A Biddeford woman was arrested Dec. 17 after admitting to setting two fires.

Edna Godin, 43, of 358 Main St., was charged with two counts of Class A arson and is being held at York County Jail on $5,000 bail, according to Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk.

 Godin told police she started a fire at her house on Dec. 16 and a fire at her previous residence on Kossuth Street.

Fisk said the fire and police departments went to 358 Main St. around 10 p.m. Dec. 16 after a caller reported a fire on the side of the building. A complainant told officers several pieces of asbestos siding about 5 feet off the ground had been on fire but had burned out before crews arrived. Police officers found several newspapers had been stuffed under the siding in a suspicious manner, Fisk said.

Police detectives interviewed Godin Dec. 17 while talking to potential witnesses of the fire. After a brief interview, Godin confessed to starting the Main Street fire, Fisk said.

As she continued to talk to detectives, Godin also admitted to setting a fire on May 19, 2009, at 8 Kossuth St., she said. The building was destroyed during the fire and a neighboring building was extensively damaged.  No one was injured in the fire.

Godin was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon after the Courier’s publication deadline.

Heart of Biddeford names new president of board

 Tammy Ackerman has been named president of the Heart of Biddeford Board of Directors.

Ackerman, who previously was chairman of the design committee, replaces outgoing President Megan Rochelo. Ackerman is executive director of Engine and coordinator of Biddeford ArtWalk. She has been involved with Heart of Biddeford for five years.

Ackerman said the board of directors voted last week to hire an interim director for the nonprofit organization. She said she expects the search for an interim director to begin early next year, with an eventual search for a permanent director. The group has been without a director since Zeke Callanan left the organization earlier this month.

“We’ll take our time finding the perfect person for that role,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman said as president she will look to engage new volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering can e-mail director@heartofbiddeford.org or call 284-8520.

Local officers graduate from criminal justice academy

 Two local police officers graduated Dec. 17 from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro.

Nathaniel Munzing of the Biddeford Police Department and Joshua Robbins of the Old Orchard Beach Police Department were among 44 officers recognized during the graduation ceremony. The ceremony speaker was Thomas Delahanty, United States attorney for Maine.

Officers completed 18 weeks of study on topics such as criminal and traffic law, domestic violence, firearms, first aid, crime scene processing, sexual assault and emergency vehicle operation.

Saco police will conduct checks of liquor licenses

 The Saco Police Department will conduct checks of local businesses’ license to sell liquor using a grant awarded by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The check will be done to determine if the law is being followed and to promote voluntary compliance through enforcement.