Mills is new council president

Biddeford city councilors chose Bob Mills as the new council president at the Dec. 10 meeting.
Councilor Pete Lamontagne nominated Rick Laverriere for president and Mills was nominated by Ray Gagnon.
Councilors Gagnon and Clement Fleurent were appointed to the finance committee.
The council also unanimously voted to adopt the Roberts Rules of Order.
Mayor Joanne Twomey thanked outgoing council president Pete Lamontagne for his service and said she would miss sitting next to him.
“You’ve been really more than a council president,” she said. “I appreciate what you’ve done for this city.”
Twomey paused the meeting to remember Charlotte Bourgault, the co-founder of the In A Pinch nonfood pantry who died Dec. 1.
 “She wasn’t just a volunteer, she really cared about the people,” she said before a moment of silence.

Grand jury indicts motorcyclist

A Saco motorcyclist whose wife was killed last summer was indicted for manslaughter and operating under the influence.
Travis Perrault, 32, was indicted by a York County grand jury last week. He is charged in the death of his 28-year-old wife, Nicole Perrault, who died at the scene of the accident on Blueberry Road in Waterboro.
Travis Perrault was driving a 2000 Yamaha around 8:30 p.m. June 30 when he lost control and drove on the gravel shoulder of the road. The motorcycle flipped and landed in the opposite lane, according to police.
According to police, Travis Perrault told state troopers investigating the accident that he hit a deer. Troopers say he was traveling at an excessive speed and saw no evidence of a collision with an animal.
Travis Perrault was treated for head lacerations. Neither rider was wearing a helmet.

Councilman to run for state seat

Biddeford City Councilor Bob Mills has announced he will run for state representative.
Mills said he filed his intentions with the Maine State Ethics Commission to run for the seat to represent District 136. The seat will soon be vacated by Steve Beaudette, who Mills said “has served our city and district well.”
If elected, Mills said he intends to continue to serve on the city council.
“Being a city councilor for Ward 5 has been an honor and has opened many doors. I am fully about representing the people and giving them a voice,” he said.

Dinner to honor Go Greene

The St. Joseph Knights of Columbus Council of Biddeford will host a dinner Sunday night to honor the Go Greene Crew of Biddeford.
Grand Knight Denis Litalien said the Biddeford and Saco councils have teamed up to provide a holiday dinner and presents to members of Go Greene to celebrate the work they have done in the community.
The group was formed last summer following the murders of brothers Derek and Gage Greene. Many of the members were close friends of the Greenes and say they want to do good work in the community and find new opportunities to succeed.
Litalien said the dinner also will include opportunities for the teens and young adults to meet adults who are also dedicated to serving the community. Guests will include State Sen. Nancy Sullivan and Red Cross officials, who are expected to thank Go Greene for organizing a blood drive.

Fire linked to heat lamp

A Biddeford man was arrested Monday night after police said his marijuana growing operation sparked a house fire.
Nicholas Boucouvalas, 26, was arrested after he told police at the fire scene he thought his growing operation caused the fire, according to police. He was charged with cultivating marijuana.
Deputy Fire Chief Marc Bellefeuille said there were very few flames when firefighters responded to 16 Crescent St. around 6:30 p.m. Monday. The third floor sustained smoke damage and residents had to stay with friends, he said.
Bellefeuille said it appears a heat lamp used to grow the plants was too close to a combustible material. Police said it appeared Boucouvalas had one or two plants growing in the building.
The building is owned by Everett and Lorina Boucouvalas and is valued at $156,900, according to tax records.