Central Maine News: July 15, 2015

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

One Fort Hood soldier has died and another was critically hurt in a vehicle accident while hunting feral hogs near the Central Texas post. Officials are investigating what caused two soldiers to fall from the bed of a pickup truck. The accident happened July 6 .Spec. Jason Kane of Surry, Maine, was killed. A another soldier remains hospitalized in critical condition. The driver and a cab passenger weren't injured. The four soldiers apparently had permission to hunt on a field. The driver noticed his two buddies were no longer in the back of his personal truck, retraced the route and located the victims. Officials disposed of a hog found in an ice chest in the vehicle. (AP)

The head of the Land for Maine's Future program says that land conservation projects will lose out on roughly $6.5 million in bond money. Land for Maine's Future Director told board members on Tuesday that there is no other opportunity for the bonds to be sold. The bonds, which were first approved in 2009, will expire in November and Gov. Paul LePage has indicated that he doesn't plan to sell any more bonds this year. LePage has withheld a total of more than $11 million in bonds for the program in an unsuccessful attempt to get lawmakers to pass his plan to boost funding for a heating assistance program. His office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. (AP)

Maine officials are asking the public to comment on a state plan that proposes ways to protect the Pine Tree State's most vulnerable fish and wildlife species. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife drafted the 2015 Wildlife Action Plan with input from dozens of government and non-government organizations. State officials say the plan puts an emphasis on participation from landowners and the public to conserve wildlife. A 30-day public comment period for the document began on Monday. Officials say the plan will help guide conservation of rare and vulnerable animals from this year to 2025. States need to approve a wildlife plan to be eligible for certain federal grants. (AP)

Investigators say a fire that claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy in Hermon, Maine, was caused by a child cooking in the kitchen while the parents were away. A pizza box was ignited by one of the stove's burners. The July 7 fire was ruled accidental. Wyatt Parker, who was spending the night with two cousins, died in the fire. 10-year-old Ashlyn Parker suffered from smoke inhalation and another cousin escaped unharmed to summon help from a passing motorist. The fire broke out while the parents were running errands. Investigators could not find a working smoke detector but the 10-year-old survivor says she heard one. (AP)

The deadline is approaching for Maine fishermen and dealers to renew their marine licenses online before the state begins transitioning to a new system. State Department of Marine Resources officials say license holders who do not renew by Thursday will have to use paper applications or wait until September to buy a license or permit with the new system. Officials say the new system will be easier to use and available 24 hours per day. It will include online tools for license application, renewal and reporting catch data. (AP)

Deliberations are set to begin Wednesday morning in the trial of James Holmes, who's accused of opening fire on a Colorado movie theater three years ago, killing 12 people and wounding 70 others. Holmes' lawyers say that their client suffers from schizophrenia. During closing arguments Tuesday, the prosecution told the jury, "That guy was sane beyond a reasonable doubt, and he needs to be held accountable for what he did." (AP)

Greece's Parliament votes Wednesday on an 85-billion-euro bailout deal meant to prevent the country's economy from collapsing. But Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (TSEE'-prahs) is facing a revolt in his left-wing party as well as workers' calls for strikes. Talks on the bailout will start if Parliament agrees by Wednesday to creditors' demands, including painful tax hikes and pension cuts. (AP)

The possibility of more flooding is threatening rescue efforts in Kentucky's Appalachian terrain. Floodwaters that killed two people on Monday have left six others missing, but authorities have had to call off their search until Wednesday morning. The search area stretches more than eight rugged miles from the town of Flat Gap south to Staffordsville. And authorities estimate more than 150 homes were destroyed. (AP)

It's finally gone. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh says the last of the huge snow pile built up from the city's nightmare of a winter has finally melted away. The pile had accumulated into a 75-foot tower of snow after a record-breaking winter that dumped more than 110 inches on Boston. But the snow also was laden with more than 80 tons of garbage, transforming it into a repulsive heap as the snow melted. (AP)