Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Turnpike Crash – Ogunquit
(Ogunquit) Authorities say wet pavement, speed, and erratic driving were likely factors in a crash on the turnpike in Ogunquit Monday morning. Public Information Spokesperson Shannon Moss tells Star 97.7, an initial investigation indicates 39 yo Victor Miguel Cedillo Merchan of Massachusetts lost control of the commercial van he was driving, causing it to roll over in the median. The van lost roofing nails, construction equipment, and power equipment, which were strewn across the roadway and were then struck by another vehicle, disabling it and causing minor injuries to the driver. Three of the four men who were passengers in the van were not wearing seatbelts and were taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation.
(Ogunquit) Three men were hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries Monday morning when the van in which they were riding veered off the turnpike in Ogunquit and rolled over in the median. An initial investigation indicates the driver, 39 yo Victor Miguel Cedillo Merchan of Massachusetts, may have been speeding and driving erratically on the wet pavement when the accident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Some of the van’s contents, including roofing nails and power equipment, were strewn across the roadway and caused another vehicle to become disabled, setting off an airbag, and causing minor injuries to the driver of that car. The three men who were hospitalized were not wearing seatbelts. Merchan and a fourth passenger were not injured. The accident remains under investigation.
Fatal Crash in Benton
(Benton) A Harrington man was killed Saturday night when he apparently lost control on I-95 in Benton and struck the bridge rail on the Kennebec River Bridge. Authorities say 41 yo Jed Carpenter, the vehicle’s only occupant, was not wearing a seatbelt and was partially ejected from his van. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Public Safety Information Spokesperson Shannon Moss reports speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash.
(Benton) Speed and alcohol appear have been factors in a crash Saturday in Benton that claimed the life of a Harrington man. The crash occurred about 9 p.m. Saturday evening, when a Ford Econoline van driven by 41 yo Jed Carpenter struck a bridge rail on the Kennebec River Bridge. Authorities say Carpenter was not wearing a seatbelt and was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Interstate was reduced to one lane while police, fire, and rescue crews removed Carpenter’s body and the vehicle.
Brunswick Spill Update
(Brunswick) The Maine Department of Environmental Protection says the hangar at Brunswick Executive Airport where thousands of gallons of toxic aqueous A-triple-F foam were released a week ago has been cleaned and all discharged foam from the hangar has been removed. The planes in the hangar have been cleaned once and will undergo another round of cleaning in the hangar, after which the hangar will be cleaned a final time. The A-triple-F continues to foam in the retention ponds. It’s unclear how long the foam will be present.
(Brunswick) The Maine Department of Environmental Protection says a first round of cleaning of the hangar and planes impacted by that toxic A-triple-F spill at Brunswick Executive Airport a week ago yesterday has been completed, with a second cleaning scheduled. MDEP says the public drinking water supply to Brunswick Landing, which comes from the Brunswick-Topsham Water District has been confirmed safe to drink. The A-triple-F continues to foam in the retention ponds. It’s unclear how long the foam will be present.
Economy
DCP Receives $20K THAW Fund Donation
(Ellsworth) Downeast Community Partners is feeling the warmth today from Versant Power. The utility recently donated $20K for THAW – The Heating and Warmth fund that helps folks in Hancock and Washington Counties stay warm during the long winter months. The THAW fund is entirely donor funded, often helping older Mainers on fixed incomes. DCP will begin accepting applications for THAW fund assistance on November 1. And if you’d like to donate to the fund, you can visit downeast community partners dot org.
(Ellsworth) Downeast Community Partners operates THAW – The Heating and Warmth fund – each year to help Mainers in Hancock and Washington Counties stay warm during the long winter months. But they can only help as long as funds are available, and THAW is totally dependent on donors. Enter Versant Power, who recently contributed $20,000 to the fund. Versant President John Flynn said the utility was happy to contribute to help DCP keep more homes warm this winter. DCP will begin accepting applications for THAW fund assistance on November 1. And if YOU’D like to donate, you can do that at downeast community partners dot org.
Training Offered for Seasonal Park Employees
(ANP) Acadia National Park is offering free federal resume workshops for those applying to work as seasonal employees at the park. They say applying for a federal job is different from applying in nearly every other industry, and the process can be daunting for first-time applicants. The first session is Thursday. We’ve posted the dates and times of the workshops – all of which are in-person as well as online – on our Star 97.7 FB page.
(ANP) Want to work seasonally at Acadia National Park? The park advises applying for a federal job is different from applying in nearly every other industry, and the process can be daunting for first-time applicants. So they’re offering a series of free federal resume workshops. The first session is this Thursday. We’ve posted the dates and times of the workshops – all of which are in-person as well as online – on our Star 97.7 FB page.
SCEC to Expand Small Business Services in Washington County.
(Machias) The Sunrise County Economic Council has been awarded $541,000 to expand small business services in Washington County. The award comes through the US Small Business Administration and will fund expanded technical assistance, training, startup incubator and accelerator programs, networking events, and tech support for Washington County startups and small businesses.
(Machias) A big boost for the Sunrise County Economic Council and for startups and small businesses in Washington County. SCEC has been awarded $541,000 through the US Small Business Administration. The SCEC Small Business & Entrepreneurship Team, based out of the MaineStreet Business Building in Machias, will use the funds to offer both in-person and virtual support services, advising, and learning opportunities, including networking events, training, and tech support for Washington County startups and small businesses.
Environment
Acadia Hawk Watch
(ANP) The annual Acadia Hawk Watch gets underway this morning. Each day from now into November, counters, rangers, and volunteers will sit atop Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park and mark the raptors as they cross on their way south to find more food. The crews will identify, count and record the raptors, a joint venture of the Park and the Schoodic Institute and Friends of Acadia. In the past quarter century, the watchers have tallied more than 71,000 birds of prey over Cadillac Mountain, contributing to the science, research, and conversation of the fascinating birds. Follow their findings at hawk watch dot org.
(ANP) They’ll be watching like hawks, as they watch FOR hawks. The annual Acadia Hawk Watch gets underway this morning. Each day between 9 and 2 from now into November, counters, rangers, and volunteers will sit atop Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park and mark the raptors passing its summit on their way south to find more food. In the past quarter century, the watchers have tallied more than 71,000 birds of prey over Cadillac Mountain, contributing to the science, research, and conversation of the fascinating birds. Follow their findings at hawk watch dot org.
Infrastructure
More Ellsworth Road Construction
(Ellsworth) Don’t shoot the messenger – or the folks trying to get all those road projects done while the good weather lasts. Look for two additional road work projects today in Ellsworth, besides the four already listed this week. These two are not by Ellsworth Public Works. C.A. Newcomb will repair the guardrail on Myrick Street by WalMart today – that lane will be closed while crews are working. Also today, a section of State Street will be reduced to one lane so E.L. Shea can access the sewer main for a construction project – that location is approximately across the street from the Knowlton Park end of Shore Road. We’ve listed those along with the other road projects in Ellsworth this week on our Star 97.7 FB page.
(Ellsworth) Two additional road projects today in Ellsworth. C.A. Newcomb will repair the guardrail on Myrick Street by WalMart today – that lane will be closed while crews are working. Also today, a section of State Street will be reduced to one lane so E.L. Shea can access the sewer main for a construction project – that location is approximately across the street from the Knowlton Park end of Shore Road. We’ve listed those along with the other road projects this week on our Star 97.7 FB page. Take a deep breath … and please be cautious and courteous in those construction areas.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Lesley Robinson Stepping Down from Comfort Cases
(Hancock) We hate making this announcement, because she’ll be irreplaceable. But Lesley Robinson is stepping down as Maine’s coordinator of Comfort Cases, the organization that provides brand new backpacks filled with new pajamas, a book, a stuffed animal and more, in order to make a child’s transition into foster care less frightening. Lesley has touched countless lives through her tireless work – both those of foster children and parents and the volunteers with whom she’s worked. Here, she says, is what’s really important to know – the work is ongoing, and hopefully, your donations will be as well. Find more information on how you can help on our Star 97.7 FB page. And Lesley, thank you – your “retirement” from Comfort Cases is well earned, and your work has been invaluable.
(Hancock) She’s served tirelessly for years, providing comfort to countless children transitioning into foster care through Comfort Cases here in Maine. Now, it’s time for Lesley Robinson to step aside and let someone else carry on the work of providing brand new backpacks filled with new pajamas, a book, a stuffed animal and more, in order to make a child’s transition into foster care less frightening. Lesley tells Star 97.7, the important thing to know is the work is ongoing, and your donations can be as well! We’ve posted that information on our Star 97.7 FB page. And a huge thank you to you, Lesley, for the lives you’ve enriched through your tireless work.
Northern Light Back with New Fundraising Event
(Ellsworth) After so much was paused during the pandemic, Northern Light Health is happy to be back with a new signature fundraising event this year. Dubbed “The 56er”, the Maine Coast Mixer will support the hospital’s “Building on a Promise” capital campaign. The event is planned for Friday, September 27th, during Autumn Gold at the Woodlawn Museum. For tickets, visit northern light health dot org.
(Ellsworth) Northern Light Health will be part of Autumn Gold this year with their new signature fundraising event at Woodlawn. Dubbed “The 56er”, the Maine Coast Mixer will support the hospital’s “Building on a Promise” capital campaign. The event is planned for Friday, September 27th, beginning at 6 p.m.. For tickets or more information, visit northern light health dot org.
Sports
Red Sox lose to the Blue Jays 7-3.
Basketball phenom Cooper Flagg has signed a shoe deal with New Balance. The athletic shoe company has a factory in Skowhegan, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Flagg’s hometown of Newport. Sports Illustrated reports Flagg is a virtual lock to be the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.