Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Waldoboro Drug Arrests
(Waldoboro) Two people were arrested Friday in Waldoboro on drug charges. A months-long investigation and a search warrant executed at a residence on Finntown Road yielded evidence of drug trafficking, along with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, a loaded handgun, and suspected drug proceeds. 50 yo Hollis Owens of Massachusetts and 42 yo Shawn Brewer of Waldoboro were taken into custody and transported to Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset. Both were scheduled to appear in Lincoln County Court on Friday.
(Waldoboro) A months-long investigation led to the arrest of two people on drug charges in Waldoboro on Friday. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency reports a search warrant executed at a Finntown Road residence yielded evidence of drug trafficking, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, a loaded handgun, and suspected drug proceeds. 50 yo Hollis Owens of Massachusetts and 42 yo Shawn Brewer of Waldoboro were taken to Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset. Both were scheduled to appear in Lincoln County Court on Friday.
Stabbing Leads to Arrest on Domestic Violence Charges
(Penobscot) A Friday morning stabbing led to the arrest of a 33 yo Penobscot man on Domestic Violence Charges. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department reports to Star 97.7 shortly before 5 a.m., a woman called 9-1-1 to report a man was having a medical event. The call was abruptly disconnected. Minutes later, deputies arrived at the home, where they found the caller had been stabbed. Deputy Justin Burnett learned the suspect had fled into nearby woods. The suspect, Michael Bakeman, then came out of the woods and was taken into custody. Both the woman and Bakeman were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Bakeman faces charges of Domestic Violence Elevated Aggravated Assault and was taken to the Hancock County Jail following treatment.
(Penobscot) An early morning stabbing Friday led to the arrest of a Penobscot man on Domestic Violence charges. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department reports to Star 97.7 a woman called 9-1-1 shortly before 5 a.m. to report a man was having a medical event. The call was then abruptly disconnected, and deputies rushed to the house where they found a female victim had been stabbed. She was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A suspect, 33 yo Michael Bakeman, had fled into nearby woods, but later came out of the woods and was arrested without incident. Bakeman was also taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the Hancock County Jail following treatment. He faces charges of Domestic Violence Elevated Aggravated Assault.
Unruly Behavior Proves Costly for UA Passenger
(Bangor) A British man learned the hard way that unruly behavior can be costly, after his actions caused a flight to be diverted to Bangor in March. On Friday, a federal court judge in Bangor ordered 30 yo Alexander Michael Dominic MacDonald to reimburse United Airlines more than $20K and sentenced him to time served. McDonald, who is from near London, was on a flight from London to Newark when he reportedly got into an argument with his traveling companion and became belligerent with flight attendants, threatening to “mess up the plane.” Flight crews say he didn’t calm down even when handcuffed, and the plane was diverted to Bangor, where McDonald was arrested and has been held in custody since.
(Bangor) An Englishman’s temper will cost him more than $20K, after a flight he was on had to be diverted to Bangor on March 1st. Authorities say 30 yo Alexander Michael Dominic MacDonald was traveling from London to Newark when he got into an argument with a traveling companion. When flight crews tried to calm him, he reportedly became so belligerent, they were forced to handcuff him. They say McDonald still refused to cooperate, threatening to “mess up the plane”. The United Airlines jet was diverted to Bangor, where McDonald was arrested and has been in custody. On Friday, a federal court judge in Bangor sentenced McDonald to time served and ordered him to pay United more than $20,600 in restitution.
Local Politics
Mount Desert Annual Town Meeting
(Mount Desert) The Mount Desert Town Office will be closed next Monday, May 6th, for the local candidate election. The Town Meeting will begin at 7:45 a.m. that day with the election of a Moderator, then polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voting on the election of officers. The open floor Town Meeting will then resume at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7th at the Mount Desert Elementary School. The Town Clerk will hold absentee voting on Wednesday May 1, from 5 to 7 p.m., after which any request for an absentee ballot must be done in person with a Special Circumstances application.
DownEast Community Hospital to Remain Open During Strike
(Machias) Down East Community Hospital in Machias says it will remain open and ready to care for patients during a two-day strike planned this week by registered nurses and technicians. DECH says it has made significant wage increases over the past four years and feels competitive in the local market. But striking workers call the offer of a one percent pay raise “insulting” and point to a 48% increase for CFO Lynette Parr between 2020 and 2022 and CEO Steve Lail’s compensation increase of more than $100,000 during that same time period. The strike is set to begin at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning and will run through 6:59 a.m. on Thursday.
(Machias) Down East Community Hospital in Machias says it will be open and ready to care for patients Tuesday and Wednesday, regardless of a two-day strike planned by registered nurses and technicians. Only the OB unit will be closed and on diversion starting this morning at 7 a.m. due to lack of staffing. Workers plan to stage the strike beginning at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning through 6:59 a.m. Thursday. They say they are protesting for fair wages and better staffing and call management’s offer of a 1% pay raise “insulting”. DECH says it has made significant wage increases over the past four years and feels competitive in the local market. The Maine State Nurses’ Association points to a 48% increase for CFO Lynette Parr between 2020 and 2022 and CEO Steve Lail’s compensation increase of more than $100,000 during that same time period.
Kathy Young Stepping Down as Executive Director at Woodlawn
(Ellsworth) Kathy Young is stepping down as Executive Director of Woodlawn. Young has served as Director for the past three years and has brought a wealth of knowledge, programming, and growth to Woodlawn, including overseeing construction of the new Barn and collaboration with the Grand for summer outdoor stage plays on the beautiful Woodlawn grounds. Young’s last day will be June 30th. A transition plan and search for a new Executive Director are underway.
Bradly Smith Stepping Down as Chamber Membership Director
(Ellsworth) Bradley Smith is stepping down after two years as Membership Director with the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce. Smith says he’s ready to pursue a new career path and is excited for a new journey ahead. He says he’ll still be around, coaching baseball at Ellsworth High School and serving on various committees in the community.
Economy
Governor Introduces Bill to Attract and Support Remote Workers
(Augusta) The Mills’s Administration has awarded $500K in grants to attract remote workers to Maine and to help those already working remotely integrate into Maine communities. The funds are part of the Governor’s Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. During the pandemic, Maine was one of just ten US states to attract new residents, and the state continues to outperform the national average in population growth, driven in part by those choosing to work remotely from Maine.
(Augusta) $500K in grants will bolster the Mills’s Administration’s “Remote Worker Welcome Program.”. The funds, part of the Governor’s Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, are designed to attract remote workers to Maine and help those already working remotely to integrate into Maine communities.. During the pandemic, Maine was one of just ten US states to attract new residents, and the state continues to outperform the national average in population growth, driven in part by those choosing to work remotely from Maine.
Environment
Maine Receives Solar for All Grant
(Maine) The Governor’s Energy Office has been awarded one of 60 Solar for All grants from the Biden Administration. The grants are designed to expand accessibility to clean energy for low and moderate income Americans. Maine will use the monies to facilitate on-site solar programs that benefit single- and multi-family projects and cooperatively owned community solar.
(Maine) A White House climate advisor says 900,000 households will benefit from the Biden Administration’s Solar for All Program. Sixty grants were awarded to 49 states recently, including one to the Maine Governor’s Energy Office. Maine will use its share of the $5.5B in grants to expand accessibility to clean energy for low and moderate income Americans by facilitating single- and multi-family on-site solar programs and cooperatively owned community solar.
Maine State Park Campgrounds Open May 20th
(Maine) Maine State Park Campgrounds open on May 20th. You’ll find a list and campground maps at maine dot gov, then book your site online at CampWithME dot com. The Bureau of Parks and Lands says there are a few sites at each campground that cannot be reserved and are first come, first served for visitors who stop in spur-of-the-moment to camp.
Education
Mano e Mano in Milbridge Continues to Serve Migrant Children
(Milbridge) The Mano e Mano Migrant Education Program has been busy distributing learning resources to students across the state. The team of program coordinators has traveled throughout Maine, delivering learning kits to students so they would have learning and enrichment activities over winter break. They also hosted family events, supported online tutoring, and have begun planning the 2024 Blueberry Harvest School and working with schools to coordinate interpretation services for parent-teacher conferences.
(Milbridge) As warmer weather arrives, Mano e Mano in Milbridge is coordinating outreach to Aroostook County and preparing for the 2024 wild blueberry harvest by collecting donations of clothing, shoes, and other seasonal items. Mano e Mano has been busy the past months distributing learning resources to students across the state, hosting family events, supporting online tutoring and preparing for the harvest. To see a wish list of items and to find how you can get involved, email info at mano – that’s M-A-N-O – dot org.
Human Interest
Craft and Vendor Fair This Weekend
(Ellsworth) This weekend, don’t miss the City of Ellsworth Craft and Vendor Fair to support the Backpacks for Kids Program! This wonderful event is happening May 4th and 5th at the Moore Community Center. Free to attendees, vendors will showcase handmade crafts, goods, and unique products … from jewelry and home goods to pottery and tasty treats, face painting, and something for all ages. Proceeds from vendor table reservations will help support the Backpacks for Kids Program, so your dollars will not only buy you some special keepsakes, they’ll also go a long way toward doing good in our community.
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth and surrounding towns are known for their generosity, but there’s no doubt there’s also a lot of need in all our communities these days. You can treat yourself and do a lot of good this weekend at the City of Ellsworth Craft and Vendor Fair. This wonderful event is happening May 4th and 5th at the Moore Community Center. Vendors will showcase handmade crafts, goods, and unique products … from jewelry and home goods to pottery and tasty treats and face painting … something for all ages. Proceeds from vendor table reservations will help support the Backpacks for Kids Program. Come on out and find something unique for you or a loved one and help support a great cause.
Sports
The Red Sox have the day off – they’ll be home for a trio of games against the Giants, beginning tomorrow night at Fenway.
Celtics go into Round One, Game Four of the NBA Playoffs tonight against the Heat in Miami – Celtics leading it two games to one.
The Bruins leading Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 3 games to 1. Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow night in Boston.