BOSTON

Police request public’s help to solve road-rage shooting

Massachusetts State Police are appealing to the public for help solving an alleged road-rage shooting that injured a 16-year-old Maine girl.

State Police spokesman David Procopio said the girl’s family told investigators it happened on Interstate 495 northbound in Merrimac, just after noon July 1.

The family said the girl was shot in the arm through a rear window of their 2002 Nissan XTerra near mile marker 115 as she rode with her parents and younger brother.

The shot allegedly came from a passenger in a white car believed to be a Honda Accord with Massachusetts plates.

Procopio said the family told investigators that car passed them, then cut back in sharply. The family’s driver then passed the white car and pulled in front of it. The shooting followed.

AUGUSTA

Maine guard unit heading to Afghanistan for a year

A Maine Army National Guard unit is heading to Afghanistan.

Members of the 488th Military Police Company were given a send-off ceremony Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Capt. Eric Dos Santos is leading 122 military police officers from the Maine Army National Guard unit, which is based in Waterville with a detachment in Houlton.

Guard officials told the Bangor Daily News that the unit will be in Afghanistan for a year to work on security matters for coalition and Afghan forces.

LEWISTON

Ex-police officer arrested for third time in three months

A Lewiston police officer who resigned this spring after an alleged assault on his girlfriend has been arrested again.

The Sun Journal of Lewiston reported that 47-year-old Timothy Darnell was arrested at 3:30 a.m. Thursday on charges of violating conditions of his release, violating bail and criminal trespass.

The newspaper said he remained at the Androscoggin County Jail on Thursday night.

Darnell was initially arrested and charged in May with assaulting his girlfriend in Portland. He was arrested again the following morning for allegedly returning to the victim’s home.

Deputy Police Chief James Minkowsky said Darnell subsequently resigned.

Darnell was an 18-year veteran of the police force.

BANGOR

New arena will be known as Cross Insurance Center

A local insurance agency has bought the naming rights to a new arena in Bangor that is scheduled to open next year.

The arena will be known as Cross Insurance Center under a $3 million, 15-year agreement between the city and the company.

The Bangor Daily News reported that the deal calls for Cross to make quarterly payments of $50,000 for the naming rights, as well as an exclusive 12-month renegotiation period 12 years into the deal that allows Cross to extend its contract by as many as 10 years.

The $65 million 5,800-seat arena and events center is expected to officially open on Labor Day weekend in 2013.

PORTLAND

Maine farms invite visitors for Open Farm Day today

More than 100 Maine farms are opening their barn doors to the public today for the state’s 23nd annual Open Farm Day.

During the event, visitors can watch farm activities and demonstrations such as cheese-making and spinning demonstrations or get their hands dirty by picking some eggs, feeding calves or touring vineyards. Farmers also have farm-raised products for sale and samples to taste.

Open Farm Day is put on by the Department of Agriculture and gives the public an opportunity to learn firsthand about the state’s farms.

Visiting hours are generally from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with some farms extending their hours.

— From staff and news services

 

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