Maine State Police have cleared the owner of the Center Lovell Inn from any suspicion connected with her recent essay contest in which she gave away the business. Some of the non-winners had complained that the contest was 'rigged' and didn't comply with the rules that were set out.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said in a press release that State Police determined there were no violations of Maine gaming laws from the Center Lovell Inn essay contest. Sergeant Michael Johnston of the State Police's Special Investigations Unit said the inquiry included a review of the contest and the rules. In addition, interviews were conducted with the current owner Janice Sage, future owner Prince Adams, and the two judges who reviewed the essays and chose the winner.

Contestants were asked to submit an essay explaining why they thought they should be awarded the historic Inn. Each entry had to be accompanied by a $125 entry fee. The owner of the business turned over reviewing the essays and picking the winner to two other judges. Some of the people who submitted essays complained that the decision was based more on someone with experience in the hospitality business rather than the best essay. The winners are natives of New York who run a guest house and restaurant in the Virgin Islands.

Johnston said the conclusion of the investigation was that there were no violations of Maine gaming statues (Title 17, Chapter 62). He said investigators determined that this was a game of skill, not a game of chance. State Police license games of chance, but there are no laws in Maine overseeing essay contests.

Leading the investigation was State Police Gaming Inspector Barry Hathaway, who also looked into complaints when the Inn changed hands in another essay contest in 1993. He said his office received 15 complaints about the current contest and the complainants were notified Monday of the decision. Johnston said he also met with the Maine Attorney General's office Monday to review the State Police findings. He said the AG's office also concluded that there were no violations of the state's consumer protection laws.

This is good news, not only for the current and future owners of the Center Lovell Inn, but also the owners of the Blue Hill Inn. They are conducting a similar essay contest to give away that business.

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