Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
South Paris Man Indicted in January 6 Capitol Riot
(South Paris) A Maine man who participated in the January 6th Capitol Riot has been sentenced to a week in jail. WABI-TV reports 61-year-old Todd Tilley of South Paris admitted to one misdemeanor in Washington federal court this week — parading, demonstrating or picketing inside the Capitol building. Tilley must also complete 60 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.
(South Paris) A South Paris man will spend a week in jail for his participation in the January 6th Capitol Riot. WABI-TV reports 61 yo Todd Tilley admitted to one misdemeanor in Washington Federal Court this week – parading, demonstrating, or picketing inside the Capitol building. In addition to jail time, Tilley was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.
Moosehead Lake Rescue
(Greenville) An amazing rescue story from Moosehead Lake. Maine Game Warden and Passamaquoddy Warden trainees had finished their day at the Maine Advanced Warden School late Tuesday night when a call came in about a couple and their children stranded on the west side of the lake. 31 yo Ruby Goodmen of Greenville and 32 yo Joseph Wentworth of Orland had been ice fishing with their 2 and 5 year old and their dog when the weather suddenly turned. Goodmen headed across the ice with the 5 yo and the dog, while Wentworth gathered up their gear and planned to take the two yo and catch up. With the weather worsening by the minute, Goodmen’s snowmobile broke down, and Wentworth, too, became lost in white out conditions. Now separated and lost in the storm, both placed 9-1-1 calls. The wardens and trainees jumped into action. Within 45 minutes, Goodmen was found about 800 yards from shore. Wentworth was located about two miles away. All were warmed with blankets, and the adults, children and dog were provided a vehicle to get home safely.
(Greenville) Tuesday’s storm nearly claimed the life of a family and their dog who were ice fishing on Moosehead Lake in Greenville on Tuesday. When the weather suddenly turned, 31 yo Ruby Goodmen of Greenville decided to take the five year old and the dog and head for home, while 32 yo Joseph Wentworth of Orland gathered the fishing gear and planned to catch up, along with the two year old. As Goodmen headed for shore, the storm worsening by the minute, her snowmobile broke down. Wentworth, too, now separated, became lost. Both placed 9-1-1 calls. Meanwhile, trainees at the Maine Advanced Warden School had just finished their day when the desperate calls came in. Maine Game Warden and Passamaquoddy Warden trainees jumped into action. Within 45 minutes Goodmen was located 800 yards from shore. Wentworth was found about 2 miles away. All four, along with the dog, were rescued and transported back to the camp where they were warmed and given a vehicle to return safely home.
Local Politics
Brooklin Town Meeting Delayed
(Brooklin) Officials in Brooklin have decided to push the Annual Town Meeting to June 3rd. The meeting has traditionally been held in April, but the town says documents needed won’t be ready by then. Select Board Chairperson Bill Cohen reports the annual election will still be held in April, with polls open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 7th.
(Brooklin) The Brooklin Town Meeting will be later than usual this year, but the annual election is still set for April 7th, with polls open from 2 to 6 p.m. that day. Select Board Chairperson Bill Cohen explained while the Town Meeting is traditionally held in April, documents needed won’t be ready by then. The Town Meeting is now pushed back to Saturday, June 3rd.
Education
Lunchables for School Lunches
(Undated) Lunchables will soon become part of school lunch programs across the country. WABI-TV reports Kraft Heinz says two new varieties will be in school cafeterias this fall – varieties not found in grocery stores. The company adds they have improved nutrition to meet federal guidelines for the National School Lunch Program.
(Undated) Students across the country could soon see a favorite on school lunch menus – Lunchables. WABI-TV reports Kraft Heinz says two new varieties will be in school cafeterias this fall – varieties not found in grocery stores. The company adds they have improved nutrition to meet federal guidelines for the National School Lunch Program.
Pi Day Winner
(Limestone) Mathematicians love pi – as in pi day, specifically, which this year was Tuesday, 3.14. At the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone, students recited as many digits of the eternal number as they could. Ari Anghel of Windham, who uses the pronoun they/them, rattled off the first 500! MSSM’s Jeffrey Candura tells Star 97.7, community members pledged donations for each digit amounting to $55.66 each – probably not counting on Ari’s prowess. That means a total amount pledged of $27,830, which Candura says will go toward professional development for teachers, facility upgrades, and student aid. For his amazing feat, Ari received dinner for himself and a friend – we hope it includes more than one piece of pie!
Health
BBB Shares Tips for Choosing Assisted Living Facility
(Undated) Choosing an Assisted Living Facility for a loved one is never easy, but the Better Business Bureau has tips for making the decision less stressful. They say consider your needs, then tour the facility and be observant. Also, get recommendations and ask lots of questions – the BBB has a list on their website. Finally, they say consider cost and location and compare several facilities before making a final decision.
(Undated) If you find yourself in need of an Assisted Living Facility for yourself or a loved one, the Better Business Bureau has tips for helping you make an educated decision. First, they say, consider your needs, then tour each facility and be observant. Get recommendations or ask a long term care ombudsperson for advice – the state has a list of people who investigate such facilities and get to know their track records. Consider location and cost, and tour several facilities. Finally, they say ask lots of questions – you’ll find a list of good ones on the BBB’s website.
Environment
Elver Fishing Season Begins
(Maine) Spring officially arrives at 5:24 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, and two days later elver fishing season starts. This year’s quota is 9,688 pounds. The Maine Department of Marine Resources reports the season runs through June 7th, although the fishery may be closed earlier if the quota is reached. MDMR has a lottery system for elver fishing licenses that is capped at 425. Last year’s harvest brought a near-record price of more than $2100 per pound.
(Maine) We all know in Maine it’s just a date on a calendar and doesn’t necessarily dictate the weather. Still it’s encouraging to know Spring officially arrives this Monday at 5:24 p.m. Eastern Time. And on Wednesday elver fishermen can begin putting out their fyke nets to harvest the profitable baby eels. Licenses are issued on a lottery basis and capped at 425. Last year’s harvest brought in more than $2100 per pound. The season runs through June 7th unless the state’s quota of 9,688 pounds is reached before that date.
Infrastructure
Ellsworth City Hall Parking Lot to Close
(Ellsworth) The Ellsworth City Hall Church Street parking lot will be closed to all vehicles but those with handicap plates or placards beginning April 3. The lot will be closed for approximately two weeks so repairs can begin on the City Cupola. Because handicap accessible spots will vary daily, the facilities director urges people to use caution when entering the lot.
(Ellsworth) Repair work on the Ellsworth City Cupola will begin April 3rd. Repairs are expected to take about two weeks. Because the facilities director will have a lift in the lot, the City Hall Church Street parking lot will be closed to all vehicles except those with handicap plates or placards. Accessible parking spots will vary each day, so people are urged to use caution when entering the lot.
MRC Asks State to Back Loan to Bring Hampden Plant Back Online
(Hampden) The Municipal Review Committee is asking the state to back a loan to bring the embattled Hampden trash facility back online. The Ellsworth American reports the MRC is still looking for a buyer; but unless one is found by early summer, the plant must come up with $20M or liquidate the plant. The MRC processes the solid waste and recycling of 115 Maine municipalities, all of which have found themselves on their own since the former Fiberright plant shut down in May 2020.
(Hampden) 115 municipalities in Maine remain on their own when it comes to processing solid waste and recycling; and the Municipal Review Committee says unless it comes up with $20M by early summer, it will have to liquidate the Hampden trash facility that once processed all that waste. The former Fiberright plant closed in 2020 after it ran aground financially. Since that time, potential buyers have come and gone; but no deal has been reached. The Ellsworth American reports the MRC is asking the state to back a loan to bring the facility back online.
Human Interest
Ellsworth Public Library Spring Cleaning Book Sale
(Ellsworth) The Ellsworth Public Library is doing some spring cleaning – with a one day book sale, this Saturday from 9 to 3 in the Riverview Room. Friends of the EPL will have a large variety of youth and adult fiction and non-fiction books on gardening, pets, travel, and more. Money raised is used to fund Library Programs offered free to patrons throughout the year.
(Ellsworth) Nothing says spring like a sale, and Friends of the Ellsworth Public Library are doing some spring cleaning with a one day book sale, this Saturday from 9 to 3 in the Riverview Room. Patrons will find paperbacks and hardbacks, fiction and non-fiction books, and reading for everyone from young people through adults. Brush up on gardening, pets, travel, and more. And then head to Downtown Ellsworth for the Spring Sidewalk Sale!
Charlotte’s Web Back This Year at the Grand
(Ellsworth) Who didn’t love The Grand in Ellsworth’s production of Charlotte’s Web last summer?! Good news, the show is coming back, June 1st through the 4th. For those interested in being part of this year’s production, auditions are being held next Friday, March 24th at 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 26th at 10 a.m.
(Ellsworth) Charlotte’s Web is coming back to The Grand in Ellsworth this summer! Auditions are set for next Friday, March 24th at 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 26th at 10 a.m. Come prepared to read from a script, then mark your calendar for June 1st through 4th to catch the show! Visit grand online dot org to learn more.
Top Dogs
(Undated) For the first time in more than three decades, the Labrador Retriever is no longer top dog. The American Kennel Club says they’ve been bumped by none other than French Bulldogs. Rounding out the top five most popular dogs this year, Golden Retrievers coming in third, followed by German Shepherds, then Poodles.
(Undated) The French have taken over – top dog spot that is. Labrador Retrievers held court for 31 years as America’s most popular breed, but this year the French Bulldog is in the top spot, followed by Labs, then Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Poodles.
Morrison Obituary
(Florida) Bud A. Morrison, Junior, passed away on March 8th in North Fort Myers, Florida. Bud was a third generation Morrison to serve as Dealer Principal of Morrison Chevrolet in Ellsworth, where he supported charitable and educational organizations for 54 years until the dealership was sold. It’s now Darling’s Chevrolet. Morrison was elected Director of the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce in 1980, and later served as President. He battled cancer for 16 years, succumbing last Wednesday at the age of 80. Services will be held at a later date.
Sports
Red Sox beat the Rays 9-1 yesterday in Spring Training. Red Sox have the day off – they face off against the Braves on Friday.
Celtics win a close one against the Timberwolves, 104-102. Celtics in Portland tomorrow to shoot hoops with the Trailblazers.
Bruins skate against the Jets tonight in Winnipeg.