Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
New State Fire Marshal Appointed
(Augusta) Waterville Fire Chief Shawn Esler will leave that position to become the new State Fire Marshal. WABI-TV reports Waterville City Manager Bryan Kaenrath surprised City Council this week with the announcement. Esler has been with the Department for 16 years, serving as chief since July 2018. His last day with the department will be October 3rd. Esler’s appointment to State Fire Marshal must now be reviewed by committee and then confirmed by the Maine State Senate.
Bangor Fire Department Gets New Leadership
(Bangor) The Bangor Fire Department will soon be under new leadership. WABI-TV reports Chief Tom Higgins plans to retire at the end of this month, after serving 34 years as a firefighter, the last nine and a half as Bangor’s Chief. Higgins says there’ve been hard days, but the good has far outweighed the bad. Higgins says he’ll continue as President of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association and on the Board of New England Fire Chiefs at least through next year.
Ellsworth Fatal Crash
(Ellsworth) Maine State Police investigating a fatal accident in Ellsworth involving a marked State Police Cruiser. Shortly after 7:30 Wednesday evening, Trooper Ryan Murry was parked in a gravel turnout off Route 180 in Ellsworth when his cruiser was struck by another vehicle. An initial investigation indicates 43-year old Jonathan Wood of Winter Harbor was traveling south on Route 180 when his 2008 Toyota Sienna crossed the roadway and traveled into the dirt turnout, striking Trooper Murry’s cruiser. Wood was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Trooper Murry sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
(Ellsworth) A Winter Harbor man died Wednesday night when his vehicle hit a Maine State Police cruiser. Public Information Officer Shannon Moss reports to Star 97.7, Trooper Ryan Murry was parked in a gravel turnout off Route 180 in Ellsworth shortly after 7:30 p.m. when his marked cruiser was hit by a vehicle driven by 43 yo Jonathan Wood. Authorities say Wood’s 2008 Toyota Sienna crossed the roadway, traveled into the dirt turnout, and struck Murry’s police car. Wood was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Trooper Murry sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Soccer Field Damaged
(Greenville/Bangor) Police say a Bangor man racked up several charges after crashing his truck at a soccer field Wednesday evening. WABI-TV reports 22-year old Charles Martin drove his truck onto the soccer field at Greenville Consolidated School, causing extensive damage to the field. Investigators say Martin’s truck flipped over onto its roof shortly before 10 Wednesday evening. The incident was discovered and reported Thursday morning. Martin was charged with aggravated criminal mischief, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and driving to endanger. Authorities say Martin has cooperated with investigators.
(Greenville/Bangor) A Bangor man got more than a red card when he drove onto a soccer field Wednesday night, flipped his truck, and caused extensive damage to the field. WABI reports around 10 Wednesday night, 22-year old Charles Martin drove his truck onto the soccer field at Greenville Consolidated School and ended up flipping the vehicle onto its roof. The incident was reported the following morning when school officials found the truck. Martin was charged with aggravated criminal mischief, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and driving to endanger. Authorities say Martin has cooperated with investigators.
Economy
Penobscot County ARPA Funding
(Bangor) When it comes to ARPA Funds, Penobscot County took the approach of, “Let’s ask the public.” Penobscot County Grant Manager Wendy Dana tells Star 97.7 they looked to the community for direction in determining areas of greatest need and how best to allocate the funds. (((ARPAPenob 1 “…and then going through that.” :19))). Penobscot County received approximately $29M in ARPA funding, virtually all of which has been allocated or applied for, and almost all of which went to support nonprofits that had lost out during the pandemic.
(Bangor) Penobscot County received approximately $29M in American Rescue Plan funding. Grant Manager Wendy Dana tells Star 97.7, after polling the community on the County’s most pressing needs, the monies virtually all went to non profits – the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, Eastern Area Agency on Aging, a program through the Millinocket Memorial Library to help people in the Katahdin region find resources … among others. Dana says just about $3M has not yet been specifically allocated, but … (((ARPAPenob 2 “…and that is open.” :20))). You can find a list of Penobscot County’s award recipients at Penobscot dash county dot net.
(Bangor) Penobscot County Grant Manager Wendy Dana tells Star 97.7, virtually all of the County’s $29M in ARPA funding was allocated to nonprofits. (((ARPAPenob 3 “…but they did change to non-profit.” :07))) Dana says the thinking was ARPA funding was to rescue those that struggled during the pandemic, that nonprofits suffered in that they had to close their doors, cutting off much-needed funding. And, she adds (((ARPAPenob 4 “…they’re the ones that have the hardest time getting funding.” :03)))
(Bangor) Where some counties felt ARPA funds should be used largely to save taxpayer dollars, virtually all of Penobscot County’s $29M in ARPA Funding went to nonprofits. Grant Manager Wendy Dana explains why. (((ARPAPenob 5 “…food pantries, we did a lot of things like that.” :29))) You can find a list of Penobscot County’s award recipients and how they plan to use the funds at Penobscot dash county dot net.
Natural Gas Prices Could Soar
(Maine) Natural gas prices could be going up – way up. The Bangor Daily News reports three interstate natural gas pipelines that serve Maine are seeking rate increases. While the pending requests are months away from being approved or denied, they come as lawmakers wrestle with helping Mainers facing the country’s tenth highest average electricity prices and newer fees from solar subsidies. If federal regulators approve the requests of the three pipelines, both retail electric and gas prices will rise.
(Maine) If requests by natural gas suppliers are approved by state regulators and lawmakers, Mainers could see natural gas prices soar. The Bangor Daily News reports three interstate natural gas suppliers that serve Maine are seeking rate increases. While the pending requests are months away from a decision, they come as lawmakers wrestle with helping customers facing the country’s tenth highest average electricity prices and newer fees from solar subsidies. If the requests of the three pipelines are approved, ratepayers would see increases in both retail electric and gas prices.
Environment
UMA Drones Assist in Toxic Spill Cleanup
(Augusta) Cleanup efforts of that toxic spill in Brunswick are up in the air – literally. Drones from the Uncrewed Aircraft Training program at the University of Maine Augusta are being used in cleanup efforts at the Brunswick Executive Airport since more than 1400 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam, or A-triple-F, mixed with 50,000 gallons of water was released on August 19. The foam is of particular concern as it contains PFAS, which are considered “forever chemicals”. Although such chemicals have been used in consumer products worldwide since the 1950s, they’re difficult to break down and can adversely affect health. The UMA drones have been monitoring the environment from the air, searching for evidence of foam and providing important information about its possible spread to nearby waterways.
(Augusta) Cleanup crews in Brunswick are getting a birds-eye view of the damage from that toxic spill. Since the August 19th catastrophe at the Brunswick Executive Airport, UMA drones have been monitoring the environment affected by the spill of A-triple-F foam from the air, searching for evidence of foam and providing important information about its possible spread to nearby waterways. The Uncrewed Aircraft Training program at the University is tasked with monitoring the environment, including tidal marshes, between the airport and Casco Bay, conducting daily aerial photography and looking for evidence of the foam’s spread. The foam is fluffy and extremely light, making it easily carried by the wind and possibly contaminating soil and water sites for miles.
Infrastructure
Machias Dike Still Crippled as Winter Storms Loom
(Machias) Few places were harder hit by last winter’s storms than the town of Machias. Flooding overwhelmed the low lying portion of the town, inundating the town office so badly, City Manager Bill Kitchen and the town office staff have had to permanently move to a new location. The Maine Monitor reports the biggest culprit is the crumbling Machias dike, which has exceeded base flood elevation eight times in the last eight years. The century old dike is reportedly eroding and badly in need of repair, even after 15 years of study and hearings with the Maine Department of Transportation. A public hearing originally scheduled for last spring, has been pushed back several times and now won’t happen until at least October. In the meantime, winter with another potentially devastating round of storms casts an ominous glance at Machias’s aging infrastructure.
(Machias) Last November, portions of the foundation of the aging Machias dike that connects Route One on either side of the Machias River, washed away. The Maine Monitor reports it was one of three floods in little more than as many months that overwhelmed the dike and much of the downtown, November’s deluge causing the Maine Department of Transportation to temporarily close the dike. That forced residents to make lengthy detours until a temporary span was erected. The century old dike reportedly continues to erode and remains badly in need of repair, even after 15 years of study and hearings with the Maine Department of Transportation. The Monitor reports a public hearing originally scheduled for last spring, has been pushed back several times and now won’t happen until at least October, just weeks before winter once again threatens devastation.
Technology
MDACF Launches New Online Tools
(Augusta) Two new online tools are available to help Maine communities plan for the future as they work through their comprehensive plan process. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has launched a StoryMap, offering a one-stop shop for essential data and maps needed to create comprehensive plans. In addition, the Maine Municipal, Regional & Statewide Plans platform provides a valuable resource for exploring existing plans across the state – including successful strategies, potential challenges, and insights to inform community planning efforts. Access the tools through MDACF.
(Augusta) Need help creating your community’s comprehensive plan? The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has launched two new online tools to help. The Maine Comprehensive Plan Data Portal and Mapping Services offers a one-stop shop for essential data and maps needed to create such plans. StoryMap serves as a blueprint for community development … guiding decisions on everything from infrastructure projects and policies to land use and economic growth. In addition, a second platform provides a central resource for exploring existing plans across the state to learn about successful strategies, potential challenges, and more. Access the online tools through MDACF.
Sports
The Red Sox back home at Fenway tonight to begin a weekend series against the White Sox.
The Patriots in Cleveland to tackle the Bengals Sunday.