WATERVILLE

Vigil for missing girl shows support for father, family

Relatives of a toddler who has been missing for a month are trying to keep her disappearance from being forgotten.

About 35 people, including the girl’s father and his family, attended a candlelight vigil Tuesday night to keep 21-month-old Ayla Reynolds’ name in the news as the investigation into her disappearance continues.

“There’s no words to describe the torment this whole community is feeling right now,” said Bob Vear, a friend of Justin DiPietro’s family and the organizer of the vigil.

DiPietro told police on Dec. 17 that his daughter was missing from her bed when he checked on her that morning at his house in Waterville.

State police are leading the investigation into the disappearance, working with Waterville police and the Maine Warden Service.

Vear said people are talking about having a public dinner or a concert to raise money and awareness, and about producing fliers, bracelets and T-shirts. Everywhere he goes, he said, there’s an outpouring of support.

WINDHAM

Kaile Warren withdraws application to fill vacancy

Kaile Warren has withdrawn his application to fill a vacancy on the Windham Town Council, citing the town’s “tainted” process for replacing councilors.

Warren, a former councilor and founder of the troubled Rent-A-Husband handyman business, was one of three people to apply to fill the seat, left vacant by the death of Peter Busque in September.

The remaining applicants are Carol Waig and Peter Anania, both former councilors. The council is slated to choose one of them at a meeting on Jan. 24 to fill the seat until the November election.

In a letter sent to the town manager and town clerk Tuesday, Warren said the town’s process for placing councilors “is inconsistent and tainted by voting for the sake of showing solidarity.

“The process is a disgrace to the citizens of Windham, and I hope that it can one day be improved. Windham citizens deserve better than what they are getting,” he wrote.

Warren previously has criticized the council for voting in blocs.

Warren resigned from the council in 2008 after suffering two heart attacks. A year later, he was indicted on criminal charges for deceiving investors about the value and performance of Rent-A-Husband. Those charges since have been dropped.

SACO

Oakland man dies after 55-foot fall from CMP pole

A man fell to his death Monday while working on an electrical transmission tower off Boom Road.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the circumstances that led to the death of John Plante, 44, of Oakland.

Plante was working high on a pole that is part of a Central Maine Power Co. line upgrade in the area when he fell about 55 feet just before 4 p.m., said Deputy Police Chief Jeffrey Holland.

The workers typically wear safety harnesses, Holland was told, but it’s not clear what caused the mishap.

“He survived the fall but by the time they got him to Maine Medical Center shortly after, he passed away,” Holland said.

Emergency medical crews were hampered by the remote location of the pole, more than a quarter-mile from the road, Holland said. The fire department’s off-road vehicle was used to transport Plante to the waiting ambulance.

The state medical examiner will investigate the death and OSHA will seek to determine what should have been done to prevent the fall.

CMP is working on a $1.4 billion upgrade of its 350 miles of transmission lines that run from Orrington to the New Hampshire border. The project involves building a new set of 345-kilovolt towers, like the large wooden structures that are visible from Interstate 295 north of Topsham.

Plante worked for a subcontractor, Hawkeye LLC, based in Hauppauge, N.Y.

AUBURN

Food pantry worker held on child sexual contact charges

A worker at a Maine food pantry has been charged with having sexual contact with a child at his home.

Police say Jonathan Dubay, 41, of Gray was arrested Monday at the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn where he is manager of safety and facilities.

Authorities say he is charged with unlawful sexual contact for an alleged incident involving a child younger than 12 at his home on Christmas Day. Police began investigating on New Year’s Eve after getting a report from the Department of Health and Human Services.

FREEPORT

Bean’s Bootmobile debuts at plant that makes boots

L.L. Bean is taking its four-wheeled hunting shoe on a road trip to the big city.

Bean’s president and CEO, Chris McCormick, and senior manager for manufacturing, Jack Samson, unveiled the L.L. Bean Bootmobile on Tuesday to workers at the Maine plant where the boots are made. Later, the Bootmobile made a brief stop in Freeport before heading south toward New York City.

The Bootmobile, which is more than 20 feet long, was built to help the Maine-based retailer celebrate 100 years of being in business.

It’s mounted on a Ford F-250 pickup truck frame and runs on diesel or biodiesel.

While in New York, the Bootmobile will be parked in Times Square. It’s expected to make the rounds on some of the morning TV shows.

VASSALBORO

Police probe shooting of New York man at home

Law enforcement authorities are investigating the shooting of a New York man in a home in Vassalboro.

State police say they responded to the home just after midnight Tuesday and found Rafael Encarnacion, 22, of New York City with a gunshot wound in the abdomen. He was flown by helicopter to a Lewiston hospital.

Police say Encarnacion was shot by the homeowner, Joe Gagnon, 55. Gagnon was charged with violating bail conditions from an earlier arrest, but hasn’t been charged in connection with the shooting.

BRUNSWICK

New owners expect to reopen Frosty’s Donuts

A nearly half-century-old doughnut shop will soon start offering sweet treats again.

Husband and wife Nels Omdal and Shelby St. Andre say they have completed paperwork to purchase

Frosty’s Donuts and expect to open seven days a week before the end of February once renovations are completed.

The business was founded in 1965 by Bob and June Frost, but was put up for sale three years ago and shut its doors last June.

Bob Frost will even help the new owners, creating the shop’s signature treats until Omdal and St. Andre get on their feet.

The new owners told The Times Record that they will keep some things the same, but plan to make a few changes.

BATH

Apartment fire blamed on dryer displaces 13 people

Thirteen people, including six children, were displaced by a fire that broke out late Monday night in an apartment building on Windjammer Way.

Capt. Lawrence Renaud said the fire at the Maritime Apartments apparently was caused by a buildup of lint in a clothes dryer vent. Five apartment units suffered varying degrees of smoke and fire damage.

“We made a great stop by preventing the fire from destroying the whole (apartment) complex,” Renaud said.

No injuries were reported. Firefighters from several departments spent hours fighting the fire and cleaning up debris. They left the fire scene at 4:30 a.m.

MILLINOCKET

Campers showing up at Baxter for reservations

Die-hard campers are showing up at Baxter State Park headquarters to get first dibs on reservations for the 2012 camping season.

Tuesday marked the first day campers could make reservations for the May 15 to Oct. 15 camping season, but they have to show up in person at the park’s Millinocket headquarters to do so.

For many campers, it’s an annual ritual to show up early at the park’s headquarters on the first day of reservations to reserve their spots.

The park also began its rolling reservations system on Tuesday whereby campers can use the park’s website to reserve tent sites, cabins and lean-tos up to 120 days in advance.

– From staff and news services