Biddeford pharmacy robbed

 Biddeford police say an armed man robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy Tuesday morning.

Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk said a man entered the store on Alfred Street at 11:44 a.m. and went to the pharmacy section of the store. He allegedly brandished a weapon and ordered pharmacy staff to turn over narcotics. Fisk said the weapon was not a firearm but declined to be more specific. The man fled the store with an undetermined amount of narcotics, she said.

Police said the man is white, between 6 feet and 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 160 to 180 pounds. He was seen wearing a green hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with information is asked to call Biddeford police at 282-5127.

Murder trial starts Monday

 The jury trial of Darlene George and Jeffrey Williams is scheduled to begin Monday in York County Superior Court and is expected to last more than a week.

George and Williams are accused of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the June 2008 death of Winston George in Old Orchard Beach. Darlene George was married to Winston George and Williams is her brother. They face 25 years to life in prison on the murder charges.

Winston George’s death was reported to Old Orchard Beach police in the early morning hours of June 20. Darlene George told police two unknown men broke into her Smith Wheel Road house the previous evening, tied up her and her son and demanded money and drugs, according to court records.

Police and prosecutors have said Darlene George staged the home invasion and conspired with Williams and Rennie Cassimy to kill Winston George. Darlene George and Cassimy were involved in a romantic relationship, according to court records.

Cassimy pleaded guilty in January to one charge of conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail with all but eight years suspended, followed by four years probation. Cassimy is included on the state’s witness list for the George-Williams trial.

Police station work begins

 Old Orchard Beach town officials celebrated the construction of a new police station with a groundbreaking ceremony Monday night.

The new 9,984-square-foot station will be built at 16 E. Emerson Cummings Blvd., directly behind the current police and fire station. The $1.97 million project will be funded by a bond voters approved last November. The town council approved the final total June 1.

Construction of the building began June 2 and is expected to be completed by February 2011. Benchmark and Foreside Architects were chosen as the design/buildcontractors for the project.

Police Chief Dana Kelley said he is thankful to firefighters and rescue personnel “for putting up with us for the past 35 years” in the building they currently share.

‘They have allowed us to use space that they desperately needed and have been gracious and accommodating when we need something done,” he said. “I sincerely hope that in the not too distant future a way will be found to improve upon the very difficult circumstances that they live and work in.”

Kelley said he also extends his thanks to residents “who saw the wisdom and need for this new building and were willing even in difficult economic times to support the project which will only serve to help us serve them more efficiently.”

Walk for Wishes raises $9,800

Participants in the 10^th annual Walk for Wishes in Saco raised more than $9,800 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine.

Teams of walkers, volunteers and supporters walked to raise money to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Walks were held May 27 in Saco, Rockland, Bangor, Dennysville, Lewiston/Auburn, Pittsfield, Westbrook, York, Cumberland and Houlton.

The walks raised about $77,000, all of which funds wishes for Maine children. The average cost of a wish is $6,000 and one is granted every six days. Since the Maine chapter opened in 1992, it has granted wishes to more than 900 children.

– Compiled by Gillian Graham