Maine News Updates

Staff photo by George Myers Jr.

WATERVILLE - The 11th Civil Support Group of the National Guard, two of them wearing gasmasks, and Waterville police at this hour are investigating the delivery of two suspicious envelopes in the city this morning.

Deputy Chief Chip Rumsey said at 11:30 that authorities consider the packages potentially dangerous.

The Waterville-based Guard unit and police are looking into the delivery of one envelope to the finance office of City Hall, and another to Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) offices on Water Street, police said. The envelopes contained a "mysterious substance," police said.

Police said that Front Street behind City Hall likely will be closed to traffic for another two hours. Some City Hall employees have been evacuated.

Half-a-dozen Guardsmen, with special vehicles and trailers, have set up a temporary command center in the middle of Front Street behind City Hall.