Knightville work to begin soon

The first phase of combined street work, sewer installation and transit hub construction in South Portland is expected to begin Aug. 15. City councilors approved a $560,000 contract with Scarborough-based Maietta Enterprises to complete the work.
The first phase of construction includes sidewalk replacement on Ocean Street near Millcreek Park and installation of catch basins and storm water drainage near city hall on Thomas Street. It also includes site work for the public transportation hub on city-owned land at Thomas and Ocean streets. The transportation hub will be one buildings on a 100- by 100-foot site.
City officials said the area will be marked with signs and local business owners were alerted to the work, but anticipate Thomas Street is the only road that will be closed during some of the work.
Dan Riley, a consulting engineer with Sebago Technics, said the projects should be finished by mid-November, but work on other streets in Knightville will occur in 2012.
City Transportation Director Tom Myers said federal funding for the bus depot might not be available in time to complete the building by November, but shelters will be available in the winter for passengers.

Project moves forward at fort

Excavation work began at the cliffside area in Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth July 26 to move the park arboretum project forward after a delay caused by discovery of an endangered species of rabbit.
Town Manager Michael McGovern said the remainder of the invasive plant species will be removed over the next few weeks and grass will be planted on the site.
The site is one of 15 being developed to grow native plants, reduce invasive species and enhance park views of Casco Bay and Portland Head Light.
Signs that the New England cottontail rabbit was living in the Cliff Walk area caused the arboretum project to halt last spring while an independent contractor searched for rabbits to locate them to sites in Rhode Island and on Stage Island off Biddeford.
Judy Camuso, a biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildife, estimated about 3,000 New England cottontails live in Maine. Camuso did not return phone calls about how many rabbits were found in the cliffside area.

Woman allegedly dragged boyfriend with car

A South Windham woman faces multiple charges after allegedly dragging her companion through a South Portland parking lot Tuesday evening.
South Portland Police Lt. Frank Clark said Chaka Coleman, 27, was charged with driving to endanger, aggravated assault, assault and obstruction after police responded to a call at Newick’s Lobster House, 400 Gorham Road.
Witnesses told police Coleman left the parking lot in a white Chevy pickup truck shortly after 6 p.m. When stopped nearby on Gorham Road, police discovered her passenger was bleeding and Coleman allegedly told police they had been arguing.
Witnesses at the scene said Coleman drove away as the victim, an unidentified 29-year-old man who lives in Westbrook, tried to get into the truck.
Clark said Coleman allegedly kept driving and dragged the victim across the lot before he fell and hit his head.
 She was taken to Cumberland County Jail in Portland and held on $75,000 bail before a court appearance Wednesday.


– Compiled by Staff Writer David Harry