Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Missing Cushing Man’s Body Found
(Cushing) The search for a missing Florida man ended on a tragic note Friday, when crews found the body of 83 yo Donald McBeth close to the shore off Gaunt Neck Road.in Cushing. McBeth, a seasonal resident of Cushing, was reported missing after he failed to show up for a family gathering. The Maine Marine Patrol reports members of the Cushing Fire Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office participated in the search, which included checking a house on Read Lane, along the edge of Hornbarn Cove. McBeth’s body was found about 8 p.m.by fire and EMS personnel and was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Clinton Shooting
(Clinton) A man was taken into custody and a woman transported to a hospital following a shooting on Hill Road in Clinton Saturday. 69 yo Andrew Fertig is charged with domestic violence elevated aggravated assault. According to the Clinton Maine Police Department, deputies were called to the home about 6 p.m. on a report a woman had been shot. She was taken to a hospital for treatment and is expected to survive. Fertig reportedly had been drinking heavily before the shooting. He’s being held in the Kennebec County Jail.
National Teen Driver Safety Week
(Undated) October 20 – 26 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Every year, more than 3300 Americans are killed by distracted drivers. The Governors Highway Safety Association tells Star 97.7, even though drivers KNOW using their devices is distracting and don’t like it when they see others using them, one in three admit to texting or emailing when driving. Experts say parents need to be positive role models, putting their phones down and explaining to children why it’s so important that they do so. GHSA has partnered with State Farm to create a new website that focuses on helping parents and caregivers educate kids to stay focused on the road. You can access that at generation distraction free dot org.
(Undated) This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Experts say we KNOW being on our devices is distracting; yet, one in three of us admits to being behind the wheel while texting and/or emailing. It’s an especially poor example for teens, who are young and inexperienced and often the most vulnerable to being on their phones while driving. The Governors Highway Safety Association has partnered with State Farm to create a website that offers tips for parents to talk with their children, no matter how old they are, a printable “spot the distraction” game for kids, and more resources at generation distraction free dot org. But, they say the most important thing we can do is set the example ourselves and put aside those cell phones and other distractions when we buckle up and hit the gas.
Child Care Providers Cited for Numerous Concerning Issues
(Maine) Instances of corporal punishment, a child located in a ditch by the road, guns waved around in front of little ones, and a worker yelling profanities at children. Those are just a few of the problems cited by regulators who visited childcare providers around the state. The issues and many others are reported in an analysis of thousands of records reviewed by The Maine Monitor and the Center for Public Integrity. Even more concerning … since 2021, the article states the state has not revoked a single child care license, despite reports confirmed by inspectors of facilities losing children and not realizing they were gone, and piles of garbage blocking exits. The article goes on to list numerous grievous violations; but says despite repeat violations, all the centers mentioned remain licensed and none has been fined.
(Maine) Childcare facilities have a lot to deal with; but when parents drop their little ones off, they expect at least a welcoming, clean, and safe environment. An analysis of thousands of records reviewed by The Maine Monitor and the Center for Public Integrity indicates many centers around the state are anything but. The analysis, reviewed last week in the Pen Bay Pilot, cites instances of corporal punishment, children being left unsupervised, and several facilities that were found to have unsecured ammunition or guns and ammunition stored together. Even more concerning, the article states since 2021, the state has not revoked a single childcare license, despite reports confirmed by inspectors of numerous grievous violations. All the centers mentioned in the article reportedly remain licensed, with none having been even so much as fined.
Economy
Struggling Walgreens Plans to Close 1200 Stores
(Axios) Walgreens last week announced plans to close some 1200 locations over the next three years. The chain, which has more than 12,000 stores worldwide, joins CVS and Rite-Aid in closing stores and making other changes as it shores up its business model, after a shift in customer habits that includes many switching to ordering prescriptions and other products online. Walgreens’s plan includes shrinking its retail footprint and revamping its front-of-store product mix, reflecting big chain pharmacies’ challenge to revive their core businesses amid sluggish demand, workforce crunches and shrinking prescription payments, according to Axios.
Northern Light Shakeup
(Bangor) Three high level executives out in as many days – the ongoing shakeup and changes at Northern Light Health continue to raise questions about the viability of the healthcare provider that all but holds a monopoly on hospitals in Downeast Maine. On Friday, Mike Smith’s role as Vice President of the health system and President of Northern Light Health Foundation was eliminated. That followed the departure of EMMC President Greg LaFrancois on Wednesday and President of Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville Tricia Costigan’s leaving on Thursday. A spokesperson Friday said Northern Light plans to outsource some 500 jobs to nationwide healthcare company Compass One. The Bangor Daily News reports the changes come a week after a credit rating agency downgraded its scores for Northern Light Health, citing ongoing financial losses.
(Bangor) Three key executives are out, and Northern Light says it plans to outsource some 500 jobs, as the healthcare giant continues to make decisions that indicate a perilous financial situation. The Bangor Daily News reports the changes come a week after a credit rating agency downgraded its scores for Northern Light Health, citing financial losses. Northern Light reportedly posted a $60M deficit at the end of the second quarter this year.
Ferry Numbers Up As More Travel Between Maine and Nova Scotia
(Bar Harbor) The number of passengers taking the CAT between Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia indicates smoother sailing for the ferry service. In its third season since returning to Bar Harbor this year, the ferry service showed an increase of about 30 percent over last year. Bay Ferries Limited, which operates the CAT, said the ferry service, which ended last week, recorded nearly 50K passengers and 20K vehicles – a jump of some 12,000 passengers and 5,000 vehicles over the 2023 season.
(Bar Harbor) Like much of the area’s tourist economy, the CAT ferry service between Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia is slowly making a comeback after the pandemic. In its third season since returning to Bar Harbor from a brief stint in Portland, the ferry service showed an increase in 2024 of 30% over last year. Bay Ferries Limited, which operates the CAT, said the ferry service, which ended last week, recorded nearly 50K passengers; a jump of some 12,000 passengers over the 2023 season.
Education
College of the Atlantic Tops List of Green Colleges
(Bar Harbor) College of the Atlantic once again is ranked as Number One nationally in the Princeton Review’s “Guide to Green Colleges”. It’s the ninth consecutive year COA has held the top spot. MaineBiz reports Colby College in Waterville dropped from the number two spot to number 11 this year. Others that made the list are Bates College in Lewiston at number 20, University of Maine Orono at 47, and Bowdoin, Saint Joseph’s, UMaine Farmington, and the University of New England also making the list.
(Bar Harbor) Eight Maine colleges and universities made this year’s rankings in Princeton Review’s “Guide to Green Colleges”. College of Atlantic topped the list nationally for the ninth consecutive year as the country’s greenest. MaineBiz reports COA was cited as being “exceptional” in its green distinctions. Also making the list, Colby College in Waterville dropped from last year’s number two spot to number 11 this year. Bates College, the University of Maine Orono, Bowdoin, Saint Joseph’s, UMaine Farmington, and the University of New England also made the list.
Health
Experts May Have Found “Smoking Gun” Underlying Long Covid
(Boston Globe) Scientists say they may have found a “smoking gun” underlying the effects of long Covid. The Boston Globe reports doctors have for years suspected one cause of the mysterious condition may be reservoirs of the virus that remain hidden in the patients’ bodies long after their acute infections have passed. Earlier this month, a research team led by Boston-area scientists unveiled a study that seem to suggest this is true for nearly half those suffering from the condition.
Drinking Study Incites Controversy
(Roll Call) Lawmakers and others are asking the Department of Health and Human Services to end a controversial study on alcohol and health that could inform the next round of US nutrition recommendations. The publication Roll Call reports, specifically, they’re taking issue with a study focused on underage drinking. HHS updates Dietary Guidelines for Americans every five years, with new guidelines for 2025 to 2030 to be published by the end of next year. The guidelines have long recommended Americans limit alcohol intake to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. But it’s unclear whether officials will recommend an even lower amount of alcohol in this round of updates, in light of research suggesting that no amount of drinking is safe.
MaineHealth Participating in Lyme Study
(Bangor) MaineHealth is collaborating with Tufts University School of Medicine in one of the largest studies of post-treatment Lyme disease in the country. The five-year study is funded with a grant from the National Institutes of Health in order to research why some patients fail to fully recover from the disease after standard courses of antibiotics. The Pen Bay Pilot reports MaineHealth will receive just over $3M over the life of the grant for its role in the study.
(Bangor) Midcoast residents are participating in a major Lyme disease study coordinated by MaineHealth, in conjunction with Tufts University. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the MaineHealth study consists of delivering a three-dose primary vaccination series at zero, two, and nine months. Participants then receive a booster dose about 12 months after the end of that primary series. As part of the study, the team plans to recruit a total of one thousand Lyme patients as soon as they receive their diagnosis and follow them over the course of a year.
Infrastructure
Ellsworth Road Work, Week of October 21
(Ellsworth) Upcoming road work in Ellsworth this week – Public Works will be replacing a culvert near the Harbor Park entrance on Water Street and at the end of Washington Street. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with alternating flow for most of the week. A complete road closure is expected for a brief period. Also, Iron Coast Construction will conduct night work at the intersection of Old Mill Road and Route 179, starting tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, and continuing into Wednesday morning. Traffic will be reduced to one lane during this time. The City asks motorists to please drive with caution in these areas and to expect possible delays. We’ve shared this information on our Star 97.7 FB page as well.
Energy Partnership Gets $65M Grant to Help with Grid Planning and Operation
(Bangor) The U.S. Department of Energy announced Friday that a Maine partnership, including the Maine Governor’s Energy Office, Versant Power and Central Maine Power, has been awarded a $65 million grant to help with grid planning and operation throughout the state. Versant says among other benefits, the project, known as Flexible Interconnections and Resilience for Maine, or FIRM, will help Versant and CMP improve grid management and enhance grid stability.
(Bangor) $65M will go a long way here in Maine when it comes to grid planning and operation throughout the state. The U.S. Department of Energy announced Friday that award will go to a Maine partnership that includes the Governor’s Energy Office, Versant Power, and Central Maine Power. Versant reports among other benefits, the project, known as Flexible Interconnections and Resilience for Maine, or FIRM, will help the state’s two major energy suppliers improve grid management and enhance grid stability.
Sports
The Mount Desert Island girls kicked off their postseason Saturday, posting a perfect score in the Penobscot Valley Conference Championship Meet. The team’s top five runners monopolized the first five places to win the Class B Meet in Houlton.
Bruins in Nashville Tuesday to skate against the Predators
The Celtics home tomorrow night against the NY Knicks
The Patriots came out strong with a 7-nothing lead in the first quarter, but it was all downhill after that. They lost to the Jaguars 32-16. It was the sixth consecutive loss for New England.
Congratulations to all the runners in yesterday’s MDI Marathon and Team Relay. Men’s Overall Marathon winner was Jake Shoemaker, with Leah Nook Frost finishing first for the Women.
The New York Liberty captured the first ever WNBA championship, beating the Minnesota Lynx in overtime of Game 5, 67-62.