Happy 2024 from Star 97.7!
Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Officials Arrest Waterville Murder Suspect in Arkansas
(Waterville) A police chase, shots fired, and a suspect in custody today in the case of a woman who was murdered last week in Waterville. Public Safety Information Officer Shannon Moss reports to Star 97.7, authorities had been on the hunt for 20 yo Spridal Hubiak since finding the body of a co-worker, 52 yo Angela Bragg, who was stabbed to death at Damon’s Beverage in Waterville last Thursday. Hubiak was found sleeping in his vehicle in Arkansas early Sunday morning. The suspect reportedly fled in his 2010 Ford Taurus, but officers deployed spike mats to disable the vehicle. Hubiak then exited the vehicle with a rifle, shots were fired, and the suspect was injured. He was taken to a medical facility in Green County, Missouri where he is being treated and is expected to survive.
(Waterville) Tense moments in Arkansas yesterday morning after police there discovered a murder suspect from Maine sleeping in his vehicle in the town of Flippen. Public Safety Information Officer Shannon Moss reports to Star 97.7, authorities had been on the hunt for 20 yo Spridal Hubiak since finding the body of his co-worker, 52 yo Angela Bragg, stabbed to death at Damon’s Beverage in Waterville last Thursday. Hubiak led officers on a chase that ended with police deploying spike mats. At that point, authorities say the suspect exited his 2010 Ford Taurus with a rifle and shots were fired. Hubiak was injured and transported to a nearby hospital where he’s being treated but is expected to survive.
Corinna Crash
(Corinna) There were two children in the car, and the driver had suspended drivers’ licenses in both Maine and Florida when his car went off the road on Route 7 in Corinna Saturday. Authorities say 48 yo James Smith of Newport was traveling north about 10:30 Saturday morning when his car went off the road and struck a tree. Smith and a 7 yo passenger were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. A 10 yo was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in critical but stable condition. The crash remains under investigation.
(Corinna) Three people, including two young children, were injured Saturday morning when their car went off the road on Route 7 in Corinna. Authorities tell Star 97.7, 48 yo James Smith of Newport was northbound about 10:30 on December 30th when his car went off the road and struck a tree. They say Smith had suspended licenses in both Maine and Florida. Smith and a 7 yo passenger were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. A 10 yo was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in critical but stable condition. The crash remains under investigation.
Game Wardens, K9 Rescue Pair Lost in Bog
(Steep Falls) Game Wardens, including K9 Breezy, Sunday rescued a group of hikers who had become lost in a bog in southern Maine the day before. 48 yo Joseph Coroto of Limington, 55 yo Stacey Gain of Baldwin, and a friend had gone on the hike in Steep Falls when they got turned around and couldn’t find their way back. The three spent the night in the woods, and Sunday morning the friend was able to hike out and wandered to a house, barefoot and cold and told the homeowner of his friends’ plight. The missing pair was located about 3 pm yesterday afternoon in a large bog, suffering from severe hypothermia. Wardens started a fire to warm them and eventually were able to walk the pair to safety.
(Steep Falls) A Saturday hike in southern Maine turned into a life threatening situation over the weekend for three people who became lost and stranded in a large boggy area. The Maine Warden Service tells Star 97.7, 48 yo Joseph Coroto of Limington, 55 yo Stacey Gain of Baldwin, and a friend had gone on the hike in Steep Falls when they got turned around and couldn’t find their way back. The three spent the night in the woods, and Sunday morning the friend was able to hike out and wandered to a house, barefoot and cold and told the homeowner of his friends’ dilemma. The missing pair was located by K9 Breezy about 3 pm yesterday afternoon, suffering from severe hypothermia. Wardens started a fire to warm them and eventually were able to walk the pair to safety.
MSP Investigate Swatting Call at Home of Shenna Bellows
(Manchester) Police on Friday responded to a swatting call at the home of Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. A swatting call is a fake emergency designed to induce a strong law enforcement response, in order to scare a target. Officers say about 8:15 p.m., the Augusta RCC received a call from an unknown man, claiming he had broken into a home on Kerns Hill Road in Manchester. When officers responded, they learned it was Bellows’ home, although the Secretary was not at home at the time. Troopers searched the premises but found nothing suspicious. According to a post on Bellows’s FB page, there were non-stop threatening communications to people who work for her on Friday, but also support from both those who agree and disagree with her decision regarding Trump’s disqualification for the state’s primary ballot. Bellows called the threats unacceptable and asked people to stand up for the Maine values that have made the state “the way life should be.”
(Manchester) Police continue to investigate a swatting call received Friday at the home of Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. Authorities say the Augusta RCC received the call about 8:15 that evening, from a man who said he had broken into the residence in Manchester. Such calls are designed to frighten a target by evoking a strong police presence. The Secretary of State and her husband were not at home at the time. At her request, police searched the premises and found nothing suspicious. Bellows posted a message of gratitude on her FB page for support sent by both those who agree and disagree with her decision to disallow Trump’s name on the state’s March primary ballot. Bellows said people who work for her endured non-stop threatening communications throughout the day on Friday, and she called such behavior unacceptable and not reflective of the Maine values that “have always made our state the way life should be.”
Wormer Rescued After Becoming Stranded on Maine Island
(Woolwich) A 31 yo wormer spent a chilly night on an island in Woolwich last week when a fast-rising tide stranded him. 31 yo Zachary Severy of Bath was working the flats in Phipps Point when the tide forced him onto Pine Island. After several hours of not hearing from him, Severy’s family reported him missing. His vehicle was found on Phipps Point Road. A deputy then made contact with Severy and was able to rescue him. Altogether, Severy spent about seven hours on the island and was in the early stages of hypothermia when he was rescued.
(Woolwich) A fast rising tide left a wormer from Bath in a perilous situation last week. 31 yo Zachary Severy was working the flats in Phipps Point when the tide forced him onto Pine Island. After several hours of not hearing from him, his family reported Severy missing. His vehicle was found on Phipps Point Road, and a deputy then made contact with Severy and was able to rescue him. Altogether, Severy spent about seven hours on the island. Authorities say he was in the early stages of hypothermia when he was rescued.
Local Politics
Collins, Golden Speak Out Against Bellows’ Decision to Remove Trump from Ballot
(Augusta) Democratic Representative Jared Golden and Republican Senator Susan Collins are speaking out against a decision last Thursday by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows that would disallow Donald Trump’s name from appearing on the March primary ballot in Maine. Golden said he voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection and does not believe Trump should be reelected, but added, “…we are a nation of laws; therefore, until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.”
(Augusta) Members from both major parties filed petitions in Maine to keep Donald Trump’s name off the March primary ballot. Now, both Democrats and Republicans are speaking out against Thursday’s decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to remove Trump. On Friday, Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democratic Representative Jared Golden both came out in opposition to the decision. Collins was one of a small group of Republicans who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial, but said Maine voters should decide who wins the election. Republican State Rep John Andrews has sought to set the wheels in motion for Bellows’ impeachment when the Maine legislature returns this week.
Secretary of State Bellows Defends Decision to Remove Trump from Primary Ballot
(Augusta) Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is defending her decision to remove Donald Trump’s name from the March primary ballot, saying the law is exactly what decided her ruling. Bellows told Politico, Trump simply did not meet the constitutional requirements for holding the country’s highest office. The Secretary commented her ruling was a matter of fulfilling her basic responsibilities as the state’s chief election official, saying she doesn’t have the discretion to choose or decline to do her duty. Bellows said the law does not make exceptions for complex or difficult interpretation and likened it to rejecting candidates who do not meet other qualifications, such as being at least 35 years old.
(Augusta) Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Friday defended her decision to block Donald Trump’s name from appearing on the March primary ballot. In issuing her ruling, she cited the reason put forth by two of the three petitioners who brought the case on grounds Trump violated the 14th Amendment. That amendment disqualifies anyone who incites or participates in insurrection from holding the country’s highest office. Speaking with Politico, Bellows likened that qualification to other requirements, such as the law that requires a candidate to be at least 35 years old in order to run for President. Bellows commented, “The constitutional amendments for ballot access are not a menu. I do not have the discretion to choose which of those I enforce.”
Economy
Construction Begins on Seasonal Housing on MDI
(ANP) Acadia National Park is building on its efforts to attract seasonal workers – literally. MaineBiz reports construction began this last month on eight housing units for seasonal workers at the Park. Friends of Acadia acquired the Seal Harbor property on which the housing will be built last September. The housing shortage has a direct impact on Acadia’s ability to hire a seasonal workforce that is critical from at least April through October. Construction on the project is expected to last between 10 and 12 months.
(ANP) It’s a troubling cycle – a lack of affordable housing on Mount Desert Island makes it especially difficult to attract workers, especially those who are crucial to the tourist industry. Last month, Acadia National Park began construction on eight housing units for seasonal workers. MaineBiz reports Friends of Acadia acquired the Seal Harbor property on which the housing will be built in September. The housing shortage has a direct impact on Acadia’s ability to hire a seasonal workforce from April through October. Construction is expected to last between 10 and 12 months.
Human Interest
Strange New Year’s Eve
(Eastport) The iconic sardine and Maple Leaf drop draws crowds to Eastport each New Year’s Eve to honor the heritage of that town as home of the nation’s first sardine cannery. But Eastport isn’t the only town that lays claim to an unusual ball drop. Boise, Idaho has a decade long tradition of dropping a giant artificial potato. In Key West, it’s the giant red shoe drop, this year with a female impersonator riding the shoe from the balcony of the Bourbon Street Pub. Las Cruces, New Mexico has a really hot ceremony – they drop a 19-foot chrome chili pepper. And “lettuce” not forget Yuma, Arizona, which celebrates by dropping a giant head of iceberg lettuce. In case you’re wondering, Yuma produces over 90% of America’s winter lettuce. Here’s to salads and those January diet resolutions.
(Undated)) You may be a little bleary-eyed if you stayed up to watch the famous ball drop in New York City last night. The first ball dropped in 1907 after a fireworks ban was instituted due to burning embers falling on the crowds the year before. That first orb was made of iron and wood, weighed 700 pounds and had 100 light bulbs. Today’s ball has more than 2600 Waterford crystal triangles, weighs almost 12,000 pounds, and can display more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns. The ceremony was suspended from 1942-43 due to a wartime “dimout” of lights in the City. And, oh, there’ll be a lot of cleanup today following last night’s revelry. Street workers will ring in 2024 by sweeping up the more than a ton of confetti that’s dropped each year during the celebration.
(Eastport) Oh, bologna – that’s what’s been dropped in Lebanon, Pennsylvania on New Year’s Eve since 1997. The first drop featured a gigantic 200 pound tube of the meaty product for which the town is known. These days, a cage filled with smaller blocks is dropped, with the bologna then distributed to local food pantries. Mt. Olive, North Carolina celebrates with a three-foot-tall glowing pickle, a nod to the town’s annual pickle festival. In Tallapoosa, Georgia, it’s the Possum Drop, featuring a stuffed possum named Spencer. That’s a throwback to the town’s original name of “Possum Snout”. And you thought “Tallapoosa” was a strange name … And, of course, Maine’s famous sardine and Maple Leaf drop in Eastport each year is in honor of the town as home of the country’s first sardine cannery. However you celebrated or slept through, here’s wishing you a wonderful 2024.
(Eastport) New York City has the famous crystal ball drop; Eastport, Maine, has the famous-in-its-own-right sardine and Maple Leaf drop, and Winter Harbor celebrates with a papier mache lobster drop. But there are many other lesser-known ways to “ring” in the New Year. How about an onion ring? St. George’s, Bermuda, celebrates by dropping a giant papier mache onion, decked out in holiday lights. Hopefully, those in attendance don’t get too teary eyed. If they do, there’s always a sad country song – Memphis, Tennessee strums in the new year with its annual 10-foot Gibson guitar drop at The Hard Rock Cafe on Beal Street, where guests are naturally treated to a night of concerts and song. And it’s all about the fruits of their labor, as Atlanta celebrates with a peach drop and Miami drops a giant orange. Here’s to YOUR 2024 being filled with good health, good friends, and good music … Happy New Year from all of us here at Star 97.7!
Sports
Celtics over the San Antonio Spurs yesterday 134-101. Celtics in Oklahoma City tomorrow night, where they’ll attempt to silence the Thunder.
The Patriots lose to the Bills 27-21.
Bruins with a 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Bruins in Ohio Tuesday to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.