BIDDEFORD

Man in jail inmate costume charged following stabbing

A knife-wielding man who dressed as a jail inmate for Halloween won't need the costume anymore.

He was charged with elevated aggravated assault after being arrested in Biddeford.

Police said they were called to 356 Main St. at 1:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of a man in an inmate's costume slashing tires. Police learned that tires on eight vehicles had been cut.

Police arrived and started chasing a suspect, but stopped when they found another man bleeding from a wound who said he had been stabbed by someone in an inmate costume.

The 26-year-old victim, who lives in the area, was taken to Maine Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.

Saco police helping with the search stopped the suspect on Spruce Street near the Saco-Biddeford line.

An Old Orchard Beach police canine team tracked from the location of the stabbing to where the Saco officers were holding David M. LeClair, 29, of Buxton, still in costume.

LeClair has been taken to York County Jail, given a new outfit and was being held pending an initial court appearance.

HARPSWELL

New wireless tower likely to boost cell phone coverage

For years, cell phone users in Harpswell have had poor reception or none at all.

But Town Administrator Kristi Eiane said Monday that a new 300-foot wireless tower, located on town-owned land off Mountain Road, went into service Friday.

"This should dramatically improve cell phone coverage in Harpswell," Eiane said.

Eiane said U.S. Cellular became the first cell-service provider to rent space from the tower's owner, Tower Specialists of Falmouth. The owner is also negotiating with with AT&T and Verizon.

Eaine said Harpswell expects to be paid up to $6,000 in lease fees annually for each provider that uses the tower.

In the past, providers avoided Harpswell because the market was not strong enough, but U.S. Cellular tapped into the federal Universal Service Fund to help finance the tower's construction.

The fund is used throughout the United States to expand wireless service in rural or remote areas.

PORTLAND

Geils vocalist will replace Nelson with PSO Sunday

Former J. Geils Band vocalist Peter Wolf will replace actor Judd Nelson as the narrator featured in the Portland Symphony Orchestra's "Great Stories to Tell" program scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Nelson had to cancel due to an injury. No refunds or exchanges are offered, as all performances and performers are subject to change.

The performance takes place at Portland's Merrill Auditorium. Tickets are $20 to $70, available through PortTix at 842-0800 or www.porttix.com.

FALMOUTH

Residents will get chance to offer ideas about center

The town and owners of the Falmouth Shopping Center hope the public will play a significant role in plans to redevelop the Route 1 complex.

The town has scheduled a Nov. 14 forum where residents will be given an opportunity to offer ideas.

It will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Plummer-Motz Elementary School, 192 Middle Road.

Theo H.B.M. Holtwijk, the town's director of long-range planning, said the center's owners own 60 adjacent acres of woods. The center also contains more than 240,000 square feet of empty space.

The owners, based in Boston, have no specific plan in mind for the property, but would like to redevelop it.

"It's an opportunity for us to think, about what this property could be. We hope this meeting leads to constructive development," Holtwijk said.

CHARLESTON, S.C.

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