AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ State of Maine flags in the town of Cape Elizabeth will be lowered to half-staff to honor a longtime state lawmaker who died this week.
Republican Gov. Paul LePage ordered the flags to be lowered on the day of Richard Hewes' funeral, which will be held Friday. All U.S. flags will remain at full staff.
Hewes joined the Maine House of Representatives in 1966, became speaker in 1972 and held the position for two years. The Republican then represented Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and part of Scarborough in the state Senate from 1978 to 1980.
The Portland Press Herald reported that Hewes died on Tuesday at the age of 87 at his home. He was battling Parkinson's disease for 18 years.