Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

Bill aims to honor violence victims

By Doug Harlow dharlow@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

HARMONY -- Plans to name two bridges after a mother and her two children killed in a domestic-violence incident in Dexter last year will come one step closer fulfillment this morning in Augusta.

A public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the State House on proposed legislation to change Higgins Stream Bridge on Route 150 to the Amy, Coty and Monica Bridge in memory of schoolteacher Amy Bagley Lake, 38, and her children Monica, 12, and Coty, 13.

Steven Lake, 37, Amy's estranged husband, shot and killed his wife and children, then turned the gun on himself June 13.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Doug Thomas, R-Ripley, also would change the name of the Main Stream Bridge on nearby Route 154 in Harmony to the Remember Me Bridge, for all victims of domestic violence.

Amy Lake and her children used that road to travel from Harmony, where Amy grew up, to Dexter, where she was a school teacher, so they would not have to drive by Steven Lake's business on Route 150, according to Sandra Mitchell of Harmony, who has spearheaded the bridge-naming campaign.

Thomas said today's hearing is set for the Transportation Committee room on the first floor of the State House.

"I think we need to raise awareness of domestic violence and everyone needs to know that it has to stop. Naming these two bridges does that," Thomas said Monday. "No one should have to through what they went through."

Mitchell launched the petition for 300 signatures to rename the bridges in July.

On Monday, she said she has garnered many more than that.

"Signatures just kept pouring in; some by letter, some from the stores where the petitions were," She said. "I'm sure there are well over 1,000 signatures that I presented to Doug Thomas."

Mitchell said she will attend today's hearing, as will Ralph and Linda Bagley, Amy's parents and Monica and Coty's grandparents.

She said she also plans another campaign to plant perennial flowers along the two roads in remembrance of the family and of others who have perished as a result of domestic violence or breast cancer, or in military service.

Mitchell also is raising money to support funding for ankle bracelets for domestic-violence offenders. A protective order and bail conditions were in place against Steven Lake because of a June 2010 incident involving threatening his wife and children. He was awaiting trial for that incident, which happened in neighboring Wellington, and was free on bail.

Linda Bagley on Monday said the family knew the hearing would be coming up and has agreed to attend.

"Our wishes are to have Amy, Coty and Monica -- their names in that order," Bagley said of the bridge name, "because Coty was older than Monica. With naming the bridge, it will keep this tragic event that happened in everybody's mind as a great tribute to them. It will not be forgotten and will make people more aware of what can be done by supporting the domestic-violence cause."

Doug Harlow -- 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com