AUGUSTA — A city man, Gary W. Hall Jr., 26, was arrested Thursday on an indictment charging him with burglary and theft.

The indictment alleges Hall burglarized Rocky’s Stove Shop between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2010, and stole 10 pellet stoves valued at more than $1,000.

Hall pleaded not guilty to both charges at his arraignment Friday via video in Augusta District Court, and bail was set at $350.

The indictment was handed up by a grand jury in Kennebec County in October and sealed until Hall’s arrest.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but indicates that there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial.

Augusta, Emery win downtown awards

AUGUSTA — The Augusta Downtown Alliance, in partnership with the city of Augusta, won the Maine Downtown Network of the Year award and Augusta City Councilor Daniel Emery won the Public Official of the Year award at the Maine Downtown Conference recently.

The 12th annual conference was organized by the Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center.

The Augusta Downtown Alliance, formed in October 2010 to help revitalize the city’s downtown, and its partnership with the city of Augusta received one of two Maine Downtown Network of the Year awards. Norway Downtown won the other.

Also, Emery, a city councilor and member of the Board of Directors of Augusta Downtown Alliance, was the sole recipient of the Public Official of the Year award.

Shannon Haines, executive director of Waterville Main Street and director of the Maine International Film Festival, received the Downtown Visionary of the Year award.

The Main Street Maine Community of the Year award was presented to Heart of Biddeford.

The conference, held in Farmington May 18, was titled “Innovation Meets Main Street.”

Gardiner city officials to host coffee chat

GARDINER — Gardiner City Manager Scott Morelli and Finance Director Denise Brown will host a Coffee With the Manager from 8 to10 a.m. on Friday, June 1, at Dave’s Diner on Brunswick Avenue.

The public is invited to discuss topics including current and proposed budgets.

For more details and future coffee dates and locations, go to www.gardinermaine.com.