Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

January 30

Mild day leads to burst pipes on College Avenue

WATERVILLE -- Warmer temperatures following last week's extreme lows led to flooding Wednesday afternoon in a former restaurant on College Avenue.

January 30

Wheelchair-equipped van catches fire in Litchfield

LITCHFIELD -- A wheelchair-equipped van was gutted by fire late Wednesday afternoon as it was being worked on in a Litchfield garage.

January 30

Morning Sentinel area police log, Jan. 30, 2013

IN ATHENS, Tuesday at 1:22 a.m., the first of more than two dozen motor vehicle accidents in Somerset County was reported on Brighton Road. Roads had become icy throughout the region after midnight.

January 30

Budget gap could leave $2.3 million hole at Riverview

AUGUSTA — A steady influx of mental patients at the Riverview Psychiatric Center who are accused of committing crimes is stripping the state hospital of federal money and adding to a ballooning multi-million-dollar budget hole.

January 30

Heavy flu season prompts area hospitals to limit visits from children

This flu season, two local hospitals are restricting visits by children to protect the health of patients.

January 30

Waterville District Court, Dec. 17 to Dec. 21, 2012

WATERVILLE -- The following cases were closed from Dec. 17 to Dec. 21, 2012, in Waterville District Court.

January 30

One hurt in crash on Route 202 in Monmouth

MONMOUTH -- One person suffered minor injuries Wednesday in a car crash that tied up traffic on U.S. Route 202 for more than hour, police said.

January 30

Winter Carnival at Lake George chock full of fun

SKOWHEGAN -- Cardboard box sled races, a chili cook-off over an open fire, s'mores, marshmallows and an ice fishing derby featuring cash prizes are all part of Lake George Regional Park's annual winter carnival Saturday.

January 30

Augusta District Court cases, Jan. 17-13, 2013

AUGUSTA -- The following is a list of cases closed Jan. 17-23, 2013, in Augusta District Court:

January 30

China planners trying for business-friendly image

CHINA -- Town planners are hoping a more positive spin on a set of land development guidelines will make the town seem more business-friendly.

January 30

Colby students present research on treatments for medical conditions

WATERVILLE -- Colby College anatomy students gave presentations at a public event Wednesday morning on treating asthma with parasites and separating conjoined twins, among other health care topics.

January 30

Advocates for disabled looking to fill Medicaid slots in law suit

The LePage administration has included $6.7 million in its proposed state budget to provide group-home and other services to some of the 176 mentally disabled Mainers represented in a pending class-action lawsuit.

January 30

Hearings to address wine tastings, liquor sales hours

AUGUSTA -- Marilyn Meyerhans, of Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, thinks her business would benefit from a proposed state law that would lower the number of wine labels a retailer needs to carry to conduct a wine tasting.

January 30

Penobscot Street fire started in fourth floor bedroom, says fire marshal

AUGUSTA -- A fire Tuesday afternoon that ruined a four-unit apartment building and left 13 people homeless started on in a bedroom on the fourth floor, investigators have determined.

January 31

Chimney fires a frightening, but not uncommon winter occurrence

Fire departments in Franklin, Kennebec and Somerset counties have responded to more than 40 chimney fires this month. It might sound like a startlingly high number of fires, but it isn't, officials said.

January 30

Inaugural poet Richard Blanco to hold reading in Portland

For Richard Blanco, life has been one big turn after another since he read his poem "One Today" last week at President Barack Obama's second inauguration.

January 31

Big cuts in catch bring 'sad day' for fishermen

New England fishermen say their industry is facing collapse after regulators lower quotas to rebuild cod and other stocks.

January 31

Partridge lawyer asks for a speedy trial on Waterville murder charge

AUGUSTA — A 30-year-old Winslow man pleaded not guilty today to a charge of murder in the Dec. 4 shooting death of Justin V. Smith, 26, of China.

January 31

LePage rebuffs offer to extend liquor deal

Maine Beverage Co. included a $320 million guarantee, but state officials believe the contract is worth more.

February 1

Solon filmmaker loses decades of work in blaze

SOLON -- Veteran Maine filmmaker Richard Searls lost a lifetime of master film reels and original videotape Saturday in a fire that tore through his former home and storage barn.

January 30

High wind watch issued for Maine, NH

Forecasters are calling for sustained winds of 40 mph or stronger, and gusts upward of 60 to 65 mph along coastal Maine.

January 30

High-tech cargo airship being built in California

The Department of Defense and NASA have invested $35 million in the prototype because of its unique potential to aid the military.

January 30

Mass. gov picks ex-aide as interim U.S. Senator

William "Mo" Cowan, 43, says he would return to the private sector after a special election is held to fill the seat left vacant by John Kerry.

January 30

Roaming cows create havoc at Mass. cemetery

The Southampton police says his department has responded to complaints about the roaming bovines three or four times since last spring.

January 30

Two Maine arts groups get $50,000 grant each

For 2012, the Maine Arts Commission chooses nonprofits in Presque Isle and 'High Peaks.'

January 30

Maine lawmakers find a place to agree

Lawmakers form the bipartisan Measures of Growth Caucus to focus on expanding the state's economy and improving Mainers' quality of life.

January 30

US economy shrinks for the 1st time in 3½ years

The economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter – a sharp slowdown from the 3.1 percent growth rate in the July-September quarter.

January 30

Somerset County police log

Wednesday's police summaries

January 30

Maine mom pleads not guilty to murder-for-hire plot

The 46-year-old mother of 13 is charged with offering a friend up to $10,000 to kill her longtime husband.

January 30

Waterville, Oakland police logs, Jan. 29 and 30

Assault, theft, threatening

January 30

Andy Warhol works auctioned online

The sale is held in conjunction with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

January 30

West Paris fire destroyed historic mill building

The Penley Mill was West Paris' biggest employer from 1923 until it closed down in 2002.

January 30

Fire marshal: Bristol woman set fire that killed her

The state Fire Marshal's Office says 69-year-old Lynn Ring got angry and set the car on fire.

January 30

Toyota to recall 1M vehicles for airbag, wiper glitches

A microchip in the airbag control unit can malfunction, causing the airbags to deploy when it is not necessary.

January 30

Clinton says she doesn't see 'getting back into politics'

She will face strong pressure from Democrats to join the field of contenders for the presidency in 2016.

January 30

Maine's county jails face shortfall in state funding

The state predicts that fourth-quarter payments to Maine's 15 county jails will fall short by about $560,000.

January 30

Giffords pleads for gun curbs; NRA fights back

Giffords' 80-word plea was the day's most riveting moment, delivered in a hushed voice two years after the Arizona Democrat was shot in the head during the Tuscon massacre.

January 30

NH flu deaths increase to 35, including 1st child

Health officials say the total is highest number of flu-related deaths in a single season since 1997.

January 30

Maine DEP ends extra surcharge on oil imports

The DEP stops a 20-cent-per-barrel charge on gasoline imported into Maine and a 10-cent charge on other petroleum products including heating oil.

January 30

Portland teams to count homeless tonight

The Point in Time Survey is a requirement to receive Housing and Urban Development funding for job assistance, housing support and emergency shelters.

January 30

Dead River to offer natural gas option to central Maine businesses

Dead River Co., the largest retailer of home heating products in northern New England, is teaming up with Xpress Natural Gas to offer compressed natural gas to businesses in central, northern and eastern Maine, the companies announced in a news release.