Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Hancock County Sheriff’s Beat
(Ellsworth) The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office had a busy end of the week. Besides responding to reports of suspicious activity in Lamoine and Deer Isle, on Thursday, deputies assisted Maine State Police with a late night underage drinking incident at the Quarry in Sullivan. Deputies also assisted members of the Ellsworth Police Department with a man who barricaded himself after a domestic incident. As a result of that incident, 37 yo Erik Tozier of Ellsworth was taken into custody and transported to the Hancock County Jail.
(Ellsworth) A busy end of the week for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to reports of suspicious activity in both Lamoine and on Deer Isle. In addition, on Thursday, officers assisted Maine State Police with a late night underage drinking incident at the Quarry in Sullivan. Also, on Thursday, deputies assisted members of the Ellsworth Police Department with a man who barricaded himself after a domestic incident. As a result of that incident, 37 yo Erik Tozier of Ellsworth was taken into custody and transported to the Hancock County Jail.
Penobscot Domestic Assault
(Penobscot) Two people were taken into custody Saturday following multiple 9-1-1 calls about a domestic assault. The calls came in shortly before 6:30 p.m. and reported a domestic situation that involved young children on North Penobscot Road in the town of Penobscot. After further investigation, 24 yo Tony Nevells and 33 yo Gypsy Spyropoulos, both of Deer Isle, were taken into custody. Nevells is charged with Domestic Violence Assault, while Sypropoulos faces charges of Operating Under the Influence. Both were transported to the Hancock County Jail.
17 Year Old Killed in Crash Involving Moose
(T3 Indian Purchase) A teenager died last week after his vehicle hit a moose in T3 Indian Purchase in Penobscot County. Authorities say 17 yo Landon Gardner of Millinocket apparently hit the moose then veered off the roadway, striking trees. The moose was found in the middle of the road. Gardner was pronounced dead at the scene. It was the state’s first moose crash fatality since 2020.
Body of Missing Kayaker Recovered from Frenchman Bay
(Bar Harbor) The U.S. Coast Guard and others Saturday recovered the body of a missing kayaker in Frenchman Bay. Authorities say 73 yo Dennis Webber of Colorado Springs left a residence at 4:30 p.m. for a solo trip from Bar Harbor, but had not returned by 8 that evening. National Park Service officials located Webber’s body in the water about two hours later. They say he was wearing a lifejacket but was unresponsive. Webber was taken to the Bar Harbor town pier where CPR was administered, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities had not yet recovered Webber’s kayak as of Sunday morning.
(Bar Harbor) The body of a kayaker who went missing from Bar Harbor Saturday has been recovered. The U.S. Coast Guard reports 73 yo Dennis Webber of Colorado Springs left a residence about 4:30 pm, but failed to return by 8, so authorities were notified. After a two hour search by multiple agencies, National Park Service officials located Webber’s body in the water near Thrumcap, a small island near his put-in location at Seely Road. Webber was wearing a lifejacket but was unresponsive when found. He was taken to the Bar Harbor town pier and CPR administered, but was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Sunday morning, his kayak had not been located.
75 Yo New Sharon Man Found Safe After Four Days
(Weld) A 75 yo New Sharon man was found safe Friday after being missing for four days. Game Wardens K9 Ash and Kayle Hamilton located the man who had apparently fallen off a ledge and become disoriented. They say Michael Altmaier was headed to a meeting in Weld Monday but never arrived. The Maine Warden Service began a search Friday morning and located Altmaeier’s vehicle at the Mount Blue State Park Overlook. Altmaier was found about ¾ of a mile away in a boggy area where he had fallen and was unable to get up. Altmaier was taken to a local hospital for observation and was said to be in surprisingly good condition, despite spending four days laying in the area of the bog.
Local Politics
Bellows Named NASS Vice President
(Augusta) Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has been chosen as the Eastern Region Vice President for the National Association of Secretaries of State. Bellows said she looks forward to serving the eastern region with NASS in the coming year. She said the organization works to share best practices and new ideas, while discussing challenges and how they are resolving them, regardless of party, to better serve their residents.
Activists Seek Changes to MainePERS Investments
(Augusta) Advocates and activists last week gathered to demand the Maine Public Employee Retirement System follow a law directing them to divest assets from fossil fuel investments. At the urging of Divest Maine, MainePERS agreed to look into public equity index approaches that achieve both financial targets and lower fossil fuel exposure. At Thursday’s campaign rally, Divest Maine’s campaign manager, Hope Light, said 1,634 institutions worldwide are divesting from fossil fuels, 12% of which are pension funds. Rallygoers said it was important to hold the fund accountable, calling on them to discontinue funding the climate crisis.
(Augusta) LD 99 was passed in 2021, requiring the Maine Public Employee Retirement System to begin divesting from fossil fuels. At a rally Thursday in Augusta, educators, environmental advocates, and others said MainePERS has made little to no progress toward such divestment in the three years since. Those in attendance said the retirement group in that way was continuing to fund the climate crisis, and they called on MainePERS to take immediate action. MainePERS agreed to look into public equity index approaches that achieve both financial targets and lower fossil fuel exposure.
Collins Advances Monies for Fire Stations and Emergency Services
(Washington, DC) Senator Susan Collins last week said she advanced nearly $16,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for fire stations, law enforcement, and emergency services throughout Maine in the FY 2025 FDA Appropriations bill. The funding includes monies for the Holden Police Department garage, Island Falls Fire and Ambulance Department, St. Albans Fire Station, Swan’s Island Fire and Ambulance Station and four other first responder facilities. The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
(Washington, DC) First responders across Maine could see much needed funding if a bill advanced by Senator Susan Collins is approved by the House and Senate. Collins advanced nearly $16,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for fire stations, law enforcement, and emergency services in the FY 2025 FDA Appropriations bill. Monies would go toward improvements at eight facilities, including the Swan’s Island Fire and Ambulance Station, the St. Alban’s Fire Station, the Holden Police Department Garage, the Easton Fire Station and four others.
Interlibrary Loan Service Not Quite Up and Running – Yet
(Augusta) It has mystery, drama, and politics, and the ending is still a bit of a cliffhanger. We’re not talking about the election, but the ongoing saga of the interlibrary loan system. The Maine State Library this year awarded the distribution contract to a new company; but the system was put on hold last month when a competing bidder appealed. Last week, the appeals board upheld the contract decision, allowing MSL to restart the program. But there’s no firm restart date. Because the contract is worth more than a million dollars, the State Library must now get approval from the State Procurement Review Committee – a process that could take up to a month.
(Augusta) It’s a story in the making, the ending of which, it seems, is yet to be written. We’re talking about the interlibrary loan system, which allows borrowers to access books from libraries statewide. The Maine State Library this year awarded the distribution contract to a new company; but the system was put on hold last month when a competing bidder appealed. Last week, the appeals board upheld the contract decision, allowing MSL to restart the program. But there’s no firm restart date. Because the contract is worth more than a million dollars, the State Library must now get approval from the State Procurement Review Committee – a process that could take up to a month.
Economy
New Rates Adopted for Maine State Ferry Service
(Augusta) Riders who use the Maine State Ferry Service will see an increase in fares. The Maine Department of Transportation Friday said when the new fare structure becomes effective, it will increase annual revenue by just over 18 percent. Revenues collected through fares and parking fees pay half the total operating costs of the service, with the State Highway Fund subsidizing the rest. MDOT says since development of the new fare schedule, staffing challenges have led to increased cancellations – primarily impacting Vinalhaven – and that anticipated employee compensation costs could lead to another public fare increase as early as this fall. It’s the first increase since 2019 when fares increased by about 17%.
(Augusta) The Maine Department of Transportation says inflation, employee compensation, and operating costs for the Maine State Ferry Service have increased markedly since the last fare increase in 2019. Accordingly, MDOT has adopted a new fare structure that will mean increased costs for riders. When the new fare structure becomes effective, it will increase annual revenue by just over 18%. Revenues collected through fares and parking fees pay half the total operating costs of the service, with the State Highway Fund subsidizing the rest. Another public fare increase could come as early as this fall because of anticipated employee compensation costs. MDOT says staffing challenges have led to increased cancellations, primarily impacting Vinalhaven.
Environment
Registration Open for 2024 Maine Coastal Cleanup
(Augusta) It’s almost time for the 2024 Coastal Cleanup. Registration is now open for the chance to help beautify Maine’s shoreline. Maine’s part of the International Coastal Cleanup this year takes place from September 7th to the 21st. Register online through the Maine Department of Marine Resources by filling out a short form and selecting a site along the coast. The cleanup is coordinated by the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy, a global initiative that maintains a database of all the items volunteers around the world record when collecting trash.
(Augusta) Volunteers will be working to keep our coastlines beautiful between September 7th and 21st this year, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup. Get your dibs in early by registering through the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Just fill out a simple form and designate the area you want to clean up, and you’ll be contacted by that area’s coordinator. The cleanup is coordinated by the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy, a global initiative that maintains a database of all the items volunteers around the world record when collecting trash.
Human Interest
Woodlawn Welcomes New Director
(Ellsworth) Woodlawn in Ellsworth is welcoming a new Director. Evan Moats tells Star 97.7 he’s excited to carry on the Black House legacy of preserving the past while moving into the future. Moats hails from Pennsylvania where he worked doing fundraising, mainly with schools. He says during the pandemic, he found a new passion working with local museums. Moats says he’s especially excited about the new barn and is anxious to get the archives set up and bring researchers in to discover even more treasures left behind in the myriad documents that help write the story of Ellsworth’s growth and history.
(Ellsworth) From the new barn to a new Director. Woodlawn has hired Pennsylvania native Evan Moats to carry on the legacy of the Black House and preserve the grounds at one of Ellsworth’s most prized historic estates. Moats tells Star 97.7 he worked doing fundraising with schools, but during the pandemic discovered a new passion when he became involved with local museums. He says he’s especially excited about the new barn and is anxious to get the archives set up and bring researchers in to discover even more treasures left behind in the myriad documents that help write the story of Ellsworth’s growth and history.
High Profile Deaths Over the Weekend
(Undated) Four high profile deaths over the weekend. Actress Shelly Duvall, best known for her role in The Shining, passed away Thursday of complications from diabetes, just days after her 75th birthday. Renowned sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer died Friday at the age of 96. Westheimer never encouraged risky behavior, but was a proponent of open dialogue about sex in an age when the topic was mostly taboo. Fitness guru Richard Simmons passed away Saturday at the age of 76. He was found unresponsive at his Hollywood Hills home, just a day after his 76th birthday. And 90201 actress Shannen Doherty died Saturday, following a public battle with breast cancer, a disease with which she was diagnosed in 2015. Doherty was 53.
Sports
The Red Sox beat the Royals 5-4 yesterday. The Red Sox now off until Friday when they’ll be in LA to go to bat against the Dodgers.
If your kiddo is an aspiring sportscaster, the Portland Sea Dogs are hosting their Kids Takeover the Broadcast Day on July 20th. You can register your child for a chance to shadow their sportscasters and be on the air. Sign up on the link you’ll find on our Star 97.7 FB page.