Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Parents, Grandmother Indicted in Death of 10 yo Boy
(Bangor) The parents and grandmother of a ten year old Bangor boy who died were indicted this week for depraved indifference murder. A grand jury found probable cause to move forward with the case against Braxtyn Smith’s father, 33 yo Joshua Smith, mother, 35 yo Jem Bean, and grandmother, 56 yo Mistie Latourette. Braxtyn died February 18th after what court documents describe as months of horrific abuse, including being zip tied to chairs, forced to dig through trash for food, and other physical and emotional abuse. The three adults are being held in the Penobscot County Jail on $300K bail each.
(Bangor) Ten yo Braxtyn Smith died on February 18th, after court records show he suffered months of physical and emotional abuse, allegedly at the hands of his parents and grandmother. This week, the three adults were indicted by a grand jury on charges of depraved indifference murder. The jury found probable cause to move forward with the case against the child’s father, 33 yo Joshua Smith, mother, 35 yo Jem Bean, and grandmother, 56 yo Mistie Latourette. An affidavit documented charges the adults zip tied Braxtyn to chairs, made him dig through garbage for food, and called him insulting names. The three adults are being held in the Penobscot County Jail on $300K bail each.
Liberty Crash Update
(Liberty) The Waldo County Sheriff’s Office has an update on that crash in Liberty Wednesday. They say 18 yo Blair Fuller-Barnard of Montville failed to yield the right-of-way when turning onto Belfast Augusta Road from West Main Street. That resulted in a crash involving Fuller-Barnard’s car, a full-sized pickup driven by 58 yo Todd Farrington of Freeport, and a dump truck operated by 62 yo Alfred Lancaster of Belgrade. Fuller-Barnard and a passenger in her car, 19 yo Donovan Aldus of Montville, both sustained serious injuries and were Life-flighted to hospitals. The accident remains under investigation.
(Liberty) The Waldo County Sheriff’s Office has identified the parties involved in a three-vehicle crash in Liberty on Wednesday. They say although the crash remains under investigation, it appears 18 yo Blair Fuller-Barnard of Montville failed to yield the right-of-way when turning from West Main Street onto Belfast Augusta Road. That resulted in a crash involving Fuller-Barnard’s car, a full-sized pickup driven by 58 yo Todd Farrington of Freeport, and a dump truck operated by 62 yo Alfred Lancaster of Belgrade. Fuller-Barnard and a passenger in her car,19 yo Donovan Aldus of Montville, both sustained serious injuries and were Life-flighted to hospitals. No word on their conditions this morning.
Local Politics
Lawmakers to Reconvene on Gun Control Measures
(Augusta) Lawmakers will return to Augusta next week to address six of 12 bills vetoed by Governor Janet Mills during the session which ended last month. Legislators upheld six of those bills. Among the vetoed bills to be revisited is LD 2086, which would have banned bump stocks and other modifications that turn semi-automatics into rapid firing weapons like machine guns. Mills said she heard from gun owners’ rights groups and sportsmen that the bill was too broad. A two-thirds vote in both chambers is needed to overturn a gubernatorial veto.
(Augusta) A fair wage bill for farm workers, a bill to ban bump stocks, and a proposal to create a higher tax bracket for the wealthiest Mainers, while providing relief for those in low and middle income brackets – those are among bills vetoed by Governor Janet Mills that legislators will revisit when they reconvene on May 10th. Lawmakers upheld six of the 12 bills vetoed by the Governor, and may seek to overturn the other six vetoes. A two-thirds vote in both chambers is needed to overturn a gubernatorial veto, something that has not yet happened during Governor Mills’s time in office.
Hancock County Courthouse Meeting Draws Crowd
(Ellsworth) It was a packed courthouse Tuesday evening, as more than a hundred residents of Ellsworth and nearby towns showed up at the Hancock County Superior Courtroom for a discussion of a proposed new Hancock County Courthouse. Most in attendance said they agreed a better facility and more space was needed, but took issue with the planned location at 120 Surry Road. The Ellsworth American reports those opposed to the site raised concerns about storm water runoff and traffic, which they say is already congested during the summer season. Most also objected to the courthouse being built in a largely residential area. Officials from the Maine Judicial Branch explained they had looked at more than 14 other sites and that the need was urgent, as a backlog of cases due to lack of space continues to build.
(Ellsworth) Residents of Ellsworth and nearby towns packed the Hancock County Superior Courtroom Tuesday night to air questions and concerns about the planned location of a new Hancock County Courthouse. The Ellsworth American reports Maine’s Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill told the crowd the Judicial Branch has been looking for space since 2019, checking out at least 14 properties before purchasing the lot at 120 Surry Road. She said lack of space has led to an overwhelming backlog of cases. Most in attendance said they understood the need for space but objected to the facility being built in a largely residential area.
Environment
Hulls Cove Visitor Center Opens
(Bar Harbor) The Hulls Cove Visitor Center opens for another busy season this morning at Acadia National Park. In preparing for the 2024 season, the park installed a new 48-inch arrowhead emblem on the roof of a pavilion in the visitor center parking lot. The previous arrowhead had been in place since before 2001, when its version of the NPS logo was decommissioned. According to park officials, the new arrowhead was purchased with funds provided by America’s National Parks stores, located at seven locations inside the park.
(Bar Harbor) Open for business – and guidance, and gifts, and maps and more. The Hulls Cove Visitor Center at Acadia National Park opens for the 2024 season this morning. As you pull into the parking lot, you may notice there’s a new arrowhead emblem installed on the roof of the pavilion. Park officials say the previous arrowhead had been in place since before 2001, when its version of the NPS logo was decommissioned. The new arrowhead was purchased with funds provided by America’s National Parks stores, located at seven locations inside the park.
Health
Northern Light Health to Close SW Harbor Clinic
(SW Harbor) There will be one less healthcare facility on MDI after this summer. The Mount Desert Islander reports Northern Light Health will close its primary care practice on Herrick Road in SW Harbor on August 30th. According to Northern Light officials, the practice will relocate and combine with a larger full-service primary care practice on Resort Way in Ellsworth. Northern Light notified staff of the closure on Monday and is in the process of contacting the facility’s 1600 patients.
(SW Harbor) SW Harbor residents will have to travel a bit farther for health care after this summer. The Mount Desert Islander reports Northern Light Health will close its primary care practice on Herrick Road in SW Harbor on August 30th. According to Northern Light officials, the practice will relocate and combine with a larger full-service primary care practice on Resort Way in Ellsworth. Northern Light said current staff were notified Monday and will be offered positions in Ellsworth or at other Northern Light locations. They say they’re in the process of contacting the facility’s 1600 patients.
Infrastructure
Blue Hill Falls Bridge Closing Temporarily
(Blue Hill) Access to Blue Hill Falls Bridge will be closed to all traffic, including pedestrians, beginning Monday, May 13th. Construction company Cianbro says the bridge will be inaccessible for about a week, as they do construction work. Detour routes will be posted, and message boards will be up, warning motorists of the closure.
(Blue Hill) If your travels take you across the Blue Hill Falls Bridge, be aware that Cianbro Construction will be closing the bridge a week from Monday. The bridge will be inaccessible to vehicle and pedestrian traffic between May 13 and 17. Detour routes will be posted, and message boards will be up, warning motorists of the closure.
Limited Parking at Wiggins Center
(Ellsworth) The Downeast Family Y cautions there will be limited parking spaces at the Wiggins Center between now and May 10th. Wallace Events began setting up tents yesterday for the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards. Additional parking is available behind the building and behind the Mill Mall.
(Ellsworth) The Downeast Family Y says sorry about the inconvenience between now and May 10th. Wallace Events is setting up tents for the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards; so visitors to the Wiggins Center will find limited parking spaces for the next week or so. Additional parking is available behind the building and behind the Mill Mall.
Planned Power Outage – Blue Hill
(Blue Hill) A heads up for Blue Hill residents. Versant Power has scheduled work on the electrical system in Blue Hill, this Monday, May 6th. They say the work will start at 9 a.m. and last about three hours, mainly affecting customers on Terrace Court, who should plan for service interruptions that morning.
(Blue Hill) Blue Hill residents can expect to see Versant Power crews in the area this coming Monday, May 6th. Versant says crews will be working on the electrical system, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting about three hours. Customers on Terrace Court, in particular, may experience service interruptions during the scheduled work time.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Receives Governor’s Award for Tourism Excellence
(Boothbay Harbor) The Maine Office of Tourism has announced its 2024 Maine Tourism Awards. Among the winners, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, which captured the 2024 Governor’s Award for Tourism Excellence. MOT Director Steve Lyons said the gardens combine many of the attributes people seek in Maine – nature, the arts, and a place to pause and appreciate life. Plus, their addition of shoulder season events such as Gardens Aglow and their commitment to showcasing Maine products. Then, of course, there are the trolls. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the Garden’s MOT award follows an International Garden Tourism Conference “Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For” honor.
(Boothbay Harbor) The trolls at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay may be smiling a bit wider this week. That’s because The Maine Office of Tourism honored the gardens with the 2024 Governor’s Award for Tourism Excellence. MOT Director Steve Lyons said the gardens combine many of the attributes people seek in Maine – nature, the arts, and a place to pause and appreciate life. Plus, their addition of shoulder season events such as Gardens Aglow and their commitment to showcasing Maine products. In case you’re not convinced you need a visit, the Pen Bay Pilot reports the award follows the International Garden Tourism Conference’s “Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For” honor.
Sports
Game three of the matchup between the Red Sox and the Giants went to the Giants yesterday, 3-1. Red Sox in Minnesota tonight to begin a weekend series of games against the Twins.
The Maple Leafs tied up Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Bruins. Round One tied at three games apiece going into Game 7 tomorrow night in Boston.