Happy Leap Day!
Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Jury Selection Underway in 2022 Drug Related Murder of Teen in Machias
(Machias) Jury selection scheduled to get underway today in Machias in the trial of two of five people charged with murder in the 2022 killing of a teen in Machias. Immanuel Ramos and Juan Ortiz are accused of helping to plan the ambush and killing of 17 yo Brandin Guerrero of New York by an out-of-state drug gang. Guerrero was believed to have been part of a New York City gang and was reportedly in Machias to sell drugs, according to an affidavit filed in Washington County Superior Court. The shooting took place just feet from a nursing home. Trial is set to begin on Monday in Machias.
(Machias) Jury selection is underway today in the trial of two of five men charged with murder in the 2022 killing of a teenager in Machias. 17 yo Brandin Guerrero of New York City was believed to have been part of a New York gang and was reportedly in Machias in November 2022 to sell drugs when he was killed. That’s according to an affidavit filed in Washington County Superior Court. Immanuel Ramos and Juan Ortiz are accused of helping orchestrate the ambush and killing of Guerrero. The shooting took place just after midnight in a cemetery on High Street. Trial is set to begin Monday in Machias.
Family Members Charged in Death of Bangor Child
(Bangor) Another child in Maine has died, allegedly at the hands of family members. WABI-TV reports last Sunday, the ten year old was taken to a hospital in Bangor with life-threatening injuries. That child then died overnight. The mother, father, and grandmother have been charged. 33 yo Joshua Smith, 35 yo Jem Bean, and the paternal grandmother, 56 yo Mistie Latourette were arrested Wednesday and taken to the Penobscot County Jail. Bean reportedly works for the Department of Health and Human Services in an administrative position at the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital in Bangor. DHHS reportedly declined to say if it had previously investigated the family.
(Bangor) Family members are being charged with the death of yet another child here in Maine. WABI-TV reports on February 18th, the child, who lived on B Street in Bangor, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite efforts by medical personnel, the ten year old died overnight. The mother, father, and grandmother have now been charged. 33 yo Joshua Smith, 35 yo Jem Bean, and the paternal grandmother, 56 yo Mistie Latourette were arrested Wednesday and taken to the Penobscot County Jail. DHHS reportedly declined to say if it had previously investigated the family but released a statement saying, “The death of a child is a tragedy and the charges in this case are deeply disturbing.”
Waterville Victim Identified
(Waterville) Authorities say the man found slumped behind the wheel of a school bus in Waterville was 24 yo Anthony Engelhardt of Naples. Waterville Schools were closed Monday after his body was found in the bus in the Junior High School parking lot. The Medical Examiner determined Englehardt died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities say he had no connection to Waterville Schools.
(Waterville) Authorities say the man found dead in a school bus in Waterville Monday died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They say 24 yo Anthony Englehardt of Naples’s body was found slumped over the wheel of the bus in the Junior High School parking lot. Englehardt reportedly was not connected to the schools. It’s unclear why he was in Waterville. Schools were closed Monday as a precaution after his body was found.
Worcester Resources Agrees to Pay Fines
(Columbia Falls) The Worcester family says it will pay a $250,000 penalty levied against a company they own for allegedly failing to obtain the proper permits before building 52 cabins on a property in Columbia Falls. Under a consent agreement, Worcester Resources must file an after-the-fact application no later than Friday for a permit for the work. The Flagpole View Cabins were built between 2019 and 2022 and are rented seasonally. The company earlier this year announced it was scrapping plans to build a theme park centered around the world’s tallest flagpole.
(Columbia) The family that once planned to build a theme park to honor veterans has agreed to pay a $250,000 fine for allegedly failing to obtain proper permits before building cabins on the site in rural Columbia Falls. The 52 Flagpole View Cabins were built between 2019 and 2022 and are rented seasonally. An attorney for the family who owns Worcester Resources says the project was kept small to avoid the need for a special environmental permit. Under a consent agreement, Worcester Resources must file an after-the-fact application no later than Friday for a permit for the work.
Kennebec County Approved for Federal Funding for December Storm Damage
(Augusta) It didn’t initially meet the threshold for damage to public infrastructure, but Kennebec County now qualifies for Public Assistance to help with repairs from the December storm. Following the President’s Major Disaster Declaration for the pre-holiday storm, Kennebec County produced documentation of damage and received approval from FEMA. Kennebec joins Hancock, Washington, Waldo, Penobscot and five other counties in qualifying for the assistance. An initial deadline to apply has been extended from today to March 28th. Deadline to apply for individual assistance remains the same – April 1st.
(Augusta) The deadline to apply for Public Assistance for damage from the pre-holiday storm in December has been extended from today, February 29th, to March 28th. Governor Janet Mills said this week Kennebec County now qualifies for that assistance. That county did not initially meet the threshold for damage to public infrastructure. But following the President’s Major Disaster Declaration for the pre-holiday storm, Kennebec produced documentation of damage and received approval from FEMA. That county joins Hancock, Washington, Waldo, Penobscot and five other counties in qualifying. The deadline to apply for individual assistance remains the same – April 1st.
Economy
$10M Federal Investment to Boost Heat Pump Installation for Mobile/Manufactured Homes
(Augusta) Maine is celebrating a $10M investment to install nearly 700 heat pumps in mobile and manufactured homes in rural Maine communities. The monies come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with a goal of installing the whole-home-ducted heat pumps in more than 350 rural Maine communities. Each heat pump conversion is projected to reduce household heating costs by 40%, while also providing central air conditioning. Governor Janet Mills and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined Efficiency Maine and others this week in making the announcement.
(Augusta) The project’s goal is to install 675 heat pumps in mobile and manufactured homes in more than 350 rural Maine communities. Efficiency Maine’s Whole-Home Heat Pump Solutions for Mobile and Manufactured Homes project will be funded with $10M from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Each whole-home ducted heat pump conversion is expected to reduce household heating costs by 40%, while also providing central air conditioning. Governor Janet Mills and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined Efficiency Maine and others this week in making the announcement.
Health
New Zealand Repeals World-First Smoking Ban
(Reuters) New Zealand this week repealed a world-first law banning tobacco sales for future generations, even while researchers and campaigners warned of the risk that people could die as a result. Set to take effect in July, the toughest anti-tobacco rules in the world were passed under former Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s government, in an effort to pave the way for a smoke-free generation. According to Reuters, it would have banned sales to those born after Jan. 1, 2009, cut nicotine content in smoked tobacco products and reduced the number of tobacco retailers by more than 90%.
(Reuters) Researchers warn people will die as a result, but New Zealand this week repealed a world-first law banning tobacco sales for future generations. The tough anti-tobacco rules were passed under former Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s government, in order to pave the way for a smoke-free generation. Reuters reports the move would have banned sales to those born after January 2009, cut nicotine content in smoked tobacco products and reduced the number of tobacco retailers by more than 90%. The ban was to have taken effect in July.
Human Interest
Search for Missing Dog Albert Continues
(Somesville) From Somesville to Ellsworth, the posters are everywhere. A missing six year old terrier has captured the hearts of all of Downeast Maine. The Mount Desert Islander reports Albert went missing from his Somesville home a month ago, on January 28th. Owner Emily Felt and a host of volunteers have been diligent in their search for the dog who Felt describes as “healthy and smart.” A pet detective is also on the hunt. Felt is offering a one thousand dollar reward for Albert’s safe return, no questions asked. An unattended dog matching the 25 pound schnauzer look-alike was most recently seen a week ago between Water and Franklin Streets in Ellsworth. We’ve posted a picture and the article on our Star 97.7 FB page.
(Somesville) Folks all over MDI and in Downeast Maine are rooting for his safe return. You’ve probably seen posters, social media posts; and, now, heard news stories about the little 25 pound terrier named Albert, who went missing from his Somesville home on January 28th. He looks a bit like a schnauzer, and owner Emily Felt describes him as “healthy and smart.” The Mount Desert Islander reports a pet detective and scores of volunteers have been helping in the search. An unattended dog matching Albert’s description was most recently seen a week ago between Water and Franklin Streets in Ellsworth. Felt is offering a thousand dollar reward for Albert’s safe return, no questions asked. We’ve posted a picture of Albert on our Star 97.7 FB page.
Special Olympics Auburn
(Auburn) A special shout out to the athletes competing in Special Olympics Maine’s Annual Winter Games in Auburn today. More than 500 athletes, coaches, and supporters from across the state turned out yesterday and today to compete in Speed Skating, and Cross Country and Alpine Skiing and Snowshoeing today at Lost Valley. Good luck to all!
Maine Warden Service K9 Dies
(Bangor) A retired Maine Warden Service K9 featured on the show North Woods Law has died. K9 Morgan had a nine year career in search and rescue, working alongside her handler and partner, Game Warden Corporal Kris MacCabe. WABI-TV reports the award-winning canine is credited with ten human search and rescue finds and numerous evidence finds that led to criminal prosecution. She retired in 2020 and is said to have lived a full life and provided love and companionship to her loving family. Morgan was 12.
Leap Year/Day
(Undated) It’s Leap Year’s extra day today. Leap Year was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, with the Julian Calendar featuring the annual extra day, based on an Egyptian concept. The day was added to account for the 365.242190 days it actually takes the earth to orbit the sun. However, Caesar’s calculation error of 11 minutes per solar year led to an overcorrection of about eight days per millennium. The Gregorian Calendar corrected the error in the 16th Century. Leap years aren’t exactly every four years, but in years divisible by four; except for those divisible by 100. And years divisible by 400 still get a Leap Day in order to realign the calendar with seasons. And if that all went over your head as it does mine, simply keep an eye on your calendar.
(Undated) Today’s the day we celebrate only once every four years – but then, not exactly. Julius Caesar introduced the concept of Leap Years way back in 45 BC. He, however, over calculated. Caesar’s addition of 11 minutes per solar year lead to an overcorrection of about eight days per millennium. That was fixed in the 16th century with the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar. So how DO we account for the actual 365.242190 days it takes the earth to orbit the sun? Leap year occurs in years divisible by four, except for those divisible by 100. However, years divisible by 400 still get a Leap Day in order to realign the calendar with seasons. I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s a good thing we have an extra day to process all that … and can rely on the folks who create our calendars to figure that all out!
Sports
Bruins put the sticks to the home ice tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Celtics back at TD Garden on Friday to shoot hoops with the Dallas Mavericks.