Central Maine News: Farmington Principal Named Maine’s National Distinguished Principal of the Year for 2015

These are some of the stories central Maine is talking about today.

Lawmakers and advocates say that both Maine's economy and its environment would benefit from expanding passenger train service in the state. Business and environmental leaders joined lawmakers at the Statehouse on Tuesday to highlight two bills seeking to provide more residents with access to train service.  The bills have not yet been voted out of committee. (AP)

Gov. Paul says that his administration won't move forward with its plan to introduce keno in Maine this year. LePage said in a statement on Tuesday that "now is not the time to have another debate over gambling." The administration had planned to roll out the game at retailers like bars and restaurants this spring. But some lawmakers said that the Legislature should get to weigh in on such a significant expansion on gambling. LePage said that lawmakers could have avoided this debate if they had brought their concerns to his administration. (AP)

RSU 20 superintendent says a high school junior should not have been sent to the principal's office for refusing to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. An email has sent out to district staff informing everyone that students do not have to stand or recite the pledge. The student refused to participate in the pledge on Friday. The incident occurred a few weeks after a South Portland high school student added the words "if you'd like to" to her daily invitation to students to say the pledge. (AP)

Gov. Paul LePage has tapped a maple tree at the Blaine House to mark the beginning of syrup season in Maine. It was to celebrate the start of the state's maple syrup season. LePage said that the maple syrup industry directly contributes an estimated $27.7 million to Maine's economy. The state is gearing up for Maine Maple Syrup Sunday, which is coming up on March 22. (AP)

Police say they seized a lot of guns and cash in Winthrop after a lengthy investigation.  Police and the Maine DEA say they found a sawed-off shotgun, more than $15,000 in cash and about $2,600 worth of heroin after carrying out a search warrant last week. According to WGME three men were arrested including a man from Alaska. Police say there could be more arrests on the way. (WGME)

The City of Hallowell is taking legal action against a Brass and Friends Antiques.  According to WGME code enforcement has been trying to get the owner of Brass and Friends Antiques to clean up his property for nearly 7 months but say they've had no success. They say debris and trash on the roof of the store and behind it is a potential hazard for the people who live here. The city says seeking legal action is their last resort but that's the stage they're at and they're in the process of meeting with the city solicitor. (WGME)

A man who died as a result of a medical problem Monday on Togus Pond was a longtime former Augusta police officer. According to the KJ, the man was 69-year-old Charles Winslow, of Augusta. Winslow retired from the police force in 1988, Mills said. Police were called to South Belfast Avenue on Monday after a man riding an all-terrain vehicle died following an apparent medical problem. Winslow was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said nothing about the death is suspicious, and it was not the result of a crash. (centralmaine.com)

The Augusta Police wants to offer a comfort zone to those who worry about meeting other for exchanges. So Augusta Police Department is opening their lobby as an Online Exchange Zone effective immediately. According to their Facebook page the opening of the Online Exchange Zone is not a reaction to any recent crimes in Augusta with online purchases, but in response to the growing use of online sale sites including Craigslist, Facebook groups, etc. Citizens are now able to arrange to make their online transactions in the security of the APD lobby which provides access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has video surveillance.  ( Facebook)

Principal Tracy Williams had been named Maine’s National Distinguished Principal of the Year for 2015. According to the KJ, she is the principal of Farmington's Mallett School. Williams who has been principal at the school since 2005. Williams was recognized for her role in developing a positive culture at the school, building student-centered programs, and being instrumental in creating high-quality professional development for the staff in her school and the district.(centralmaine.com)