Crime/Public Safety/Drugs Suspect Arrested in Trenton (Trenton)  Authorities in Trenton on Saturday arrested a suspect wanted on an active warrant for multiple felonies.  The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports to Star 97.7, about 2:30 Saturday afternoon, deputies learned 42 yo Jeremy Everly was inside a residence on Horse Farm Road.  A Maine State Police Tac […]

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Local News 08/12/24

Crime/Public Safety/Drugs

Suspect Arrested in Trenton

(Trenton)  Authorities in Trenton on Saturday arrested a suspect wanted on an active warrant for multiple felonies.  The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports to Star 97.7, about 2:30 Saturday afternoon, deputies learned 42 yo Jeremy Everly was inside a residence on Horse Farm Road.  A Maine State Police Tac Team was called in to assist and a perimeter established. Everly eventually surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. Everly faces numerous allegations, including allegedly threatening employees at a Trenton business with a firearm on July 22nd.

(Trenton)  A suspect who reportedly threatened employees with a firearm at a Trenton business on July 22nd was arrested without incident on August 10th.  The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports to Star 97.7, about 2:30 Saturday afternoon, deputies were made aware 42 yo Jeremy Everly was inside a residence on Horse Farm Road in Trenton.  A Maine State Police Tac Team was called in to assist and a perimeter established. Everly eventually surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.  Authorities say Everly had an active warrant for his arrest on multiple felony charges.

Investigators Working to Determine Cause of Blast at Sinclair Home

(Sinclair)  Investigators are working to determine the cause of a Saturday evening blast that destroyed a home in the Aroostook County town of Sinclair.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office reports the explosion happened about 7 p.m. Saturday at a home at 441 Shore Road. The residence was deemed a total loss. The homeowner, who was in the house at the time of the explosion, was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The explosion caused another nearby residence to catch fire; people inside that home were able to escape safely.  Investigators were on the scene this weekend, interviewing witnesses and looking for a cause.

Belfast Robbery Suspect Gets Jail Time

(Belfast)  A woman accused of robbing a man in a homeless encampment was sentenced last week in Waldo County Court.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports 21 yo Isabella Noui and her then-boyfriend, Justin Wilmot, went to the encampment to confront a man they claimed had acted inappropriately toward Noui.  The confrontation resulted in Wilmot stabbing the victim multiple times.  The victim was taken to a hospital and did survive.  Wilmot was sentenced to 20 years in prison last February for the stabbing.  Noui was sentenced to 10 years with all but 400 days suspended for the robbery and received additional time for falsifying evidence and theft by unauthorized use of property.

Crash Involving Windmill Blade Closes Route One in Stockton Springs

(Stockton Springs)  It wasn’t Blade Run-ER, but Blade Run-IN Friday, when driver error apparently led to a tractor trailer crash that closed Route One in Stockton Springs much of the day.  Maine State Police say an initial investigation indicates the driver, who was transporting one of the giant windmill blades from Searsport to Columbia, didn’t get far enough over on the road, causing the blade to strike an overhead train trestle and forcing the whole transport to roll over.  The 240-foot blade was eventually transferred to another trailer, where it was transported back to Searsport on Saturday.  Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.

(Stockton Springs)  A tractor trailer hauling one of the large windmill blades from Searsport to Columbia on Friday hit an overhead train trestle on Route One in Stockton Springs, causing the rig, trailer and blade to roll over.  The incident resulted in the road being closed most of the day.  Maine State Police say an initial investigation indicates the driver didn’t get far enough over on the road to clear the section of the trestle that was a bit higher.  The 240-foot blade was eventually transferred to another trailer, where it was transported back to Searsport on Saturday.  Fortunately, authorities say there were no injuries reported as a result of that crash.

Local Politics

Harris/Walz Launch Republicans for Harris with Strong Support in Maine

(Augusta)  Maine GOP Executive Director Tony Payne, Minority Leader Roger Katz, and Peter Mills will act as Republican co-chairs of Republicans for Harris, a grassroots coalition dedicated to preventing Donald Trump from becoming President.  The Pen Bay Pilot quotes Payne as saying, “Trump’s motivation to be President is to be the start of his revenge tour.”  He further said, “Trump’s MAGA extremism is toxic to the millions of Republicans who no longer believe the party of Donald Trump represents their values and will vote against him in November.”

(Augusta) Vice President Kamala Harris has kicked off her “Republicans for Harris” campaign in Maine with some impressive support.  Maine GOP Executive Director Tony Payne, Minority Leader Roger Katz, and Peter Mills will act as Republican co-chairs of the grassroots coalition dedicated to preventing Donald Trump from becoming President.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports Director of Republican Outreach, Austin Weatherford as saying, “Vice President Harris and our campaign are working overtime to earn the support of my fellow Republicans who care about defending democracy and restoring decency – all of which would be torn away in a second Trump Presidency.”

Economy

MDOL Can Order Employers to Compensate Underpaid Workers

(Augusta)  Several laws went into effect here in Maine on Friday, including one that allows the Maine Department of Labor for the first time to order employers to pay back wages, liquidated damages, and interest to workers affected by labor law violations.  Under the new law, the MDOL can require an employer to pay such workers  three times the amount he or she was underpaid, plus interest.  Under the previous law, such enforcement was only legal by obtaining a judgment in court or if the employer agreed to do so in a settlement agreement.

(Augusta)  One of several new laws that went into effect Friday puts additional weight behind the Maine Department of Labor ….and employees who were not compensated fairly.  Under the new law, for the first time, MDOL can order employers to pay back wages, liquidated damages, and interest to workers affected by labor law violations.  MDOL can now also require an employer to pay such workers three times the amount he or she was underpaid, plus interest.  Under the previous law, such enforcement was only legal by obtaining a judgment in court or if the employer agreed to do so in a settlement agreement.

Education

Deer Isle Principal and Curriculum Coordinator Resign

(Deer Isle)  Just weeks before the start of school, both the Principal and Curriculum Coordinator have resigned their positions at Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School.  The Ellsworth American reports Union 76 Superintendent Dan Ross said the resignations of Principal Jane O’Connor and Curriculum Coordinator Lynne Witham were due to “unfortunate circumstances”.  Ross said both administrators were tireless champions of children, and that the resignations were a blow to the district. The first day of school is two weeks away on August 27th.

(Deer Isle)  With just a little over two weeks before the start of the school year, Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School finds itself having to replace two key positions.  The Ellsworth American reports Union 76 Superintendent Dan Ross said the resignations of Principal Jane O’Connor and Curriculum Coordinator Lynne Witham were due to “unfortunate circumstances”.  Ross said both administrators were tireless champions of children, and that the resignations were a blow to the district. The first day of school is August 27th.

Environment

Lobster Fishermen Say Increase in Minimum Lobster Size Could Further Hurt Fishery

(Maine)  Lobster harvesters and dealers are fighting back against a fraction-of-an-inch size change that could eliminate the most profitable part of their catch and, they say, could give a competitive edge to Canadian fishermen.  The Portland Press Herald reports federal regulators hope to give Maine lobstermen an additional six months to prepare for the new rule that would slightly increase the minimum size of the crustaceans they’re allowed to catch and keep.  The 1/16th inch increase is designed to boost a dwindling population in the Gulf of Maine.  The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission hopes to delay the planned change that was to go in effect on January 1, to July 1, 2025.

(Maine)  Regulators hoping to boost the dwindling population of lobsters in the Gulf of Maine plan to increase the minimum size of the crustaceans allowable by a 16th of an inch.  But lobster harvesters and dealers say that would eliminate the most profitable part of their catch and would give a competitive edge to Canadian fishermen.  The Portland Press Herald reports federal regulators are hoping to give Maine lobstermen an additional six months to prepare for the new rule.  The rule was set to go into effect on January 1; regulators hope to push that back to July 1, 2025.

Infrastructure

Ellsworth Road Construction

(Ellsworth)  Beginning tomorrow morning, traffic will be down to one lane on lower Main Street near Grant, across from Rooster Brother in Ellsworth.  The work will start about 7:30 a.m. and could take from one to three days.  The City of Ellsworth asks motorists to plan accordingly, be patient, and drive with caution if you’re in the area.

(Ellsworth)  A little bit of inconvenience on Main Street in Ellsworth beginning tomorrow morning around 7:30.  The City of Ellsworth reports traffic will be down to one lane near Grant Street and across from Rooster Brother.  The work is expected to take anywhere from one to three days, so please plan accordingly and drive with caution if you have to be in that area.

Communities to Share Recovery and Resiliency Grants

(Augusta)  The town of Machiasport will receive $475,000 to move an exposed portion of Port Road inland.  That’s one example of multiple projects planned across the state to shore up roads and other infrastructure vulnerable to the increasing threats of climate change. The funds are part of more than $25M in Recovery and Resilience Grants awarded to help rebuild 39 communities, following the devastating winter storms.  In April, Governor Mills and the legislature approved $60M in storm relief to help working waterfronts, communities, and businesses recover from the storms and build back in ways that can better withstand the effects of global warming.

(Augusta) Last April, Governor Mills and the legislature approved $60M in storm relief to help working waterfronts, communities, and businesses recover from the storms and build back in ways that can better withstand the effects of global warming.  On Friday, 39 communities were awarded a total of $25.2M to help fund such improvements.  The town of Machiasport is one of the communities receiving the grant funding.  Town officials say they’ll use their $475,000 to move an exposed portion of Port Road inland.

Sports

Following last Thursday’s game against the Patriots in Foxborough, a plane carrying the Carolina Panthers players, coaches and staff veered off a runway and became stuck in the mud at the Charlotte Airport.  No one on board was harmed.

Both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams walked off the courts in Paris with gold medals this weekend.  The Men’s team held off France 98-87 to claim its fifth straight Olympic gold medal. The women held off the French team with a nail-biting 67-66 win for their eighth straight gold.

Imagine having to give up the Olympic medal you worked so hard to earn.  That’s what happened to US Gymnast Jordan Chiles, whose Olympic bronze medal was reallocated to Ana Barbosu of Romania after a challenge by Romania.  The judges reviewed video of the floor exercise and invalidated a correction to Chiles’s score that had put her on the podium.

Team USA closing out the Olympics on Sunday on top with 126 total medals – 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze.  China was second with 91 medals, Great Britain with 65, and France with 64.

In women’s soccer, Team USA defeated Brazil one-nothing, to claim the first Olympic gold in women’s soccer since 2012.

The Red Sox remain at Fenway this evening.  They’re keeping with the Texas theme, beginning a 3-game series against the Rangers.

WABI reporting hundreds made it out to the University of Maine this weekend for the Flagg Basketball ProCamp.  Cooper and Ace Flagg hosted drills, with some lucky campers having the chance to play in a 2 v 2 game alongside the Flagg duo.