Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
New York Man Sentenced for Mailing Fentanyl
(Rockland) A New York man was sentenced this week for mailing fentanyl to a pair of Rockland residents who later died of accidental overdoses. Court records show in June 2020, 49 yo Tyler Dean used an alias to ship an envelope via Priority Mail Express to a residence in Rockland. Dean reportedly knew he was mailing a controlled substance, but didn’t know its exact identity. The package’s recipient and spouse died of accidental overdoses the day the package arrived. The Pen Bay Pilot reports Dean was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by three years or supervised release.
(Rockland) A 49 yo New York man was sentenced this week to 24 months in prison for mailing fentanyl to two Rockland residents who later died of overdoses. Court records show in June 2020, Tyler Dean used an alias to ship an envelope via Priority Mail Express to a residence in Rockland. Dean reportedly knew he was mailing a controlled substance, but didn’t know its exact identity. The package’s recipient and spouse died of accidental overdoses the day the package arrived. The Pen Bay Pilot reports Dean was sentenced to the two years, followed by three years or supervised release.
Carmel Shooting
(Carmel) An update on a story we previewed yesterday morning about an incident in Carmel Monday night that drew a large police presence to the area of Main and Damascus Roads. Police say the Penobscot RCC received a call shortly before 4 p.m. reporting a man had been shot by his teenage son at a home on Main Road. Penobscot County sheriff’s deputies responded and secured the home with the teen, who was arrested and the gun seized. The father was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to his torso. Authorities say he is in stable condition. It’s unclear where the teen will be held.
(Carmel) A teenager is in custody today after he allegedly shot his father Monday afternoon at their home in Carmel. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office posted there was a large police presence that evening near Main and Damascus Roads, saying there was no threat to the public, but asking people to avoid the area. Authorities say a 9-1-1 call came in shortly before 4 p.m. reporting a man had been shot by his teenage son at a Main Road home. Penobscot County sheriff’s deputies responded, seized the gun and arrested the teen. The father was transported to a hospital with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was said to be in stable condition. It’s unclear whether the teen will be held in a juvenile facility or the Penobscot County Jail.
Washington Academy Career Fair
(East Machias) If you’re a Washington County student interested in the exciting career of law enforcement, plan to attend the Community College and Career Fair, this Friday, February 9th, from 8 – 9:30 at Washington Academy in East Machias. Sheriff Barry Curtis and Lieutenant Tim Tabbutt will be sharing with students about exciting career opportunities right there in Washington County. You can also meet one on one with Community College representatives. If you have questions, contact Kim Tyler at Washington Academy.
(East Machias) If you’ve ever considered a career in law enforcement but aren’t sure what “skills and schooling” are required, there’s an exciting opportunity this week for high schoolers in Washington County. Washington Academy in East Machias is hosting a Community College and Career Fair this Friday, February 9th,, from 8 until 9:30. Sheriff Barry Curtis and Lieutenant Tim Tabbutt will be sharing with students about exciting career opportunities right there in Washington County. You can also meet one on one with Community College representatives. If you have questions, contact Kim Tyler at Washington Academy.
More Promotions at Hancock County Sheriff’s Office
(Ellsworth) Not sure what’s going on at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, but it turns out there’ve been a whole lot of promotions going on! In addition to Brian Archer and Dakota Dupuis advancing to Lieutenant status, these other outstanding deputies have climbed the ranks: Rob Morang, Marcus Downes, and Kyle Kramer have all been promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sheriff Scott Kane posted their pictures on the HCSO FB page, along with a link to Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration”. We couldn’t agree more. Great job, everyone.
(Ellsworth) Dedication, leadership, and commitment to community. Must be a whole lot of that going on these days at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to Brian Archer and Dakota Dupuis advancing to Lieutenant status, three other outstanding deputies were recently promoted to Sergeant – Rob Morang, Marcus Downes, and Kyle Kramer. We love that the FB page about their promotions contains a link to Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration”. We hope there’s a lot of that going on, too! Great job, everyone!
Local Politics
Court Considers Release of Voter Information
(Augusta) Names, addresses, voter status and other information from the state’s voter file – for years, the state has restricted the release of that information to only political campaigns. Now, an appeals court has sided with a conservative nonprofit, finding that restriction violates federal law. The Bangor Daily News reports Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has said such measures protect voter privacy, but that was challenged by The Public Interest Legal Foundation. Bellows has not yet decided if the state will appeal the ruling.
(Augusta) Privacy advocates fear the ruling could lead to harassment campaigns or even citizens deciding not to register to vote. For years, the state of Maine has restricted the release of names, addresses, voter status and other information from the state’s voter file to only political campaigns. Now an appeals court has sided with conservative nonprofit The Public Interest Legal Foundation, finding the restriction violates federal law. The Bangor Daily News says the nonprofit calls it a matter of transparency. But in light of the current political climate, the ruling concerns Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who says she has not yet decided whether or not to appeal the decision.
Education
Ellsworth Elementary Middle School Trail Gets Upgrade
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth Elementary Middle School students and teachers are once again enjoying a trail created eleven years ago by a previous Eagle Scout student. Downeast Audubon not only revitalized the trail, they added an outdoor classroom that is currently being enjoyed by the sixth graders working with the Maine Outdoor School. The project fit perfectly with Downeast Audubon’s mission of educating and engaging folks with the outdoors. The school sends a special shoutout to Susan Guilford who, they say, helped make the upgrades possible.
(Ellsworth) Eleven years ago, a former Ellsworth Elementary Middle School Eagle Scout created a trail to help students and staff at the school get outside for some fresh-air learning. When Downeast Audubon learned the trail needed some TLC, they not only jumped in to revitalize the path with its wooden bridge, they added an outdoor classroom. The sixth graders at EEMS are currently enjoying the space through the Maine Outdoor School. The school sends a special shoutout to Susan Guilford who, they say, helped make the upgrades possible.
Health
Senator Collins Highlights National Public Health Strategy to Combat Rise in Tick-Borne Diseases
(Washington, DC) Tick borne diseases – the number of cases continues to rise here in Maine, and research suggests ticks are becoming a year-round bearer of debilitating diseases such as Lyme and Powassan. Senator Susan Collins Tuesday highlighted a new public health strategy designed to protect people from illness, suffering and death from vector borne diseases. The five goals of the strategy include understanding when, where, and how people are exposed and get sick, developing improved tools and methods, developing and assessing drugs and treatment strategies, and making available and disseminating information on the above. Last year, the Maine CDC reported a record 2,904 confirmed cases of Lyme disease, and the Maine Tick Lab found deer ticks are expanding their range farther north and Down East.
(Washington, DC) Last year, the Maine CDC reported a record 2,904 confirmed cases of Lyme disease, and the Maine Tick Lab found deer ticks are expanding their range farther north and Down East. Senator Susan Collins Tuesday highlighted a new public health strategy designed to protect people from illness, suffering and death from vector borne diseases. The five goals of the strategy include understanding when, where, and how people are exposed and get sick, developing improved tools and methods, developing and assessing drugs and treatment strategies, and making available and disseminating information. The strategy has set a target of reducing Lyme disease cases 25% by 2035.
Environment
MDEP Proposes No Adverse Environmental Effect Act
(Augusta) Renewable energy? There’s a fee for that – or there soon may be, if the project affects wildlife habitat. The Maine Legislature has directed the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to establish a compensation fee program for renewable energy development projects. Under the program, compensation would be required if there were to be any alteration to a deer wintering area, habit of rare, threatened or endangered species, migratory bird pathway or important wildlife corridor, or when there are certain alterations to large undeveloped habitat lands.
(Augusta) Developers who want to plant renewable energy projects on lands used as wildlife habitat may have to pay for that. The Maine Legislature has directed the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to establish a compensation fee program for renewable energy development projects. Under the program, compensation would be required should there be any alteration to a deer wintering area, habitat of rare, threatened or endangered species, migratory bird pathway or important wildlife corridor, or when there are certain alterations to large undeveloped habitat lands.
Elver Quotas Held at Current Levels
(Maine) Fishermen who harvest one of the most valuable marine species in the country won’t get the chance to catch any more next year than they did last. Regulators say they are keeping tight restrictions on fishing for baby eels, known as elvers. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says it’s only considering one option for next year- holding the quota to a little less than 10,000 pounds. The current management plan is expiring, forcing the ASMFC to make a decision on extending the quota.
(Maine) While elver fishermen last week avoided a ruling that would have drastically cut quotas, there won’t be an increase next year either. The baby eels, known as elvers, are a prized delicacy in Asian markets, often fetching $2,000 or more per pound. The current management plan is expiring, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries says it’s considering just one option – keeping next year’s limit at the current limit of just 10,000 pounds. That’s the same level fishermen have been allowed to harvest for the past several years.
Technology
King Pushes for Wi-Fi Equality
(Washington, DC) Studies show a significant grade point average difference between students with and without home connectivity. In a letter to the FCC on Tuesday, Senator Angus King joined others in the growing call to expand Wi-Fi hotspots at home for students and teachers. King and his colleagues emphasized the need for expanding the E-rate program, which enables schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband. The expansion would allow those facilities to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots, helping to ensure low-income and rural students have access to educational materials at home.
(Washington) Connectivity and learning have become an inseparable union in today’s educational world, with studies showing a significant grade point average difference between students who have and those who don’t have home connectivity. Senator Angus King on Tuesday joined colleagues in asking the FCC to expand the E-rate program, which enables schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband. The expansion would allow those facilities to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators, helping to ensure low-income and rural students have access to educational materials at home.
Sports
Bruins go down in Flames – Calgary Flames win it 4-1. The Bruins home Thursday against the Canucks.
The Celtics on the home court tonight to try to ground the Atlanta Hawks.
High school basketball results from last night – on the girls’ side, the Ellsworth Lady Eagles defeating MDI, and the Deer Isle/Stonington girls get the win over Bangor Christian. And these boys’ teams reporting in – Jonesport-Beals with an easy win over Narraguagus, Schenck beats Machias, Searsport gets the win over Sumner, the Calais Blue Devils have no problem defeating Woodland, and Bangor Christian with a blowout against Deer Isle/Stonington.
Local high school basketball this evening: on the girls’ side, it’s Calais vs. Woodland, the Machias Bulldogs up against the Jonesport-Beals Royals, Sumner vs. Narraguagus, and the John Bapst Crusaders vs. Hermon. These boys’ teams shooting hoops tonight: the Ellsworth Eagles up against the MDI Trojans and George Stevens vs. Bucksport.