prescription drugs on Aug. 16 and Sept. 16. The attempted robbery at a Pittsfield Rite Aid on Tuesday failed after the pharmacist refused to hand over the drugs.

– From staff and news services