Hello from afar A Bridgton resident has found “untapped” potential while living in Bosnia Page 1B
One more race
Inside News
Despite the lack of snowfall, five Raider Nordic skiers are headed to the N.E. Finals
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 9A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 6B Country Living . . . 7A-9A Directory . . . . . . . . . . 5B
Page 4B
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 6A Opinions . . . . . . 7B-10B Police/Court . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . 4B, 5B, 10B Student News . . . 1B-3B Games . . . . . . . . . . . . 9B
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 10
20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
March 10, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 4B
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
‘Catch-up year’ for Bridgton budget By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer As things now stand, Bridgton’s proposed $6.83 million municipal budget is up by 7% over last year, with a gross increase of $457,000 in appropriations.
But if that seems alarming, consider that the net increase, after revenues, is 3%, and the ever-frugal Budget Committee and Selectmen are not yet done sharpening their pencils. Although the two boards, in
weekly joint meetings that began Feb. 17, have reached consensus on sizable cuts to the manager’s budget, they still have some big-ticket items to consider, such as a $105,000 operational budget for the Ham Complex
and $100,000 for a new playground and restrooms at the Salmon Point Beach Campground. Town Manager Bob Peabody has put together a “catch-up” budget for 2016– 2017, following last year’s
Change of grant thinking
By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Bridgton Selectmen on Tuesday parted ways with the Community Development Committee in voting to assign $9,500 in Community Development Block Grant Funds to Bridgton Books as a matching grant in the bookstore’s plans to replace its windows and otherwise dress up its storefront façade. The grant decision was one of the more controversial decisions in a list of public service and facilities spending using $194,571 in set-aside CDBG funds. The vote was 3-2, with Selectmen Bernie King and Greg Watkins opposed. Selectman Paul Hoyt led off with supporting the Bridgton Books funding, noting that the CDBG budget included $9,156 in available prior year funds. He asked Planning and Economic Development Director Anne Krieg if the prior year funds could be applied in that way, and Krieg said, “Absolutely.” Watkins sided with the CDC, whose strong position was that CDBG funds should be reserved solely for projects that will help lessen the burden on taxpayers, and not be used for private businesses. Hoyt said the façade improvements at Bridgton Books, which are primarily needed to replace windows that let the sun’s UV rays shine through, are very much in keeping with the goals of the CDBG program. “The idea behind those whole CDBG project is to help where help is needed — especially when a new building is going up next door,” Hoyt said, referring to plans by the new owners of the former Main Street Variety building to tear the building down and build a GRANTS, Page 10A
Faces murder charge
flat-funded budget. Seen in that light, he said, the projected increase in the mil rate is just 19 cents higher than it was two years ago. The projected increase is 50 cents higher, however, than last year.
Staffing increases This year’s budget is unusual in that it includes proposals for increased staffing in several town departments. The positions that have received preliminary BUDGET, Page 5A
Election 2016
Caucus mirrors state results Results of Town of Casco Democratic caucus Bernie Sanders: 76 votes; Five delegates to go to Maine Democratic Convention Hillary Clinton: 23 votes; Two delegates to go to Maine Democratic Convention Undecided: 2 votes By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — One hundred and one was the magic number. “101 — Just like the Dalmatians. That’s how many people showed up,” Democratic Caucus Convener Peg Dilley said. As a longtime member of the Democratic Party, Dilley said past participation has been light. “Last Caucus, only four people came to it. The time before that, it was 15,” she said. The caucus was an exciting experience because of the big turnout, which permitted many residents to express their political opinions and to endorse a candidate in a friendly, nondisparaging environment, she said. When people were asked to go to different sides of the room to show support for one of the two nominees, the support for Bernie Sanders became visual, she said. The Democratic caucus for the Town of Casco was CASCO, Page 9A
Packed room favors Sanders
Bridgton Democratic Committee caucus results Bernie Sanders: Seven delegates to attend Maine DENNIS DEMPSEY, of Gray, sports several political pins at the Republican caucus Democratic Convention on Saturday. “I am here to show support, volunteer my service and to get a big yard Hillary Clinton: Four delegates to attend Maine sign,” Dempsey said. (De Busk Photo) Democratic Convention
Many first-timer GOPs
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer WINDHAM — By the time the Maine Republican caucus took place, the number of potential presidential candidates had been downsized from 11 to four. By Saturday evening when most of the
SEBAGO — A Bridgton man is facing a murder charge following a shooting in Sebago Saturday which left Charles L. “Charlie” Cross, 66, dead. David Pinkham David Pinkham, 67, Bridgton appeared in the Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland on Monday and was ordered held without bail by Justice Lance Walker. No plea was entered, and at this time, no motive for the shooting has been revealed. Police say Cross had been married to Pinkham’s sister for more than 20 years, but were divorced about two decades ago. The two men remained friends. Cross and his longtime girlfriend, Paula Simonds, 59, resided at 331 Hancock Pond Road in Sebago. Police say the two men had a conversation inside the home, and when Pinkham was leaving, Cross followed him outdoors. Shortly after, Simonds heard a “pop-pop” noise at about noon. According to a police affidavit, Simonds looked out a window and saw Cross laying in a snowbank. Pinkham left the residence in his purple Plymouth Neon. Simonds then called police. Pinkham was taken into custody in his vehicle a short time later by Bridgton Police. Maine State Police detectives were assisted by Cumberland County deputies and the Maine MURDER, Page 3A
votes had been tallied, it was apparent that slightly more Mainers favored Ted Cruz (45.9%) over Donald Trump. (32.6%) as the next Republican presidential candidate. Those numbers are from the Associated Press. During a Saturday morn-
ing in southern Maine, lines of people stood outside the Windham Middle School, the caucus location for about a dozen towns. Those lines waxed and waned in the hallways of the school building. The Maine Republican caucus GOP, Page 4A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer So many Bridgton residents showed up to participate in the Democratic caucus that it became apparent some fresh air needed to circulate through the packed room, according to Caucus Convener Linda England. “We were jammed in the room. There was so much body heat in one room that we had to open the windows,” England said. Bernie Sanders was the hot ticket during Maine’s caucuses — garnering about two-thirds of the votes, compared to Hillary Clinton. BRIDGTON, Page 8A
Suspect’s arrest ‘by the book’ By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Very few police officers ever have to make the kind of arrest that Bridgton Police Officer Donald “Mac” McCormick made Saturday, after stopping murder suspect David Pinkham on South High Street. Alone on duty, McCormick heard over the radio at around noon that Pinkham, a Bridgton resident known to him, had allegedly just shot and killed a man in Sebago. He immediately raced to Pinkham’s home on South High Street, across from Bridgton Hospital, and was relieved to find that Pinkham was not there. Pinkham, who is 67, lives in the Pike’s Farm Apartments complex, and McCormick knew that confronting him there might put other lives in jeopardy. McCormick was told to be on the lookout for a purple Plymouth Neon that Pinkham was driving after allegedly shooting Charlie Cross, 66, at Cross’s house at 331 Hancock
A FELONY STOP involves parking the police cruiser on an angle, as shown here, so that the officer will be protected if the driver has a gun. Fortunately for arresting officer Donald “Mac” McCormick, murder suspect David Pinkham left the handgun in the car when he exited the purple Plymouth Neon he was driving after McCormick stopped him on South High Street across from the Swamp Road. Pond Road, Sebago. McCormick, a 10-year veteran of the department, didn’t have to look for long. After continuing on South High Street, he got as far as Sandy Creek when the Neon came up from the Sebago Road and sped by him, headARREST, Page 3A
The Bridgton News Established 1870
P.O. Box 244, 118 Main St. Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2851 Fax: 207-647-5001 bnews@roadrunner.com