Riding against child abuse

Tom Drumm, Oswego, has been riding with the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Oswego’s annual “Blue Ribbon Ride: Against Child Abuse" since the beginning.

“This is the best day we’ve had in years,” said Drumm regarding the weather.

Pam, Drumm’s wife, gave her compliments to the CAC for their work.

“I’ve been affiliated with them for years. It’s a great organization. They do great work,” she said.

The event was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and finish at 4 p.m. The ride itself covered approximately 80 miles of scenic route through Oswego County. The bikers started at Sweet Inspirations Drive In located in Fulton. It ended there with a chicken barbeque for the participants.

During the barbeque there was live entertainment provided by Paul Taylor. There were also raffles and a grand prize of two Kenny Chesney concert tickets. David Rice, from Martville, won the tickets. Rice has been with the ride for about 3 years.

The ride was sponsored by members from the CAC, local bike clubs, community volunteers and concerned business owners. Some of these sponsors include, Wheel-A-Way Motorsports, Cayuga Security and Investigation Inc., Sweet Inspirations Drive In, Slice-N-Go Deli, and the Paul Taylor Band.

Other sponsors included board members, the sheriff’s department, local police departments, and the volunteer firefighters in the area.

“This is a very noble thing,” said Deputy Matt Bray, of the Fulton Police as the ride started.

“With the demand for our services increasing, we are looking to make this our most successful ‘Blue Ribbon Ride’ ever,” said Olivia VanSanford, the Executive Director at the CAC.

The CAC is a non-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with local law enforcement, prosecution, child protective services, medical providers, therapy providers, and victim advocacy professionals in Oswego County to protect and serve child victims of sexual and physical abuse.

“It is becoming increasingly more difficult to for us to meet the increase for treatment,” said VanSanford.

“Our goal with the ‘Blue Ribbon Ride’ is not only raise awareness of child abuse in Oswego County, but also help us raise much needed funds to help us to continue to serve our community as a resource for children and families touched by this abuse,” VanSanford said.

With the anticipation of approximately 150 bikers showing, the actual number of 35 was a let down. Some of the bikers came from as far away as Alexandria Bay to show their support of the CAC.

Michelle Moon, 18, from Oswego, who was riding with her parents was one of the few bikers.

“I drove past a sign a couple days ago and thought it would be a good ride,” said Moon.

“We are grateful to the volunteers on our planning committee for their dedication to the children in this county. Many free services are provided to the victims that come to the CAC and without the support of the community we would not be able to help these children,” said VanSanford.

By Alisha Tondro, Contributing writer for The Scotsman Pennysaver

Published in September 2009 in Syracuse, NY

World's 3rd largest reservoir

In June 2008 construction began on a project some members of the community deemed to be an “ugly” venture.
“The old reservoir was broken and we had to come up with something,” said Mike Ryan, Commissioner of Water with the Syracuse Water Department.
On Aug. 8 free public tours were held of the new water reservoir located on the corner of Salisbury and South Orchard Roads in Westvale.
Ryan led some of these tours, which happened every 15 minutes, with no more than 100 people for each.
The two towers will cost $40 million to complete. This cost will be covered by a $2.89 million matching funds grant through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The city has also received low interest loans from the State Revolving Fund of New York State. In order to get these loans, the city had to apply and get on a list by needs.
“We managed to combine projects and make the cut,” Ryan said. With these loans the city will save about $50 million in interest alone.
Susan Kaegel, of Westvale, came to find out what the project was all about. Steven, Kaegel’s husband, accompanied her. Kaegel is not too happy about the project.
“It really takes away from the aesthetics of the area,” said Kaegel.
Most of the community who turned out for the tours came out of curiosity. They didn’t know what was really going on and wanted to know a little bit more.
In an effort of the City of Syracuse Sustainability Initiative to go green, the project will include the construction of a photovoltaic (solar panel) system on the roof of the south storage tank. This system will provide most of the power required for operation of the facility.
Much of the work was completed by local laborers. Ryan stated that as many as 100 people had been working on the project. The project gave a lot of work to Union Halls, the Operators Union, and the Laborer’s Union. After completion, the city of Syracuse will only have minimal staff at the reservoir.
Terry Nares, of Westvale, and his daughters Sophie, 9, and Ella, 11, attended a tour.
“We’re environmentally friendly so they brought me,” said Nares of his daughters. They heard of the construction from a neighborhood landscaper who built their new patio and wanted to know more. Both girls stated that they had learned a lot from the tour.

With each tour, the community learned that the two reservoir towers being built would satisfy the needs of an estimated population of 200,000. Syracuse has been using Skaneateles Lake as water supply since 1894, and on average uses 38 million gallons per day. The new water tanks each hold 32 million gallons of water. Each tank is 375 feet in diameter and 40 feet high. The old Westcott reservoir held 110 million gallons of water.
“Westcott Reservoir was taken off line in 1999 due to deteriorating conditions beyond repair. In 2008, my administration decided that it was unwise and dangerous to have only one operating reservoir serving city residents,” said Mayor Matthew Driscoll in a press release. The south tower will be completed by Christmas this year and the north tower will be completed by Summer 2010. Upon completion the tanks will be the largest east of the Rocky Mountains and the third largest in the world.

By Alisha Tondro, Contributing writer for The Scotsman Pennysaver
Published August 2009 in Syracuse, NY

Police beat

Laptop Theft
At 1:22 a.m. on April 27, an officer was dispatched to Orchard Trails on a report of theft. A female tenant had been cleaning her apartment and had heard voices coming from her bedroom. When she checked, she found her window open and her laptop missing. The police are still looking for suspects, and if anyone has any information about the theft, they are asked to please contact the Orono Police Department.

Probation Violation Arrest
At 1:45 a.m. on April 27, officers were dispatched to Orchard Trails Building 6 for a noise complaint. When the officers arrived, they could hear a party and smelled burnt marijuana. As they approached the apartment, the door opened and quickly slammed shut, pushing out an even stronger smell of marijuana. A female came to the door when the officers knocked. As she opened the door, the officers could see empty beer cans and bottles on the floor and could again smell the marijuana. The female was identified as Mallory Zwerdling, 20. While talking with Zwerdling, the officers ran a warrant check on her. They found that she was on probation and had to submit to being searched without reason as part of her bail conditions. The officers searched her apartment and found the marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Zwerdling was arrested on violation of probation set by her bail conditions. She was also summonsed for illegal possession of liquor by a minor.

Nice Try
At 6:09 p.m. on April 20, an officer was dispatched to Thriftway for investigation of an attempted purchase of liquor by a minor. When the alcohol was denied to the young male, he left his ID and left the establishment. When located, Thomas Keefe, 19, said that he was told by a friend that Thriftway never checked ID for purchases and that is why he attempted to purchase the alcohol. Keefe was summonsed for attempting to purchase liquor as a minor.

Thriftway Again
At 9:36 p.m. on April 21, an officer observing Thriftway watched a small car pull into the parking lot. The driver was a young-looking female. The passenger got out and went into the store. When the passenger approached the counter, the officer could clearly see that the person was purchasing alcohol. When the car pulled out of the parking lot, the officer pulled it over on suspicion of illegal transportation of alcohol. The driver was identified as Kelli Hutchinson, 20, and was asked if she knew why she had been pulled over. Hutchinson was summonsed for illegal transportation of liquor by a minor.

Thriftway the Third
At 11:05 p.m. on April 21, an officer watching Thriftway observed a young male driver pull into the parking lot. The passenger got out and purchased a case of beer. He came back outside and put the beer into the trunk of the car. The officer pulled the car over on Park Street on suspicion of illegal transportation of alcohol. The driver was identified as Michael Brown, 20. While the officer was searching for more liquor, he found marijuana, brass knuckles and drug paraphernalia in the center section armrest. Brown was summonsed for illegal transportation of liquor by a minor. He was also summonsed for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Keep it Down
Nolan Boike, 22, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 21 at 11:14 p.m., for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 6. An officer had been dispatched due to a noise complaint about a loud party.

Disorderly Conduct
Pierre Mathieu, 20, and Tyler Giberson, 19, were issued disorderly conduct warnings on April 21 at 11:26 p.m., for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 11.
Noise Complaint that Didn’t Take Place at Orchard Trails
Fernando Marin, 26, and Daren Stone, 21, were issued disorderly conduct warnings on April 23 at 10:07 p.m., for a noise complaint at Washburn Place. The officer responded to information that there was loud music in a parking lot. When the officer arrived, he found Marin and Stone next to a vehicle with the radio playing loudly.

That’s More Like It
Celeste Clark, 19, Megan Barret, 20 and Erin Kelly, 19, were issued disorderly conduct warnings on April 27 at 11:30 p.m., for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 1. The officers responded to a complaint of loud music and could hear the music and loud voices immediately upon entrance to the building.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, April 30th, 2007

 

http://mainecampus.com/2007/04/30/police-beat-230/

Police beat

Public urination warning
At 1:40 a.m. on April 20, an officer watching the Bear Brew Pub observed two males stop between two vehicles and start urinating. One male was identified as Ryan Kelley, 24. Kelley was issued a warning for urinating in public.

Washburn vandals
At 9 a.m. on April 21, police were notified of vandalism at the Washburn Apartments. When an officer arrived, two cars had shattered windshields. On the hood of each car was a broken iced tea bottle. The police are still investigating and looking for suspects.

Fake ID at Margaritas
On April 13, an officer was dispatched to Margaritas for a false ID report. The waitress had taken the ID from a female. The picture on the card didn’t match the female who had presented it. The card was flimsy and looked like it had been altered. The subject was identified as Brittany Bowen, 20. Bowen admitted to presenting the card for an alcohol purchase. Bowen stated that a friend had found the card and had given it to her. Bowen was summonsed for possession of a false identification card, and the card was confiscated.

Alcohol abuse
At 1:47 a.m. on April 14, an officer on routine patrol observed two males walking and drinking. The officer approached the men and one threw his bottle down and stopped. The other man continued walking. The man who had thrown down the bottle was identified as James McCarthy, 20. The officer asked if he had been drinking and McCarthy said no. When the officer said that he had observed him tossing down the bottle, McCarthy retrieved it. The officer made him dump the remaining alcohol. McCarthy was summonsed for illegal possession of liquor by a minor.

The police watch Thriftway
At 10:08 p.m. on April 14, an officer was parked across the street from Thriftway. The officer observed a vehicle entering the parking lot with a female driver. The driver had a youthful appearance so the officer watched the vehicle. The passenger got out of the vehicle, went inside Thriftway and made a purchase of what was later identified as beer. The passenger started to get back into the vehicle, then got out and put the alcohol into the trunk. When the vehicle left the parking lot, the officer pulled the vehicle over. The driver was identified as Dayna Somers, 19. Somers identified herself and when asked if she knew that transportation of alcohol by a minor is against the law, she said she was aware of it. Somers was issued a summons for illegal transportation of liquor by a minor and the alcohol was confiscated.

Don’t run from the police
At 9:30 p.m. on April 18, police received a report of people punching holes in the walls at Orchard Trails Building 8. As the officer arrived to investigate, he passed a small group of males. When the officer looked in his rearview mirror, he noticed that the group had started to run away. The officer stopped one young man and identified him as Victor Doyle, 20. As the officer checked for warrants, he determined that Doyle was intoxicated. Doyle denied having had anything to drink and claimed that friends had spilled the beer on him. When the officer asked why Doyle had started to run away, he replied that someone had yelled run, so he did. Doyle was summonsed for illegal possession of liquor by a minor.

Orchard Trails residents hit with nine noise complaints
Michael Conrad, 21, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 7 at 1:56 a.m. for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 6.
Kari Boffa, 19, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 7 at 9:32 p.m. for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 9.
Sean Parker, 20, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 8 at 11:30 p.m. for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 6.
Jocelyn Bouffard, 20, Lindsey Lefebvre, 20, and Danielle Ahern, 19, were issued disorderly conduct warnings and were told that if the police had to return they would be arrested. This was for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 11.
Kyle Libby, 20, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 13 at 11:30 p.m. for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 3.
Jason Mallet, 22, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 18 at 10:07 p.m. for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 8.
David Sacks, 20, Michael Conrad, 21, and Joshua Vile, 21, were issued disorderly conduct warnings on April 19 at 10:23 p.m. for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails.
Kelly Difrederico, 20, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 20 at 10 p.m. for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 3.
Kelly McGuirl, 27, was issued a disorderly conduct warning on April 21, for a noise complaint at Orchard Trails Building 3.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, April 23rd, 2007

 

http://mainecampus.com/2007/04/23/police-beat-228/

Climate Change Institute plans Earth Day events

Although Maine may be littered with trees and shrubbery, there are always ways to make the environment more appealing and more beautiful. In an effort to push forward the Earth Day movement, the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine has put together a series of forums and activities that will take place on April 18 for Earth Day.
These activities include lectures, discussion groups, and even a bike ride to support “greening” the campus.
“Earth Day should be about making connections with people who are excited about this work,” said Joline Blais, an assistant professor in the new media department. “It should be about bringing people together.”
“Earth day is a way of galvanizing the energy to cover the issues talked about on Earth Day,” Blais added. “The work has really exploded.”
Leigh Stearns, a graduate student in the Climate Change Institute, said, “A few years ago [we] started this group because we were frustrated at the lack of national policy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In an effort to think globally and act locally, we formed the University of Maine Sustainability Alliance.”
“I believe that it is important for us, as the largest campus in the University of Maine System, to lead the way in sustainable education, science and technology,” Stearns said.
As a whole, the Climate Change Institute is very excited for people to get interested in the Earth Day projects.
“Earth Day is an opportunity to get people interested in, and motivated about, protecting the environment. In particular, we want to raise awareness about the environmental issues on campus, the progress we have made in the past few years, and the importance of every individual to do their part,” Stearns said.
As part of the activities on Earth Day, the Climate Change Institute has set aside time for a screening of “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Blais said, “We’re on a suicide course in our society right now. The question has become how do we survive and how do we enjoy that whole process? The whole thing has become a national movement.” Blais explained that the film helps to cover a lot of the most important issues that not only the campus faces, but society as a whole.
“In my opinion, University of Maine students should graduate with an understanding of the environmental impacts of their actions, resulting in more responsible citizens and improved environmental leadership in Maine,” Stearns said
According to Blais and Stearns, there are currently a number of projects going on around campus to help with the greening process of the University and the local community.
“If we really want models of what the community needs to be, we need to look at our Wabanaki neighbors. This would provide information on local sustainability and resources,” Blais said.
Not only would looking at the way the Wabanaki have sustained themselves help with greening the campus and community, but it would also open up the importance and excitement of working with these communities.
The Climate Change Institute “aims to raise awareness about the importance of climate change through education, outreach and science, and to address options to reduce our impact.” For more information on the Climate Change Institute, visit http://www.sustainability.umaine.edu/.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Thursday, April 12th, 2007

 

http://mainecampus.com/2007/04/12/climate-change-institute-plans-earth-day-events/

Police beat

Disorderly conduct arrest
At 1:20 a.m. on March 30, officers were called to investigate a noise complaint. When the officers arrived, they located Gregory Andreason, 23, at the apartment of a young woman. Andreason would not cooperate with the officers or answer questions about the disturbance. While being questioned, Andreason became upset and started yelling at the officers. He was warned for disorderly conduct and told that if he didn’t calm down, other actions would be taken. While the police were talking with Andreason, the young woman tried to leave the apartment. Andreason became irritated and grabbed the young woman. When the officer told him to let go, he started screaming obscenities at the officer. Andreason was arrested for disorderly conduct.

The Transporter
At 9:30 p.m. on March 30, officers sitting on Park Street in Orono observed a young male leaving Thriftway carrying alcohol. The subject walked over to a parked vehicle with two young females sitting in the front seat. The subject proceeded to put the alcohol into the trunk of the car and went back into the store only to return with more alcohol. He then proceeded to get into the back seat and the car started to drive away. The officer stopped the car on suspicion of illegal transportation of liquor by a minor. The driver was identified as Nicole Bureau, 20. Bureau was asked if she knew why she had been pulled over and she admitted to knowing about the law of underage transportation of alcohol. Bureau was issued a summons for illegal transportation of liquor by a minor.

The Transporter: Part two
At 10:40 p.m. on March 30, an officer watching Thriftway observed a young male carry out alcohol and walk over to a vehicle. He put the bag into the vehicle and went back into the store. The officer observed the driver, a young male, get out and put the bag into the trunk of the car and got back in. When the car left the parking lot, the officer stopped the vehicle on suspicion of illegal transportation of liquor by a minor. The officer approached the driver and asked how old he was. The officer identified the driver as Mario Giampetruzzi. Giampetruzzi admitted to being 19 and the officer asked if he knew it was illegal to transport beer. Giampetruzzi replied that he was just giving a friend a ride. Giampetruzzi was summonsed for illegal transportation of liquor by a minor.

Fight for your right . to get summonsed
At 10:50 p.m. on March 31 , officers were called to Orchard Trails for a noise complaint. When the officers arrived and went upstairs, they saw empty beer cans littering the hallway and they could hear people making noise. The officer also observed several people consuming alcohol who scattered into two apartments when they noticed the officers. The officers knocked on the doors of the different apartments several times. A female opened the door to one apartment, said that she was not a tenant, and left to find the tenant. While she was gone, the officer observed beer cans and cups inside the apartment. Joshua Boynton, 19, came to the door and stated that he was the only one home. Boynton appeared to be intoxicated and the officer had difficulty understanding what he was saying. The officer identified Boynton as being underage and charged him with illegal possession of liquor by minor. During this time another tenant, Nicklaus Bloom, 20, came in. The officer informed Bloom that he would also be held responsible for the alcohol in the apartment. Bloom was charged with illegal possession of liquor by a minor. Both Bloom and Boynton were also warned for disorderly conduct.

Swift justice
At 9:30 a.m. on March 31, Nicholas Estabrook, 21, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for not appearing in the Bangor District Court on his set date. Due to failure to appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest. When the police department received the information on the warrant, officers were dispatched to Orchard Trails, located Estabrook and placed him under arrest for failure to appear in court.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007

 

http://mainecampus.com/2007/04/09/police-beat-225/

Police beat

Police break up loud party
On March 17 at 10:03 p.m., officers were notified of a loud party on High Street in Old Town. When the officers arrived, they located the residents of the apartment, Andrew Connolly, 21, and Richard Price, 21. The party attendants were told to leave. Both Connolly and Price were issued disorderly conduct warnings.

Warrant for bad checks
On March 19 at 9:20 p.m., an officer picked up Shannon Campbell, 23, on a warrant arrest. The warrant was due to unpaid fines and fees for negotiating a worthless instrument.

Trio of fake IDs
On March 20 at 7:58 p.m., Ashley Sykes, 19, Leigh Russell, 19, and Kathryn Smith, 19, were all brought in and questioned because Old Town Police had been notified of three young women who had been using fake IDs to get into local bars. All three women admitted to using other people’s identification cards to enter bars. Sykes, Russell and Smith were all told to return the IDs to their proper owners and the three were issued warnings for using false identification.

Littering . that’s right, littering
On March 25 at 1:22 a.m., an officer found a young man on Middle Street in Old Town littering. The man was identified as Adam Perkins, 18. Perkins was issued a summons for littering.

Zero tolerance violation for underage driver
On March 25 at 2:12 a.m., an officer pulled over David Richardson, 19. Richardson was visibly intoxicated so the officer took him in. Richardson received a zero tolerance violation.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, March 26th, 2007

http://mainecampus.com/2007/03/26/police-beat-223/

Police beat

Yelling driver gets DUI
On Feb. 24 at 1:20 a.m., an officer parked on Pine Street watching the Bear Brew Pub observed a large group exit the building. The officer then saw a vehicle moving up the street, the driver of the vehicle yelling at people as he passed them. The officer was able to stop the car by knocking on the window to get the driver’s attention.
The driver was identified as Nicholas Estabrook, 21, of Bangor. When Estabrook finally got out of the car, the officer noticed that he was visibly intoxicated. Estabrook was put through field sobriety tests, which he failed.
Estabrook resisted getting into the police cruiser and was eventually forced in by threat of a taser. Estabrook was charged with operating under the influence of an intoxicating beverage and was transported to Penobscot County Jail.

False name
On Feb. 10 at 1:59 a.m., an officer noticed a large group walking along MacMillan Drive. A male in the group appeared to be holding a beer bottle. The officer stopped the man and asked for his name. The man gave an incorrect name and date of birth, belonging to someone the officer later identified as the subject’s brother. Eventually the subject told the officer his correct name and date of birth. Jerrid Atwood, 19, of Bucksport was summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Spat at Orchard Trails
On Feb. 10 at 10:28 p.m., the police received a report of a fight at Orchard Trails Building 8. When the officers arrived on the scene, they found a group of people standing outside in the parking lot. As a couple of officers spoke with this group, another officer went inside and spoke with a young woman. She identified the man who had started the fight as Zachary Gillespie, 20, of Calais. She then told the officer that she had recently broken up with Gillespie and didn’t want him at her residence. She eventually had to force him out of the apartment and that’s when the police were notified. Gillespie was found visibly intoxicated. The officer warned Gillespie not to return to the residence. Gillespie was issued a summons for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Underage drinker at Orchard Trails
On Feb. 10 at 10:55 p.m., a man attempted to enter Building 8 at Orchard Trails. He was carrying a beer can. The man put the can on the floor in the entryway and attempted to leave the building. An officer stopped the man and identified him as Andrew Frost, 20, of Brewer. Frost was visibly intoxicated and received a summons for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Face punch leads to assault charge
On Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m., a man came into the police station to report an assault. The previous night he had been at a party and someone had punched him in the face. While at the party, the man had been speaking with a girl and her boyfriend had punched him. The boyfriend, identified as Alan Graffam, 22, of Orono, was interviewed and admitted to not liking the victim or the fact that he had been speaking with his girlfriend. Graffam also admitted to punching the victim in the face. Graffam was charged with assault.

Trying to hide the bottle never works
On Feb. 17 at 11:50 p.m., an officer was patrolling Orchard Trails Drive. The officer noticed a large group of people walking down the street. At the rear of the group, the officer saw a male and a female holding what appeared to be beer bottles. The officer stopped the two and identified them as James Stickney, 18, of Standish and Kayla White, 18, of Orono. White dropped her bottle into the snow as the officer approached and Stickney attempted to hide his. The bottles were identified as being beer containers and both Stickney and White were summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, February 26th, 2007

 

http://mainecampus.com/2007/02/26/police-beat-220/

Police beat

A, B, C, DUI
On Feb. 3 at 1:30 a.m., an officer observed a car leaving the municipal lot on Pine Street after telling another officer that she would not be driving after purchasing alcohol. The officer pulled the driver over for not clearing snow off the car’s windows. When the officer spoke with the driver, he could smell alcohol on her breath. He identified her as Brittany Saisselin, 21. The officer had Saisselin do a couple field sobriety tests, including reciting the alphabet. When Saisselin made a few mistakes, the officer deemed that she should not be driving. Saisselin was arrested and taken to the police station where she admitted to having at least two drinks. Saisselin was summonsed for operating under the influence of an intoxicating beverage.

Staggering men draw police
On Feb. 4 at 1:25 a.m., the police were notified of two men walking in the middle of the road staggering from side to side. When the officer arrived, he found the men walking along the side of the road. The officer stopped them and identified them as Taylor Massey, 18, and Riza Dekidjiev, 19. Massey was carrying a backpack and was holding up Dekidjiev while they were walking. Dekidjiev was covered in snow and was visibly intoxicated. Massey appeared not to be as intoxicated. He admitted to having a beer and offered that his backpack was empty. Dekidjiev also admitted to drinking. Both Massey and Dekidjiev were summonsed for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Kicked out of party
On Feb. 3 at 2:40 a.m., an officer was called to Orchard Trails for a noise complaint. Upon arrival at Building 8, he found a group of people standing outside. One person said that they were having a party inside and someone had been causing problems. Raymond Vallee, 22, was upset about being thrown out of the party. Vallee pushed the door open while he was being kicked out of the party and managed to damage a door hinge. Vallee admitted to pushing on the door and said that he would pay for the damage. Vallee was issued a disorderly conduct warning and told not to return to the party.

Fundraisers resort to theft
On Feb. 5 at 10:15 a.m., an officer was called to investigate stolen returnables. A resident from Stillwater Village called the police stating that he had been robbed. When the officer arrived at the residence, he was informed that three men had come to the door asking for a donation to a bottle drive for UMaine. The resident informed the men that he was not interested in participating in the drive and watched the men leave his property. Less than five minutes later, he heard something and witnessed the same three men walking away with bags of bottles and cans that he been on his patio. The officer located the three men and identified them as Zachary Collin, 27, Lee Wilson, 20, and Brian St. Pierre, 22. All three were summonsed for theft of private property.

Drugs, alcohol and minors
On Feb. 7 at 12:30 p.m., officers were advised of a noise complaint at Orchard Trails. When the officers arrived at Building 6, they went to the third floor and knocked on a door. While they were waiting, a female subject attempted to exit the apartment. When the door opened, one of the officers saw a man holding a large green bottle. The officer also saw people running to the back of the apartment attempting to hide. The officers located Maxwell Poe, 20, Tyler Watkinson, 21, and Ibrahim Altowaijri, 20, and informed them of the situation. The officers also identified the female who had tried to exit earlier as Anna Smith, 20. While investigating the scene, the officers found alcohol and other drug paraphernalia. Smith was summonsed for possession of liquor by a minor. She also admitted to smoking along with drinking. Poe was summonsed for use of drug paraphernalia. Watkinson and Altowaijri were summonsed for furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol.

A politely worded argument
On Feb. 9 at 1:15 a.m., an officer observing Bear Brew Pub witnessed a fight between a man and a woman. The officer approached the two and identified them as Christopher Lunn, 24, and Morgan MacDonald, 21. When asked why they were fighting, Lunn said that MacDonald had disrespected his friend. MacDonald then stated that Lunn had called her a derogatory name and she had slapped him. MacDonald and Lunn were both issued disorderly conduct warnings.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, February 12th, 2007

http://mainecampus.com/2007/02/12/police-beat-217/

Police beat

Wiper vandal
On Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. a car was vandalized at College Heights. Laura McCarthy reported to the police that someone had destroyed her rear windshield wiper. She said that it looked like it had occurred within the past 24 hours. The police are still investigating the crime.

Shouting match quiets down
On Jan. 31 at 2:30 a.m. officers were called to investigate a noise complaint that people were yelling. When the officers arrived at the residence, they located Nicole VanDerWinde, 22, and advised her of the situation. VanDerWinde said that she had been involved in an argument with a young man, but that it had ended a while ago. The officer found no other problems, but warned VanDerWinde for disorderly conduct.

Reminder: Lock your doors at night
On Jan. 31 a man in Orchard Trails called the police and informed them that he had just woken up and found someone sitting in his bedroom. When the officers arrived, they didn’t find anything missing. The person did not appear to be intoxicated or on drugs. The police are still investigating what might have happened and will not release any names at this point. They believe that the intruder may have been sleepwalking or had a medical issue. The police said the apartment was unlocked.

Noise complaint
On Feb. 1 at 11:55 p.m. officers received a noise complaint that involved drinking at Orchard Trails. When the officer arrived at Building 4, he could hear people yelling. The officer knocked on the door and located two of the residents. The officer had to locate someone from the management of Orchard Trials to identify the third resident. Brittany Elliot, 19, Holly Johnston, 20, and Darcy Fortier, 19, were all issued warnings for disorderly conduct.

Disorderly bar patron
On Feb. 2 at 1:50 a.m. someone approached an officer about a disorderly male inside of the Bear Brew Pub. When the officer entered the establishment, he was informed that everything was under control. The officer identified Dale Hartt, 27, as the male in question. Hartt was warned and left the pub.

Driver summonsed
On Feb. 2 at 12:10 p.m. an officer stopped a vehicle on College Avenue for an expired inspection sticker. The officer identified the driver as Erichka Churchill, 20, of Milford. When the officer ran Churchill’s ID, he found that she had a suspended license. Churchill was then summonsed for operating a vehicle after suspension.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, February 5th, 2007

 

http://mainecampus.com/2007/02/05/police-beat-215/

Police beat

Orchard Trails not a toilet
On Jan. 25 at around midnight Orono police responded to a noise complaint in Building 9 of the complex. They arrived and saw Nathan Gilbert, 20, urinating against a wall. When they asked for his name, Gilbert called himself Nathan Philips and lied about his age.
Police charged Gilbert with disorderly conduct, possession of liquor by a minor, and failure to give correct name and date of birth. He was taken to Penobscot County Jail.

Fake ID identified
On Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. a man tried to buy beer at Thriftway. The cashier thought his ID looked fake and checked it. After finding that it was a false ID, the cashier asked if the man had another form of identification. He said he didn’t and the police were called. The man was identified as Logan Rackliff, 19. He was warned that he could be arrested for providing false identification and asked his name. Rackliff then told the officer who he was. He was charged with possession of false identification.

Stakeout pays off
On Jan. 27 at 10:40 p.m. an officer stopped a vehicle on Island Avenue after observing alcohol being put into the vehicle. The officer had been watching The Big Apple and had observed the driver bringing alcohol out to his vehicle car. The driver was identified as Timothy Stormann, 19. Stormann was summonsed for illegal transportation of an intoxicating beverage by a minor.

Arrest warranted
On Jan. 24 at 12:10 a.m. David Sacks, 20, was arrested at Orchard Trails for an outstanding warrant in the Bangor District Court. He was transported to Penobscot County Jail.

No insurance, no problem?
On Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. McKeag Singleton was stopped on Main Street by an officer for an expired registration on his license plate. After investigation, the officer found that the registration had expired in 2006 and had been suspended. Singleton was summonsed for operating with a suspended registration and failure to produce evidence of insurance.

Way past due
On Jan. 24 at 6:40 p.m. on Kelly Road, an officer pulled over a Chevy pickup that displayed an expired registration. The driver was identified as Ryan Collins, 21. When the officer asked about the registration, Collins said it had expired in May 2006. Collins was summonsed for operating an unregistered vehicle for longer than 150 days.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, January 29th, 2007

 

http://mainecampus.com/2007/01/29/police-beat-213/

Bangor NAACP holding Kwanzaa celebration

President Emeritus Varner invites the community to join in the festivities



LIGHT OF HOPE - James Varner, president emeritus of the

Greater Bangor Area NAACP, lights Kwanzaa candles.

 Kwanzaa was founded to help people within the African-American community come together during the holiday season.
“The primary purpose of Kwanzaa is to strengthen and increase pride and self-esteem within the black family,” said James Varner, president emeritus of the Greater Bangor Area NAACP. Varner recently resigned from his 15-year position and Joseph Perry was elected in his place. This year’s Kwanzaa celebration will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bangor on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.
Ron Karenga introduced Kwanzaa in 1978 in an effort to develop pride within the African-American community. “He felt that this is a way to help us feel good about ourselves,” Varner said. “This is a positive force in this subliminal world we are living in.”
Kwanzaa focuses on seven principles: unity, collective work, purpose, self-determination, cooperative economics, faith and creativity. Each night of Kwanzaa, which begins Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1, a candle is lit and one principle is discussed.
“Usually this celebration is done in the home, but we want everyone to feel welcome to come,” Varner said. Presents are also given each night to those participating. “It’s usually something very simple and homemade,” Varner said.
The UMaine Black Student Union will be participating along with NAACP. This marks the 15th year of this celebration. It is also the largest Kwanzaa celebration in Maine.
More than 11 million people celebrate Kwanzaa, and many of them are not African American. “We are all brothers and sisters,” Varner said. “This is a celebration of the culture and part of that is being American.”
Another purpose of Kwanzaa is to lead the culture in a direction of economic development and pride in the community. Kwanzaa means “firsts.” In the case of the celebration, it means first fruits or harvest.
“The final ‘a’ in the word represents the young people in the community,” Varner said.
Although Varner resigned as president of NAACP, he will stay on as secretary. NAACP’s purposes are to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation from all aspects of public life in America and to end mob violence and police brutality. They also try to secure equal job opportunities based upon individual merit without regard to race, religion or national origin.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/12/11/bangor-naacp-holding-kwanzaa-celebration/

Police beat

Early Bird Gets the Disorderly Conduct Warning
On Dec. 2 at 6:34 a.m. an officer was called to Center Street in Old Town for a possible fight. When the officer arrived, two females were on the porch talking. When questioned about the fight, the ex-roommates admitted to arguing. The argument was over when the officer arrived. The women were identified as Ashly Medeiros, 19, and Tia McCollett, 19. Both were warned for disorderly conduct.

Noise Complaint
On Dec. 3 at 3:14 a.m. the police received a noise complaint on 6th Street. Upon arrival, the officer could hear loud voices and a thumping noise. The officer made contact with Leeland Gould, 22, and warned him for disorderly conduct.

Drunk at Wendy’s
On Dec. 4 at 10:44 p.m. the police received a call from a Wendy’s manager about an intoxicated driver sitting in their drive-thru. The manager had the car pull forward to wait for his food. When the officer arrived, he identified the driver as Matthew Foster, 21. The officer found an open can of beer in the front console and other beverages on the passenger-side seat. Foster denied drinking, but the officer could smell an intoxicating beverage on his breath. Foster admitted to having one glass of wine earlier, but failed field sobriety tests. Foster was arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol.

Party Bust
On Dec. 7 at 11:48 p.m. police received a call about a loud party on Park Street. When the officer arrived, he could hear loud music and voices. The officer saw a man leaving the apartment with a beer can. He was identified as Justin Zinck, 18. A woman identified as Alicia Russell, 20, came out of a side door to speak with the officer. When asked about the party, she admitted to knowing that Zinck was underage and that he had been drinking. Russell agreed to clear the party and as the guests were leaving the officer also identified Andrew Litchfield, 20, and Zachary Gillespie, 20. Both men admitted to drinking. Litchfield, Gillespie and Zinck were all summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. Russell was summonsed for furnishing a place for minors to possess or consume alcohol.

False Accident Report
On Dec. 8 at 5:31 p.m. Zachary Gillespie, 20, reported that his vehicle had been damaged the previous night at Orchard Trails. The officer met Gillespie at Orchard Trials and noted serious damage to the front end of the truck. The officer couldn’t find signs of an accident and questioned Gillespie, who admitted to having pieces of a broken light at his apartment. The officer warned Gillespie about possible consequences of filing a false report. Gillespie retrieved the glass pieces from his apartment and gave them to the officer.
When the officer returned to the police station, another officer told him about an accident the previous night in Old Town. There had been a report of a vehicle off the road and when the officer arrived at the scene, no vehicle was found. The officer later found pieces of broken glass by a tree at the sight of the accident. When pieces from the two reports were compared, they matched. The officers then went to Gillespie’s home where Gillespie admitted to the accident. He was charged with filing a false report, failure to report an accident by the quickest means, and failure to report property damage.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/12/11/police-beat-210/

UM receives OSHA grant to create safe workplace programs

Since there are many dangers to working in construction, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is working to create safer environments for workers. The University of Maine has received a grant totaling $120,000 from OSHA to help accomplish this task. The grant will be used to create a program that will educate construction workers about the hazards involved with their jobs and how to avoid them.
Gary McGrane, OSHA project coordinator at UMaine, said he was excited about receiving the grant. “If we can make more people aware of their environment, we have really done a great service to our community.”
McGrane explained that there are three things covered in the research process. The first area to be looked at is identifying and abating hazards. “We hope to help minimize these hazards in the workplace,” McGrane said.
Bill Murphy, director of the Bureau of Labor Education, said that risks in the workplace are multiplied when construction contractors and employees work in hazardous manufacturing sites. The research being done on this project will analyze these sites and determine the problems that may arise, from actual case studies.
McGrane said that people just generally don’t understand these hazards, and that is what the research is trying to accomplish.
The second area covered is reviewing the rules and regulations of OSHA. Maine has already adopted the Federal OSHA rules and regulations. These rules will cover falls, electrocutions, caught-in and struck-by incidences – the major areas where serious and-or fatal injuries occur in the industry.
The third area is the development of a safety and health committee. “This will be a collaborative effort working with the workers and the managers,” McGrane said. “Awareness of the hazards really comes when the workers become involved.”
The information obtained through the case studies and study groups will be used in the presentation and education for all employees in the field of construction. There will also be a handbook to go along with the program. This handbook will illustrate the progress achieved by the research.
“We are trying to give a good overview as to past problems and hopefully prevent future problems,” McGrane said
Murphy said that the program includes signatory small-business contractors, construction trade unions and the university. The Bureau of Labor Education will be working with Labor Education and Development to deliver the program to 300 LEAD workers and employers at their job sites.
The grant received is the Susan Harwood Training Grant. The project is mainly funded by the grant, but the University of Maine is also augmenting it with in-kind services from the Bureau of Labor Education.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Thursday, December 7th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/12/07/um-receives-osha-grant-to-create-safe-workplace-programs/

Police beat

Dog eat dog world
On Dec. 1 at 1:03 a.m. officers responded to a complaint that turned out to be a domestic fight. When the officers arrived at the residence on North Main Street, the resident said that her boyfriend had broken into her house. She told officers that she and her boyfriend share a dog and he had taken the dog after an argument. She had gone to his home and taken the dog back, prompting him to break her window to enter her home and take the dog.
The boyfriend was identified as Russell Fitzpatrick, 21. A witness observed the break-in and saw Fitzpatrick push his girlfriend to get to the dog. When an officer located Fitzpatrick, he admitted to breaking the window but not to pushing his girlfriend. Fitzpatrick was arrested for assault and criminal mischief for breaking in.

Speed racer says no to drinking
On Nov. 29 at 12:57 a.m. an officer stopped a speeding car on Main Street. When the officer approached the driver, there was a strong smell of alcohol. The officer determined that the passenger, identified as Kristopher Michaud, 20, of Hampden, had been the one drinking. Michaud admitted to this and was summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Mobile obstruction
On Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. an officer on patrol on Stillwater Avenue saw a car swerve to avoid hitting a man in the road. The officer stopped the man and identified him as Joseph Mango, 20, of Denmark. The officer noticed that Mango was unsteady on his feet and smelled strongly of liquor. Mango admitted to drinking four to five beers. He was summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. He was also warned for disorderly conduct and obstructing a public way.

Fight at Bear Brew, officers involved
On December 2 at 1:45 a.m. an officer was parked across the street from the Bear Brew Pub. As a crowd was leaving, the officer noticed a fight break out. The officer quickly approached the group and tried to detain one of the men fighting. As the officer was warning this man, Ryan MacDougall, 26, attempted to get between the two of them. MacDougall came after the officer and another officer held him off. MacDougall resisted this officer, but was eventually detained. He was charged with disorderly conduct, assault and failure to submit to arrest or detention.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, December 4th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/12/04/police-beat-208/

Police beat

Thriftway break-in
On Nov. 14 at 1:53 a.m. a front room, motion-triggeredalarm was tripped at Thriftway. When the officer arrived, he found the lower half of the front door shattered. He entered and searched the store but did not find anyone. The officer found an ice machine by the front door that had been broken as well. Near the ice machine, the officer found an empty bottle of E&J Brandy. The glass for the ice machine is very thick and it is possible that someone tried to break the glass, throwing the bottle at the machine when the glass did not break. The security video did not show anyone entering the building and there are currently no suspects. If anyone has information regarding the break-in, please contact the Orono Police Department.

Robbery at Ampersand
An officer received a report of a robbery at Ampersand on Nov. 15. The call came in shortly before 9:00 a.m. when the owner noticed a man put things into his backpack. When the subject noticed the owner watching, he began putting these items back onto the shelf. He then tried to exit the building, but the owner and another employee managed to detain him by blocking the exit. When the police arrived, the subject was identified as Karl Livonius, 22, of Orono. The officer checked Livonius’ backpack and found nearly $40 worth of merchandise still inside. Livonius was summonsed for theft and given a trespass warning and told not to return to the location.

Tequila and Dr Pepper
On Nov. 11 at 2:35 a.m. an officer on duty at Orchard Trails noticed two male subjects sitting outside Building 2. One of the men held a clear bottle containing a dark liquid. The other man had a beer can sitting beside him. As the officer approached, the young men stood and started to walk away. The young man with the bottle started dumping the liquid out and the officer stopped him. He was identified as Samuel Stahl, 19, of Millinocket. Stahl told the officer that the liquid was Dr Pepper, but the officer was able to smell alcohol within the bottle. The officer found a half full bottle of tequila and a two-liter bottle of Dr Pepper in Stahl’s backpack. Stahl was allowed to keep the Dr Pepper, but the tequila was seized. Stahl was summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. This was Stahl’s third alcohol offense.

Minor issued warnings, summons
On Nov. 12 at 1:36 a.m. an officer on patrol on Elm Street saw a male subject holding a beer can. When the young man saw the officer, he dropped the can. When the officer confronted him, he said that he was old enough to be drinking but he didn’t have his ID to prove it. The officer warned the young man and he produced his ID. Lee Hoagland, 20, of Plymouth, Mass., was warned for not providing his correct name and date of birth. He was also warned for not producing proper ID when asked. Hoagland received a summons for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. Hoagland reportedly cursed at the officer as he walked away.

Headlight violation leads to alcohol summons
On Nov. 11 at 10:40 p.m. an officer pulled a car over for having its headlights off. The driver was identified as Michael Carr, 19, of Falmouth. The officer asked for Carr’s license and registration and warned him about the headlights. The officer then asked if there was alcohol in the car and the passenger said yes. Carr was issued a summons for illegal transportation of alcohol by a minor.

Party leads to summons
On Nov. 11 at 11:52 p.m. police received a noise complaint on Hillside Road. When an officer arrived at the corner of Crosby and Hillside, a group of people quickly went into the apartment and turned off the lights but continued talking loudly. The officer knocked on the door until someone came out. The tenant, Leah McKay, 21, of Orono, was warned about the noise. As this officer issued the warning, another officer was at the back of the apartment and saw a young man exit from a back door carrying alcohol. The young man was identified as Michael Powers, 20, of Portland. Powers was issued a summons for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. McKay was issued a summons for furnishing a place for minors to possess or consume alcohol. McKay was also given a warning for disorderly conduct for the noise.

Minor tries to hide beer can
On Nov. 12 at 12:24 a.m. as officers were assisting the fire department with a fire alarm problem at Orchard Trails, an officer noticed a young man with a beer can walking across the parking lot. When the young man saw the officer, he tried to hide the beer can on the trunk of a car. The officer approached the young man and identified him as Douglas Joerss, 19. When asked how much he’d had to drink, Joerss denied having any alcohol at all but eventually admitted to drinking. Joerss was summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Minor drinking vodka and Gatorade
During a routine patrol through Orchard Trails on Nov. 12 at 1:52 a.m. an officer saw a group of people walking out of Building 10. Within the group, the officer saw two young women holding bottles containing liquid. As the officer approached, these young women attempted to hide the bottles. The young women were identified and both received summons. Emily Bennett, 19, had been holding a Nalgene-type bottle. Bennett originally said that the bottle contained Gatorade but gave the bottle to the officer. The officer could smell an intoxicating liquid and prompted further for the contents. Bennett admitted to having put vodka into the Gatorade. Bennett was summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, November 20th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/11/20/police-beat-206/

Study: Up to nine million children have untreated mental health problems

The mental stability and treatment of the nation’s school children is being neglected, according to Douglas Nangle, a psychology professor and the director of clinical training in the psychology department at the University of Maine. Nangle is co-editor for the scholarly journal “Education and Treatment of Children,” a collection of reviews and articles on the well-being and successful treatment of schoolchildren.
These reviews are based on school-based programs that have achieved success. These programs include both policy and practical approaches to this study.
Nangle said that there are an average of six to nine million children who have diagnosable mental heath issues but do not receive treatment. “Traditional methods may not be enough,” he said, “so we need to take it to them.”
Nangle expressed the need for more in-school programs to help these students. He also said that there needs to be screening for all of the children, so that children who need this attention can receive a more intensive treatment.
“We need to get this treatment down to the school level,” said Nangle. He said that as an editor of this journal, he brought together issues and resources that will help.
Nangle worked on this project with two other main editors. They gathered reviews and articles from a range of people throughout the world. “We tried to hunt down the best people to do the job,” he said.
The resources presented also reveal a need for other resources to be made available to institute these programs. Nangle is concerned with setting targets and goals for these programs. He is also very aware of the cost that these programs will bring. “It’s easy to throw this at the schools, but we need to be willing and able to provide the backing to do it,” Nangle said.
When asked about the cost of the programs needed in schools to provide treatment, Nangle said, “We need to increase sensitivity to not only the signs of these mental issues, but also bring the community to an understanding of the issues of cost without the necessary treatment.”
The journal’s reviews and articles are drawn from a wide variety of contributors. One of the articles even comes from a scholar located in Australia. “A lot of societies, worldwide, are interested in the whole idea of these programs,” Nangle said.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, November 13th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/11/13/study-up-to-nine-million-children-have-untreated-mental-health-problems/

Police beat

Attempted theft by deception
On Nov. 4 at 4:22 p.m. Bell’s IGA in Orono notified the police of a shoplifting attempt. When the police arrived, Todd Blanchette, 20, of Orono, admitted to altering the prices on some lunchmeat and cheese. When he went to check out, the clerk noticed that the prices didn’t seem correct and notified the manager. The manager then called the police. Blanchette was charged with theft by deception.

Visibly intoxicated man
On Nov. 3 at 11:37 p.m. a call came in about a male walking in the center of the road on Main Street in Orono. When an officer arrived on the scene, he found a male who was visibly intoxicated walking along the shoulder. The officer identified the man as Geoffrey Taylor, 20. When asked if he had been drinking, Taylor said yes. The officer found beer and wine in Taylor’s backpack. The alcohol was seized and Taylor was summonsed for possession of alcohol by a minor.

Underage beer run
On Nov. 4 at 7:52 p.m. an officer who had been observing shoppers at Thriftway saw a young man purchase alcohol. The officer noticed that the man didn’t look old enough to be making the purchase. The car was pulled over and the officer identified the driver as Adam Eldredge, 20, of Cape Neddick. The officer seized a 30-pack, a 12-pack of beer and a bottle of vodka. Eldredge was summonsed for illegal transportation of alcohol by a minor.

Suspended registration summons
On Nov. 3 at 12:06 a.m. an officer stopped a car on Main Street in Old Town for a routine defect. The car had a headlight out. As the officer ran the license and registration of the driver, identified as James Clark, 26, of Old Town, he found that the registration had been suspended for insurance reasons. Clark was summonsed for operating a vehicle with a suspended registration.

Minor caught drinking
On Nov. 3 at 10:36 p.m. an officer patrolling Orchard Trails observed a small group of people exit Building 9. The officer noticed a young woman holding a red plastic cup, so he approached the group. The young woman was identified as Kaitlyn McCrohan, 20, of Appleton. The cup contained alcohol. McCrohan was summonsed for possession of alcohol by a minor.

Expired plates leads to summons
On Nov. 6 at 2:20 p.m. an officer noticed a car with an expired inspection sticker. The officer pulled the car over behind a residence hall on campus. The driver was identified as Steven Clark, 23, of Stockton Springs. Clark was charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended registration. The car was towed and the plates were seized.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, November 13th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/11/13/police-beat-204/

Police beat

Suspect receives three charges after foot chase
On Nov. 3 at 1:59 a.m. a man tried to get into Ushuaia after hours. The police were notified and, upon arrival, identified the man as Ryan Quintal, 22. Quintal ran from the officer toward Building 3 of Orchard Trails, which is located just behind Ushuaia. He tried to get into the building from the back door, but it was locked so he ran around the building and entered the front door, which had been propped open. Quintal then proceeded to run into an apartment. The officer followed and found Quintal locked in the bathroom of the apartment. When the officer tried to apprehend Quintal, he resisted. Quintal had to be restrained and secured with duct tape. Quintal continually banged his head against the police car.
After this, he started complaining about injuries. As the police were transporting Quintal to the hospital, he became overly rude and abrasive. He continued this speech with the nurses at the hospital. When Quintal was cleared medically, he was taken to the Penobscot County Jail. Quintal was charged with violation of condition of release, failure to submit to arrest and refusal to sign a summons. Quintal had already been charged with OUI and a previous violation of bail. According to Quintal’s bail conditions for his OUI, he could not possess or consume alcohol.

Ushuaia denial of entrance leads to two charges
On Oct. 27 at 12:21 a.m. Tryce Yanok, 20, of Brunswick, tried to use a fake ID to gain entrance to Ushuaia. The club alerted police to the situation. Yanok had changed the date on her U.S. Air Force ID card to make herself appear over 21. She was charged with possession of a false identification card. Scott MacDonald, 21, of Orono, who was with Yanok, became belligerent regarding the situation, punched a glass door and then left. MacDonald was later located and issued a criminal trespassing warning.

Underage male tries using fake ID at Thriftway
On Oct. 27 at 7:48 p.m. police were notified that a man was trying to purchase alcohol at Thriftway. The customer had shown his identification and when asked for a second form of ID, he presented his MaineCard. The clerk denied purchase and the young man left the store. The police identified the man as Cody Watson, 20. When the police located Watson, he admitted to purchasing the ID card in New York and that he was trying to purchase alcohol. Watson was summonsed for possession of false identification.

Summons for underage drinking
On Oct. 28 at 12:09 a.m. an officer saw a male with a silver can walking down Washburn Place by Orchard Trails. As the officer approached, the man tried to hide the can as he was walking away. The man was identified as Jason Dutremble, 20. The officer seized the beer and charged Dutremble with illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Man attempts to hide beer in pocket
On Oct. 29 at 12:43 a.m. an officer approached a young man holding a silver can. The man started walking away from the officer. The officer told the man to stop, but he continued to walk away. As the man was walking away, he emptied the can and tried to hide it in his pocket. The officer finally identified the man as John Kauffman, 24. Kauffman had an existing warrant and was arrested and transported to the Penobscot County Jail.

Intoxicated male tries to enter wrong apartment
On Oct. 31 at 11:01 p.m. an officer saw an intoxicated male trying to get into a room in Building 5 at Orchard Trails. The officer identified him as Samuel Omeara, 19. Omeara denied drinking but could not balance himself while standing. Omeara admitted to trying to get into his own apartment, but he was at the wrong building. Omeara was charged with illegal possession and consumption of alcohol by a minor.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, November 6th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/11/06/police-beat-202/

Police beat

Police searching for paintballs find marijuana
On Oct. 21 at 8:49 p.m., an officer stopped a car on College Avenue by Farm Road for speeding. While the officer was issuing the driver a summons for speeding, he asked if he could check the vehicle. The officer had a previous complaint about someone who had been improperly using paintballs. When asked if there was anything in the car, the driver said no, and said the officer could look, but not search the car. The officer then asked if the driver and passenger would exit the vehicle and they did so without complaint. The officer noticed an empty rum bottle and an Altoids tin. Inside the tin, the officer found a straw, a razorblade and three white tablets. When asked what they were, neither young man responded. The passenger, identified as Paul Dube, 19, was issued a summons and charged with possession of marijuana.

Woman charged for refusing to leave nightclub
On Oct. 20 at 12:45 a.m., officers responded to a complaint from Ushuaia. Ushuaia was refusing entrance to a young woman and she became upset. She was visibly intoxicated, and someone had called the police. Because Ushuaia had already warned her, they asked that the officer remove her from the scene for criminal trespassing. The young woman was identified as Shirin Ansari, 20. A friend was unsuccessfully trying to escort Ansari off the premises, but Ansari continued to protest. Her friend finally convinced her to leave, but as she started leaving, Ansari turned back and yelled again. She was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Club rounds up fake IDs
On Oct. 22, the owner of Ushuaia confiscated six fake identification cards and turned them in to the Orono police. An officer following up on the cards found Thomas Cushing, 20. Cushing was charged with possession and display of a false identification card.

Minor charged for using false identification
On Oct. 25 at 6:40 p.m., a young man went into Thriftway and tried to purchase alcohol with a fake identification card. The clerk took the card and called the police. Kyle Hodgkins, 20, continued to tell the officer that he was 21. Hodgkins was charged with possession and display of a false identification card.

Police drawn by noise issue alcohol possession charge
On Oct. 19 at 11:45 p.m., an officer was contacted for a noise complaint on Pond Street. As the officer approached the scene, he noticed a young woman who looked too young to be holding the beer bottle she had in her hand. The officer identified the young woman as Mallory Cudlitz, 20. Cudlitz was charged with illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Minors drinking outdoors charged for alcohol possession
On Oct. 20 at 10:40 p.m., an officer noticed a group of people walking down the street near Washburn Apartments. As the officer approached, a young man quickly dropped a can. Nathan Gosselin, 20, was quickly identified and charged with illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.
Later at 11:50 p.m., an officer approached a group of people standing outside on Timberview Drive. As the officer approached, he saw a young woman who looked underage carrying a can of beer. The officer identified her as Kelly Neptune, 19, and charged her with illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Warrant arrest
On Oct. 25 at 5:46 p.m., Shannon Campbell, 23, was arrested for an outstanding warrant. The warrant was for theft, operating a vehicle after license revocation, and unpaid fines.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, October 30th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/10/30/police-beat-200/

Wabanaki historian lectures at Fogler



NATIVE SPEAKER - Nicholas Smith talks to an audience

member before giving a lecture on Native American

history in the special collections section of the library.

 Historian Nicholas M. Smith, who has been studying the Wabanaki people for over 50 years, visited UMaine last Thursday, Oct. 12, to share his story.
Susan J. Hunter, associate provost for Undergraduate Education, introduced Smith to the audience by going into some detail about Smith’s accomplishments in the past 50 years.
Hunter explained that Smith has compiled the largest and most comprehensive computerized annotated bibliography on Wabanaki peoples, titled WABIB. The geographic coverage of this remarkable resource encompasses present-day northern New England, the Maritime Provinces, and Quebec, a region that includes the traditional homelands of the Penobscots, Passamaquoddies, Maliseets, Mi’kmaqs, and Abenakis.
At well over 1,000 pages with almost 5,000 entries, WABIB continues to grow. The entries include academic monographs, journal articles, old and current newspaper articles, rare books and original manuscript collections at various archives and other depositories, photograph collections, interviews with Native peoples, and individual field notes.
Smith’s speech was titled “In the Right Place at the Right Time.” He told of many opportunities he had to meet the Wabanaki people and collect their stories. “It was a great opportunity to meet these people in their natural surroundings,” he said.
Smith, who still keeps in close contact with the people he has met over the years, collaborated heavily with the late Maliseet scholar Peter Paul. “There are over 35 years of taped history he provided me with,” Smith said.
When he started the research, Smith knew he would have to teach himself, as there had been no previous research done on the Wabanaki people. “As I was doing the research, several red flags came up if there needed to be more research done in specific areas,” Smith said.
Smith was recently asked to look over some manuscripts regarding similar work. “When a bundle of more than 100 related manuscripts was found at the Museum of the American Indian Huntington Free Library, Smith was asked to assess their research value, organize them, and lead the effort to preserve them,” said Gretchen Gfeller, public relations specialist at Fogler Library.
Smith is also a founding member of the Maine Archeological Society and the Ethnomusicology Society. “I’ve always been interested in history,” Smith said. “Generally, people don’t know too much about these people. I’m very happy to share what I know about them with others.”
“There is a need for a reliable source for Maine Indian information. My research can provide most of it, but there is still much to be done. If no one thinks it’s important, it’s hard to keep going, but I still do,” Smith added.
The special collections department at Fogler Library hosted his lecture and over 30 people were in attendance. “I try to bring interesting speakers from a variety of backgrounds to Fogler Library to speak and share their ideas with the UMaine community and the general public. Smith’s visit is part of that tradition,” Gfeller said.
The event was sponsored by Fogler Library and the Wabanaki Center as well as the Native American Studies Program on campus.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Thursday, October 19th, 2006

http://mainecampus.com/2006/10/19/wabanaki-historian-lectures-at-fogler/

Police beat

Smoker retrieves marijuana for officer
On Oct. 6 at 9:51 p.m. an officer on patrol noticed three male subjects in a window. One of them was holding an object that looked like a pipe. The officer saw a flash from a lighter and stopped his car. He got out and walked back toward the house. As he did, he saw the pipe being held and the man coughing as if he had been smoking. The officer asked all three to come outside and they did without complaint. Chase Guarino, 21, told the officer that he had more marijuana upstairs and retrieved it for the officer. Guarino was charged with possession of marijuana.

Noise complaints end in OUI arrest
On Oct. 5 at 10:52 p.m. four officers were called to Orchard Trails because of a noise complaint. The complaint came from the apartment manager after he had tried to take care of the problem on his own. When the officers knocked on the door of the apartment, Jason Mallett, 20, came to the door. Justin McCoubrey, 21, was there as well. Both were extremely intoxicated and were issued warnings for disorderly conduct.
That same night at 12:19 a.m. an officer received a report that there was a group in the parking lot at Orchard Trails being excessively noisy. It was also reported that there was a motorcycle that was revving its engine. As the officer arrived, he noticed a motorcycle stopped at a stop sign. The officer asked the driver if he had been revving the engine and the driver said no. The driver, identified as Justin McCoubrey, 21, turned the motorcycle around and parked it at the far end of the parking lot. As the officer was going into the building to check out a noise complaint, McCoubrey followed him in. There was a very strong odor of alcohol and McCoubrey was very unsteady and had watery eyes. When asked why he had been driving the motorcycle, McCoubrey said he was moving it for a friend. The officer conducted field sobriety tests and McCoubrey was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence as a result.

Male arrested for OUI
On Oct. 13 at 1:26 a.m. officers were on duty outside of Ushuaia. The officers noticed a huge crowd around closing time. A male left the building and got into a small sports car and left the parking lot. As the male was leaving, he revved the engine and screeched the tires and drove right past the police. An officer stopped the car for excessive acceleration and noise. The driver gave the officer his license and a car rental agreement. The officer could smell alcohol and the driver was identified as Fernando Marin, 24. After the officer conducted a field sobriety test, Marin was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence. After Marin was transported to the police station, he refused a blood-alcohol test and was transported to Penobscot County Jail.

Minor summonsed for alcohol possession
On Oct. 6 at 7:46 p.m. an officer was sitting in the Thriftway parking lot. He noticed a female walking out of the store with a 30-pack of beer. She gave the case to the driver of a parked vehicle. The officer observed that the driver was a young-looking male. The male then took the case and put it in the trunk of the car and drove away. The officer noticed that the lights on the rear license plates were out and made a routine traffic stop. The driver was identified as Kirk Ginish, 18. He stated that if his father knew he had been drinking he would “kill him.” Ginish was issued a summons for illegal possession and the alcohol was confiscated.

Man throws bottle off bridge, charged with littering
On Oct. 13 at 11:03 p.m., an officer was on routine patrol when he noticed four males walking across the bridge on Stillwater Ave. in Orono. One of the males had a brown liquor-like bottle in his hand. The officer turned around and pulled up next to the males. Only then did the one realize that there was an officer next to him. He made his way to the edge of the bridge and reached his hand over the side. The officer got out of the car and told the man not to do anything. As the man brought his hand back, the officer saw that the bottle was gone. The man was identified as Rex Malone, 21, and was charged with littering.

Party host warned for disorderly conduct
On Oct. 6 at 1:53 a.m. police were called to an Orono residence for a noise violation. When the officer arrived there were at least a dozen people on the front lawn talking and yelling. The officer was told that the tenant was having a party. Ryan Laracy, 22, was warned for disorderly conduct and the party dispersed as the officer left.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, October 16th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/10/16/police-beat-197/

Brewer students, Folklife Center save local history

On Tuesday, Sept. 26, the seventh-grade class from Brewer Middle School and staff from the Maine Folklife Center met to discuss the Eastern Fine Paper Mill research project. The project was created last August by Pauleena MacDougall, associate director of the Folklife Center, and Amy Stevens, a graduate student in the history department. MacDougall applied for the History Channel grant earlier this year.
The Folklife Center received the $10,000 “Save Our History” grant, which funds the project. According to MacDougall, the grant is the first one received by a school in Maine.
“We just convinced these people that our project was worth funding,” MacDougall said.
Another $5,000 grant from the Maine Humanities Council will also help funding.
The final product of the project will be an informational DVD and Web site that students will put together. To help them understand the topic, they will be taking a tour of the mill on Oct. 12.
Richard Kimball, the maine studies teacher at Brewer Middle School, is helping with the project. “The whole seventh grade is involved; not only the students, but the staff as well. This is a team effort,” Kimball said.
Because the history of the mill is crucial to the history of Brewer, the project is very extensive. “I don’t think the students are really aware of the enormity of the project,” said Kimball.
The project will take place in three stages, with participants divided into three groups. The first group will perform the actual research, the second will record all the information for the final product, and the last group will handle production.
The students will also create traveling history boxes, containing photos and other information, to teach other students around the state.
“A documentarian from New York is coming up to help with this final stage,” Kimball said.
Stevens is excited about the possibilities afforded students through their participation.
“We’re taking the resources we have and letting the students do their own research to learn about what types of things are done in preserving local history,” Stevens said.
Stevens has already contacted several former employees of the facility. DeCesere retired as the production manager from the mill about two years before it closed.
“The mill was a significant part of Brewer for many, many years,” DeCesare said. “It would be nice to see someone understanding what really went on there. I’m quite excited that the students and the center are even interested in doing this project.”
Before the mill closed, DeCesere received permission to collect pictures and other documents from the mill as keepsakes. He has been sharing these with the center and is glad to see that someone is getting good use out of them.
“All of the documents and stuff was just going to end up in the dumpster anyway.”
The center has already collected over 1400 photos of the mill and people who worked there.
“We need to collect these stories before these people pass on and the history is lost,” MacDougall said.
The mill was a large source of revenue and jobs for the city. When it closed, hundreds of local residents were left unemployed.
“When the mill closed, and with no education, some of the workers lost everything,” DeCesere said.
As a Brewer native, Stevens hopes the project will help students connect with their local history.
“Many of the students have relatives who worked at the mill. By inspiring the students to learn this history, maybe they will inspire other students to continue this work,” Stevens said.
“I would like to see something go into the building,” DeCesare said, “but someone has to come forth with a lot of money and a big dream. There is great potential, but someone has to have this dream and really deep pockets to do it.”

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Thursday, October 5th, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/10/05/brewer-students-folklife-center-save-local-history/

Paintball club aims for fun, safety

For those who want to play an advancing sport but have nowhere to go, the University of Maine Paintball club has an open door. The club became a recognized organization at UMaine in 2004. The club was started in 2003 “by a bunch of guys who were into the sport and thought a club would be a good idea and wanted a team to compete with other schools,” said Bill Mitchell of Public Safety and the club’s adviser.
James Hebert, the club’s president, said, “We do not necessarily have a mission statement, but the main focus of the club has always been to have fun and to practice safe and lawful use of paintball and develop teambuilding skills.”
According to the bylaws set forth by the club, this organization was formed in the interest of providing a safe and friendly environment for those involved in the sport of paintball here at UMaine.
Although the club does not have an organized team, they have their own playing field provided by UMaine on the College Avenue Extension. The club also encourages its members to be active and form their own teams. They primarily play at Adventure Sports in Dover-Foxcroft, or on their own in the university forest.
Mitchell said, “We are working on getting a club team together, as well as some tournaments this fall.” Last spring the club held a tournament with the Army ROTC at UMaine.
The club was formerly called Maine Paint but was changed to UMaine Paintball last year. As Maine Paint, the club participated in Maine Day last spring. The Army ROTC also helped. Together they provided net and bunkers, markers, CO2, and masks.
“We are also looking at getting more women involved with the sport,” Mitchell said. Currently there are only two women involved with the club.
Hebert said, “If you enjoy active and invigorating sports, then our club is the best way to do it.” Even though the club is mainly active during the fall and spring, they always hold meetings. “And there are a few die-hards that brave the weather during the winter,” Hebert said.
“The club provides an organized atmosphere to maximize the fun and experience of paintball,” said Hebert.
Currently the club is comprised of about 25 members. Dues are $10 annually and meetings are held every Thursday night in the Union. Announcements for these meetings are posted on the FirstClass conference folder.
Students interested in joining the Paintball club should contact Hebert on FirstClass.

By Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, October 2nd, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/10/02/paintball-club-aims-for-fun-safety/

Police beat

Man claims he was drinking from the grass
On Sept. 24, a police officer noticed a man walking down College Ave. carrying a silver can. When the man, Victor Doyle, 20, saw the officer’s car approaching, he dropped the can. The officer ordered Doyle to pick up the can. As Doyle picked it up, the officer smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed that his eyes were red and glassy. When asked why he was drinking, Doyle replied that he had just walked a long distance and now had cottonmouth. He claimed that he had been licking the grass to get the moisture off and found an unopened beer can on the ground. Doyle was summonsed for possession of alcohol by a minor. As the officer was driving away, Doyle started to hitchhike. It is illegal to hitchhike and Doyle was given a warning.

Minor drives with alcohol
On Sept. 30 at 8:25 p.m. an officer observed a minor coming out of a store with alcohol and getting into a car. Brenda Lamontagne, 19, was pulled over for a traffic violation and summonsed for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor.

Underage drinking at party
On Sept. 30 at 11:22 p.m. officers were called to a party because of the noise. An officer spoke with Julianna Cole, 20, and summonsed her for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. Scott Batson, 20, Ian Sprague, 20, and Andrew Horner, 19, were holding the party. All three were summonsed for furnishing alcohol to minors.

By Emma Potvin and Alisha Tondro

Posted on Monday, October 2nd, 2006

 

http://mainecampus.com/2006/10/02/police-beat-195/