Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Armed Robbery Follows Long Creek Escape
(Augusta) A pair of inmates escaped from Long Creek Youth Development Center Friday night. Authorities aren’t allowed to release the names of the two male fugitives, but tell Star 97.7 following the escape, authorities responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery involving the threat of a firearm at a parking lot in South Portland. The men fled in a stolen white Honda Civic with a Maine Barbara Bush license plate number 401BBK. The suspects were last seen Friday night in Biddeford. Authorities have coordinated efforts across several states. They say if you see the pair, don’t approach them, but call 9-1-1.
(Augusta) A multi-state effort is being coordinated to find and capture two male fugitives who escaped the Long Creek Youth Development Center on Friday Night. Shortly after the escape, authorities say they responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery at a South Portland parking lot. Confidentiality laws prohibit detectives from releasing names, but say the pair fled in a stolen white Honda Civic with a Maine Barbara Bush license plate number 401BBK. The suspects were last seen Friday night in Biddeford. They say if you see the escapees, don’t approach but call 9-1-1.
Parents Charged in 10 Year Old’s Death Plead Not Guilty
(Bangor) The parents of 10 yo Braxtyn Smith of Bangor pleaded not guilty to charges of depraved indifference murder in connection with his death. 33 yo Joshua Smith and 35 yo Jem Beam were in court Friday to face the charges. Braxtyn’s paternal grandmother, Mistie Latourette, faces the same charge. Braxtyn was taken to an emergency room in Bangor last February, arriving without a pulse and not breathing. Staff say he was resuscitated but died later that night. Authorities reported he was malnourished and suffered bruises. An investigation alleges he was tied up, made to eat garbage, and suffered other abuses at the hands of his parents and grandmother.
(Bangor) An investigation alleges 10 yo Braxtyn Smith was tied up, forced to eat garbage and suffered additional abuses at the hands of his parents and paternal grandmother before he passed away in February. His parents, 33 yo Joshua Smith and 35 yo Jem Beam, were in court Friday and pleaded not guilty to depraved indifference murder. Braxtyn’s paternal grandmother, Mistie Latourette, faces the same charge. Braxtyn was taken to an emergency room in Bangor on February 18th. He arrived without a pulse and not breathing. Staff say he was resuscitated but died later that night. Authorities say he was malnourished and suffered bruises and cigar burns across his body.
Mechanics Falls Deaths
(Mechanics Falls) The Mechanics Falls Police Department discovered three deceased individuals at a home on Highland Avenue Saturday afternoon. The MSP Major Crimes Unit was called in following the 4 p.m. discovery. The bodies were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsies to determine a manner and cause of death and to positively identify the three. No further information was released. Authorities say there’s no threat to the public. We’ll update you as we’re given more details.
(Mechanics Falls) Mechanics Falls police discovered the bodies of three people at a home on Highland Avenue Saturday afternoon. The MSP Major Crimes Unit was called to the scene shortly after 4 p.m.. The bodies were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsies to determine a manner and cause of death and to positively identify the three. No further information was released. Investigators say there’s no threat to the public. We’ll have updates as they become available.
Serious Crash Closes Route One in Gouldsboro
(Gouldsboro) A serious crash on Route One in Gouldsboro Friday afternoon resulted in the closure of a section of that road. The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. near Pond Road. It appeared a construction vehicle and a white vehicle, possibly a Jeep, were involved. No word on the number of persons involved nor injuries. The road reopened about 6:30.
(Gouldsboro) A serious crash caused a portion of Route One in Gouldsboro to be closed for about two hours Friday evening. The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. near Pond Road and appeared to involve a construction vehicle and a white vehicle, possibly a Jeep. The top of the white car was sheered off. No word on how many people were involved or the extent of injuries. The road was reopened about 6:30 p.m.
Third Arrest in Cushing Murder
(Rockland) Three people have now been arrested in connection with the death of a man whose last known address was in Waldoboro. Detectives have charged 39 yo John Flower of Rockland with Hindering, a Class B Felony after he was taken into custody Thursday afternoon. At the time of his arrest, Flower was being held in the Knox County Jail on unrelated charges. 41 yo Mark Gagne was arrested in Cushing on July 12th after he was reportedly found with the body of 46 yo Kyle MacDougall. He’s charged with hindering and abuse of a corpse. On July 16th, 39 yo Jason Hewett of Augusta was arrested after leading police in a chase on Route 3, crashing his vehicle, and creating a four hour standoff. Flower, the most recent man arrested, made his initial court appearance on Friday. Police have not released details of MacDougall’s death.
(Rockland) The mystery surrounding the death of 46 yo Kyle MacDougall continues to deepen. MacDougall’s body was found at a home on River Road in Cushing on July 12. 41 yo Mark Gagne was the first person arrested in the case. He was charged with Hindering Apprehension and Abuse of a Corpse. Four days later, 39 yo Jason Hewett of Augusta led authorities on a high speed chase on Route 3, ultimately crashing his vehicle and creating a four hour standoff. Detectives then connected him to MacDougall’s death, as well. Hewitt is charged with Eluding, Domestic Assault and Manslaughter. On July 25th, authorities took 39 yo John Flower of Rockland into custody in connection with the case. Flower is charged with Hindering, a Class B Felony. He made his initial court appearance Friday. Police have not released details of MacDougall’s death.
Former Bookkeeper Embezzled Over $730K
(Guilford) A former bookkeeper stands accused of stealing more than $730,000 from the Medford Company for which she worked. 53 yo Terri Moulton allegedly embezzled the money from DeWitt Machine & Fabrication between January 2019 and February 2022. WGME reports Moulton was found guilty of forgery and theft last week after a four-day jury trial in Dover-Foxcroft. Sources say it’s one of the largest embezzlement cases in Maine history and the largest in Piscataquis County. The company called Moulton’s actions a huge disappointment and betrayal.
(Guilford) Guilty of forgery and theft. That’s the verdict handed down last week in Dover-Foxcroft in one of the largest embezzlement cases in the state’s history. Prosecutors allege 53 yo Terri Moulton embezzled more than $730K from DeWitt Machine & Fabrication in Medford, where she worked as a bookkeeper. The crime occurred over a period of three years, from 2019 to 2022. The verdict came after a four-day jury trial in Dover-Foxcroft, according to WGME. The company called Moulton’s actions a huge disappointment and betrayal.
Local Politics
Maine Wins $69M Climate Resilience Grant from NOAA
(Portland) Maine has won a $69M Climate Resiliency Grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The grant represents one of the largest investments in climate resilience in Maine history. It’s just one of two awarded on the East Coast. Funding will be used to support critical infrastructure projects to shore up working waterfronts and other entities that are vulnerable to a changing climate; and to establish a resiliency office within state government. The grant is in addition to the more than $21M announced last week to be divided among 68 working waterfronts affected by the storms.
(Portland) More good news for those working to recover from the climate-change-fueled storms that decimated Maine’s coastline last winter. Governor Janet Mills on Friday announced the state has been awarded a $69M Climate Resiliency Grant from NOAA. The grant represents one of the largest investments in climate resilience in Maine history, and is just one of two awarded on the East Coast. Funding will be used to support critical infrastructure projects to shore up working waterfronts and other entities vulnerable to a changing climate … and to establish a resiliency office within state government. The grant is in addition to the more than $21M announced last week to benefit 68 Maine working waterfronts affected by the storms.
Maine’s Environment Showing Evidence of Climate Change
(Millinocket) Maine’s outdoor experts say you need look no further than our environment to see the effects of our warming planet. The Portland Press Herald reports global warming is fueling the uphill march of the tree line on the state’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin. Warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons have enabled fir and spruce to grow at higher elevations than ever before. Back down near sea level, experts say salt marshes that take hundreds of years to form are disappearing as sea levels rise and development presses in. They say the marshes are an important habitat for certain species that will disappear with the salt marshes.
(Millinocket) Scientists say the effects of global warming are being seen in Maine from sea level to the higher elevations. Climate experts say salt marshes, which take hundreds of years to form, are disappearing as sea levels rise and development presses in. The Portland Press Herald reports the marshes are an important habitat for certain species that will disappear along with the salt marshes. Global warming is also fueling the uphill march of the tree line on the state’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin. Warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons have reportedly enabled fir and spruce to grow at higher elevations than ever before.
Health
Toxic Fruit Warning
(Orono) Watermelon – it’s a fruit we all associate with summer. But researchers say if you slice into that juicy, red melon and it’s “foaming at the mouth”, don’t put it in YOUR mouth. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension office says fruits’ natural sugar, fructose, can ferment under extended and undesirable storage conditions such as in summer’s unusually warm weather. Last summer, several people here in Maine reported cutting into watermelons, revealing a foamy, soapy looking substance. That foaming, say researchers, presents a real food safety issue that you should certainly not eat, and probably shouldn’t even bring into your home.
(Orono) Some watermelons could have folks feeling melon-CHOLY this summer. Researchers say fruits such as watermelon have a natural sugar called fructose. If stored for prolonged periods in undesirable conditions – such as being left out in our unusually warm weather – you might just get a surprise when you slice into that juicy, red delight. Last year, a few consumers in Maine reported a foamy substance boiling out when cut open, the result of fermentation. Researchers say that presents a real food safety issue which you should certainly not eat, and probably shouldn’t even bring into your home.
Infrastructure
Seawall Road Opened
(SW Harbor) By now, you probably know … they did it. As promised, a group of local contractors and businesses – some of them no doubt competitors – banded together last week and repaired Seawall Road, a major byway for locals, tourists, area businesses and their employees, and first responders. They met their self-imposed 5 p.m. Friday goal. The workers were deservedly treated throughout the week to meals and goodies and on Friday to a well-deserved lobster and steak lunch. Once again, those participating companies – John Goodwin, Jr. Construction, Doug Gott & Sons, BFP Trucking, Rings Paving, GT Outhouses, and Northeast Paving.
(SW Harbor) To anyone using Seawall Road, they’re knights in shining armor who rode in on their plows and pavers and fixed a major project that was costing local businesses, first responders, pedestrians, bicyclists, and tourists. By now, you know six businesses – some competitors – joined together to repair the road in just a week’s time. Along the way, workers were treated to well-deserved meals, drinks, and a lobster and steak lunch. We just want to highlight their names one more time, because these heroes definitely deserve your business. John Goodwin, Jr. Construction, Doug Gott & Sons, BFP Trucking, Rings Paving, GT Outhouses, and Northeast Paving.
Sports
Red Sox lose to the Yankees Sunday 8-2. Red Sox remain at Fenway this week – they face the Seattle Mariners beginning this evening in Boston.
In the Paris Olympics, Team USA on top with 3 gold medals, 6 silvers, and 3 bronze so far.