Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Rumford Man Arrested for Arson, Attempted Murder
(Rumford) Authorities have arrested a Rumford man and charged him with attempted murder, arson, and multiple other offenses. The State Fire Marshal’s Office joined the Rumford Fire Department on November 5th to fight a structure fire at 61 State Route 232. As a result of that fire and a related incident, 59 yo Billy Morvent was detained and taken to a hospital for treatment. After further investigation, the FMO last week placed Morvent under arrest. Morvent is charged with three counts of aggravated attempted murder, one count of arson, three counts of criminal threatening and one count of aggravated criminal mischief. The suspect remained in the hospital, but was expected to attend an arraignment hearing via video Friday afternoon.
(Rumford) A Rumford man was hospitalized and faces numerous charges stemming from a November 5th fire in Rumford. Public Information Officer Shannon Moss tells Star 97.7, crews responded to a structure fire at 61 State Route 232 earlier this month. As a result of that blaze and a related incident, 59 yo Billy Morvent was detained and taken to a hospital for treatment. After further investigation, the FMO last week placed Morvent under arrest. Morvent is charged with three counts of aggravated attempted murder, one count of arson, three counts of criminal threatening and one count of aggravated criminal mischief. He remains hospitalized but was expected to attend an arraignment hearing by video on Friday.
Searsmont Fire
(Searsmont) A Saturday afternoon fire damaged a control room at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the room, which operated one of two kilns, held computer equipment and controlled the heat and air and also held pipes from the boiler. It’s the second fire at the structure within the last year. Robbins employees were able to knock down initial flames and pull away lumber from beneath the structure. Firefighters from across Waldo County responded to the blaze, which was called in shortly after 1 p.m.. The fire appears to have been accidental.
Orland Fire Crews Respond to Woods Fire
(Orland) The Orland Fire Department had their trek cut out for them when responding to a woods fire shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday. Orland crews provided mutual aid to Bucksport, carrying in portable pumps, a hose, fuel and hand tools to extinguish a stubborn fire in the duff and root base a ways out on Thurston Pond. OFD personnel were on the scene for about four and a half hours.
Local Politics
Hancock County Courthouse Update
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth City Council and other city officials met last week to review an update on a possible location for the new Hancock County Courthouse. The original location on the Surry Road was met with a good deal of opposition by area homeowners, so the City put out a call for possible alternate locations. City Manager Charlie Pearce reports the Wardwell property behind Merrill Furniture on High Street continues to look to be the most promising alternative site. The Maine Judicial Branch has the final say on and will cover the cost of most of the $55M project, although building on the Wardwell property would mean the City will be on the hook for at least part of the cost of building an access road. The City is facing a January 15th deadline. That’s when the State Bond Council will meet on the matter to approve the project.
Golden Declared Winner in Race for Maine’s Second Congressional District
(Augusta) Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’s Office Friday declared Democrat Jared Golden the winner over Republican Austin Theriault in the race for Maine’s Second Congressional District. The contest went to a ranked choice voting runoff after no candidate in the three-way race that initially included write-in candidate Diana Merenda received more than 50% of the vote. The end result was extremely close, with Golden receiving 50.35% of the final count to Theriault’s 49.65%.
House Passes Social Security Fairness Act
(Washington, DC) The U.S. House last week overwhelmingly passed a bill that would ensure firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other public servants receive their full social security benefits. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by Maine’s Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democrat Sherrod Brown of Ohio. The bill would repeal two provisions of current law – the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which unfairly reduces the Social Security benefits teachers, park rangers, firefighters, law enforcement and other public sector workers and their families receive on the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned. The legislation now awaits consideration by the Senate.
(Washington, DC) Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, Teachers, and other Public Servants – including more than 25,000 Mainers – have unfairly been denied their full Social Security Benefits. That could finally change under a bill sponsored by Republican Senator Susan Collins and Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, a Democrat. The House last week overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act that would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two provisions of current law that unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits public employees have earned but do not receive. The legislation, which passed the House 327-75, now awaits consideration by the Senate.
Economy
Maine’s Last Cannery to Relocate
(Whiting) Maine’s last cannery has announced it is closing and moving those operations to Delaware. According to a press release, Looks Gourmet Food, a subsidiary of Bar Harbor Foods, was purchased by Sea Watch International in 2016 and has been operating out of a plant in Whiting. The cannery has about a dozen employees which will receive severance packages when the plant shuts down on December 14th. The facility in Whiting will continue to house the Bar Harbor office. Officials said there were no immediate plans to sell the facility.
Whole House Electric Heat Pump Use Expands in Maine
(Maine) Homeowners in Maine are warming to the state’s move to install electric heat pumps for the entire house, instead of for individual rooms. The Portland Press Herald reports homeowners are increasingly taking advantage of rebates of up to $10K. Efficiency Maine reports it issued 563 rebates for whole-home heat pumps in September, the most in a month since the program shifted to whole-home rebates a year ago. Efficiency Maine provides rebates to low-income households of up to 80% of a project’s cost, 60% for households with moderate incomes, and 40% for households of any income. A federal tax credit of $2,600 is also available.
Education
College and Career Prep Workshop Series Planned
(Cherryfield) Transitioning from high school to college or careers means one of life’s major changes. Maine Seacoast Mission is offering a series of workshops for high school and college students and their parents to help with that transition. The College and Career Preparation Workshop Series will be held online and in-person at the Downeast Campus and will cover topics such as life skills, wellness, and college and career exploration and preparation. We’ve posted information about the workshops – dates, times, and topics – on our Star 97.7 FB page.
(Cherryfield) Graduating from high school can be an exciting but challenging transition, as students move into the world of college and careers – a world of new opportunities and responsibilities. To help with that transition, Maine Seacoast Mission is offering a series of workshops for high school and college students and their parents. The College and Career Preparation Workshop Series will be held online and in-person at the Downeast Campus and will cover life skills, wellness, college and career exploration and preparation, and other related topics. We’ve posted information about the workshops – dates, times, and topics, along with Zoom links – on our Star 97.7 FB page.
Environment
Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens Update
(Blue Hill) An update on efforts by Blue Hill residents to preserve the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens, where a Kennebunk area developer has plans to build luxury homes. In a Planning Board Meeting last week, the board said they would be reviewing a report from the Department of Environmental Protection and selecting an engineering firm to review the project. The DEP suggested a number of plans to control erosion but reiterated they did not have any issues with the overall proposal. According to a post on the Save the Salt Pond FB page, the board continues to insist it will do a complete review of the project impacts, including the proposed driveways and building lots. The next meeting on the issue is set for December 11th.
Technology
Talking to Teens About Social Media
(Undated) Social media has benefits for teenagers – helping them learn new skills, create friendships and support systems. But it can also be challenging to navigate as a family. Star 97.7 asked Pediatrician Dr. Whitney Casares, who is also an author and mom of two young girls, what she sees as the top three concerns of parents when it comes to their kids using social media. (((InstaTeen 1 “…and these are concerns that I see day in and day out in my clinical practice, as well.” :18))). Stay tuned, we’ll have more about Instagram Teen Accounts and how you can utilize them coming up in our morning newscasts.
(Undated) Social media – it’s a way of life, especially for teens. But it’s also a concern for parents worried about what kids can be exposed and subjected to on social media. Instagram recently announced its new Teen Accounts. Pediatrician and mom of two Dr. Whitney Casares tells Star 97.7, Teen Accounts have built-in protections that automatically limit who can contact teens and the content they see, and also gives them ways to help manage their online time. (((InstaTeen 2 “…provide new opportunities to explore their interests.” :16))) Tens of millions of kids have automatically been placed by Instagram on Teen Accounts. In these private accounts, anyone under 16 needs a parent’s permission to make any of the settings less strict.
(Undated) Inappropriate content, predators, online safety – all major concerns, especially for teens and parents of teens in today’s social media world. Instagram has launched Teen Accounts, automatically enrolling tens of millions of under-16-year olds. Star 97.7 talked with Pediatrician Dr. Whitney Casares, who is also an author, spokesperson, and mom of two young girls, and asked her about some of the built in protections she loves most about these private accounts. (((InstaTeen 3 “…in places like reels or on the explorer page.” :22))). Dr. Casares says the accounts also have Sleep Mode enabled from 10 pm to 7 a.m., so notifications are silenced, and direct messages receive auto replies.
(Undated) Instagram recently launched Teen Accounts, automatically enrolling millions of teens under the age of 16 in those accounts that have built in safeguards. Pediatrician Dr. Whitney Casares regularly talks to teens and parents about such issues. Star 97.7 asked Dr. Casares how parents can best navigate conversations about balanced social media use. (((InstaTeen 4 “…that are as open and honest as possible.” :21))) Dr. Casares says she finds when families have these conversations, teens are not only more reasonable with social media use, but safer as well. To learn more, visit instagram dot com slash teen accounts.
Hannaford Back Online
(Undated) Hannaford announced on its website yesterday they’re fully back online after a multi-day cyber security incident. Hannaford To Go pickup and delivery orders can be placed as slots become available. The company apologized for the inconvenience and thanked everyone for their continued understanding. No details yet on a cause of that disruption. And a big thank you from us here at Star 97.7 for everyone who turned out at the Ellsworth Hannaford Saturday for the Ellsworth Rotary Club’s food drive for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. As always, our generous local communities stepped up and helped those in need.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Maine Lobsterman Movie Catches Mainers’ Interests
(Maine) A movie about a Maine lobsterman is proving to be a real catch for Maine’s smaller cinemas. MaineBiz reports “The Ghost Trap” is based on a K. Stephens’s novel about a young lobsterman forced to choose between right and wrong when his girlfriend suffers a traumatic head injury and a rival lobstering family sabotages his gear. The movie made its New England premier in July at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville and has seen strong box office sales since its November 1st release on streaming platforms and in select theatres.
Sports
The Patriots fall to the LA Rams 28-22
Celtics have the night off. They’ll be home against the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday as the NBA Cup continues.
Bruins home tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets
National News
(AP) An outbreak of E. coli has infected dozens of people who ate bagged organic carrots. One person died from the infection. The CDC says 39 people were infected, and 15 people were hospitalized in 18 states after eating organic whole and baby carrots sold by Grimmway Farms. The company has recalled the carrots. The recalled carrots included whole and baby organic carrots sold in bags under multiple brand names. While the carrots are no longer in stores, the CDC is encouraging consumers to check their refrigerators and throw away any carrots that fit the description. So far, no reports of any illness here in Maine.