Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Windham Man Turns Himself In for Shooting Dog
(Windham) A Windham man who reportedly shot a pet dog on a hiking trail Friday turned himself in over the weekend. The Maine Warden Service charged 51 yo Troy Hall with one count of shooting a domestic animal. The incident happened Friday in North Yarmouth when three people were walking their dogs on a marked trail in the Knights Pond Preserve. One of the dogs was about 20 feet ahead of the walkers when he was shot, allegedly by Hall. The Warden Service said Hall was wearing blaze orange and camouflage and had a brief encounter with the owners of the dog before he fled the scene. Operation Game Thief was offering a $2,000 reward for information on the shooter.
(Windham) The man who reportedly shot and killed a pet dog on a hiking trail in North Yarmouth Friday turned himself in to authorities Saturday morning. 51 yo Troy Hall of Windham is charged with one count of shooting a domestic animal. The Maine Warden Service says Hall was wearing blaze orange and camouflage when he came upon the dog who was walking on a marked trail in the Knights Pond Preserve, about 20 feet ahead of his owners and their friends who were also walking their dogs. Hall reportedly had a brief interaction with the dog’s owner before he fled the scene, which led Operation Game Thief to offer a reward for information on his identity and whereabouts. In a press release, IFW Commissioner Judy Camuso called the shooting “heinous and inexcusable”.
One Dead in Westbrook Shooting
(Westbrook) A man authorities say was wanted on an active felony warrant is dead, following a police-involved shooting Saturday in Westbrook. WMTW reports officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance between a woman and her son shortly before 3:30 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived at the Arlington Avenue residence, the son, identified as 34 yo Ryan Nichols, reportedly fled to a neighbor’s house, where they tried unsuccessfully to subdue him. Authorities say Nichols then came at police with a metal object and was shot dead at the scene. Per protocol, the two officers involved are on administrative leave, pending an investigation by the Attorney General’s office.
(Westbrook) An officer-involved shooting Saturday in Westbrook resulted in the death of a man police say was wanted on an active felony warrant. WMTW reports authorities responded to a home on Arlington Avenue shortly before 3:30 Saturday morning after receiving a call about a domestic disturbance between a woman and her son. The caller said the son had a mental illness. Upon arriving at the scene, officers say the son, 34 yo Ryan Nichols, fled to a neighbor’s house, where they tried unsuccessfully to subdue him. Nichols then reportedly came at police with a metal object and was shot dead at the scene. Per protocol, the two officers involved are on administrative leave, pending an investigation by the Attorney General’s office.
Baileyville Fire
(Baileyville) Neighbors helped rescue a pair of elderly residents from a house fire in Baileyville Saturday morning. WABI-TV reports multiple departments responded to the fire on Summit Street just before 9 a.m. The two occupants of the home were taken to a hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released. The home is expected to be a total loss. Officials are working to determine a cause of that fire.
(Baileyville) Fire officials are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Baileyville on Saturday. WABI-TV reports crews responded to the Summit Street home just before 9 a.m. Neighbors were able to rescue the pair of elderly residents who lived in the home. The two were taken to a hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released. The home is expected to be a total loss.
Hancock Business Destroyed by Fire
(Hancock) A Hancock business was destroyed by fire Friday afternoon. Multiple crews responded to a blaze at ABM Mechanical on Route One around 1 p.m. Friday. According to WABI-TV, Hancock Fire Chief Chris Holmes said the fire began on the left side of the building and traveled across the ceiling to the other end. Smoke and water heavily damaged the unburned end of the building. The business was closed at the time of the fire, and no one was injured in the blaze. The cause of that fire remains under investigation.
(Hancock) Traffic was slow going on Route One in Hancock Friday afternoon as multiple fire crews responded to a structure fire at ABM Mechanical. WABI-TV reports the Hancock Fire Department received a call about 1 p.m. Friday reporting a fully-involved fire at the facility. Hancock Fire Chief Chris Holmes said the fire began on the left side of the building and traveled across the ceiling to the other end. Smoke and water heavily damaged the unburned end of the building. The business was closed at the time of the fire, and no one was injured in the blaze, the cause of which remains under investigation.
Politics
Bangor Lawmaker Wants to Cap Property Taxes for Maine Seniors
(Augusta) A Bangor lawmaker wants to see a cap on property taxes for Maine seniors. The Bangor Daily News reports Democratic Senator Joe Baldacci submitted a proposed constitutional amendment ahead of next year’s legislative session that would place a 2 percent annual cap on property tax assessment increases for residents 65 and older. The law would apply only to primary residences. A popular program from Republican Trey Stewarat of Presque Isle that allowed older Mainers to freeze their property taxes at the previous year’s level was repealed last year because of its exponentially rising cost.
(Augusta) Rising taxes, especially those faced by older Mainers, high on the minds of state lawmakers. The Bangor Daily News reports Senator Joe Baldacci of Bangor, a Democrat, submitted a proposed constitutional amendment ahead of next year’s legislative session that would place a 2 percent annual cap on property tax assessment increases for residents 65 and older. The law would apply only to primary residences. A popular program from Republican Trey Stewart of Presque Isle that allowed older Mainers to freeze their property taxes at the previous year’s level was repealed last year because of its exponentially rising cost.
Environment
Heavy, Wet Snow Brings Power Outages, Accidents
(Maine) Heavy, wet snow blanketed parts of Maine with power outages and slick travel over the Thanksgiving holiday. The National Weather Service reports more than 10 inches of the white stuff fell in Farmington. Power outages affected multiple counties, with more than 70,000 without power at one point. Most folks were back online by Sunday morning.
(Maine) The Thanksgiving holiday brought turkey and stuffing, along with treacherous travel and power outages for many, as heavy, wet snow blanketed much of the state. Farmington saw more than 10 inches of the white stuff, with outages affecting folks from Kennebec to Aroostook Counties. Most folks were back online by Sunday morning.
Infrastructure
Ellsworth Road Work
(Ellsworth) Some road work in Ellsworth to tell you about this week. Today and Tuesday, a portion of Surry Road in front of the Black House field at Woodlawn will be down to one lane while highway crews repair a culvert. Then on Wednesday and Thursday, the end of Grant Street that connects to Main Street will be reduced to one lane, as highway crews patch a storm drain pipe. Also, the Maine Department of Transportation is planning to replace the Route 180 Reeds Brook Bridge in Ellsworth in the summer of 2027. While that’s a ways off, MDOT is currently inviting comments on the project through December 9th.
(Ellsworth) If you’re traveling the Surry Road in Ellsworth today or tomorrow, be aware that the road will be down to one lane in front of the Black House field at Woodlawn today and Tuesday so highway crews can repair a culvert. Other road work this week, on Wednesday and Thursday, the end of Grant Street that connects to Main Street will be reduced to one lane as highway crews patch a storm drain pipe. And a reminder most of the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park is now closed to vehicle traffic for the winter season.
Human Interest
Missing Luggage Items End up in Alabama Store
(CNN) If you caught a plane somewhere over the holiday, hopefully your luggage made it back home with you. If not, your items may end up at The Unclaimed Baggage Store in northeastern Alabama. CNN reports airlines typically spend three to four months trying to reunite lost suitcases with their owners; but if unsuccessful, they often sell the bags to Unclaimed Baggage. The store launched in 1970 after a friend who worked for Trailways bus service told the entrepreneur he had mountains of unclaimed baggage he didn’t know what to do with. In its 54 years in business, the Scottsboro store has seen everything from wedding dresses to wigs and sharks’ teeth to two live snakes, which were ultimately released humanely back into the wild.
(CNN) Hopefully if you checked a bag while traveling this past holiday, it made it back home along with you. If not, the contents may ultimately end up in Scottsboro, Alabama at The Unclaimed Baggage Store. CNN reports airlines typically spend three to four months trying to reunite lost luggage with their owners. If unsuccessful, the contents are often sold to the 50,000 square foot store that has become quite the tourist attraction and shopping hub. The store launched in 1970 after a friend who worked for Trailways bus service told the entrepreneur he had mountains of unclaimed baggage he didn’t know what to do with. Among the stranger items found in luggage – a suit of armor, a set of bagpipes, and a Gucci bag filled with Egyptian historical artifacts. Those and articles like them ended up being showcased in a small museum inside the store.
Christmas Activities
(Maine) The holiday season kicked off this past weekend with Small Business Saturday and the Ellsworth Tree Lighting. This year’s lights were switched on by the adorable two-year-old Sevy Owen, whose name was drawn from a host of entries. Jonesport held its annual parade Friday night, while the Sullivan tree lighting was Sunday. The Terwilliger Family Light Show at 21 Alexis Road in Ellsworth kicked off yesterday and runs various days and times through Christmas night. The walk-through light show at Woodlawn in Ellsworth opens Thursday, December 5th. The Milbridge Theatre and Community Arts Center has showings of the Polar Express and Elf planned. And the Grand in Ellsworth’s musical version of A Christmas Story opens December 13th. Plus, the Ellsworth Christmas Parade will light up the streets this Saturday, December 7th, beginning at 4 p.m.
(Maine) (SFX … it’s beginning to))) It sure is! Towns from Blue Hill to Ellsworth to Stonington have tons of activities planned for the holidays! Ellsworth kicked off its season with Small Business Saturday and the annual tree lighting at City Hall – next up the Christmas Light Parade on December 7th, beginning at 4 p.m.that evening. Woodlawn in Ellsworth’s walk-through light show opens this Thursday, December 5th, and the Terwilliger Family Light Show is running various nights and times at 21 Alexis Road in Ellsworth. Sullivan’s and Hancock’s gazebos are lit for the season, and the Milbridge Theatre and Community Arts Center has showings of Elf and The Polar Express planned. And, of course, The Grand in Ellsworth is always ready with a holiday favorite – this year, A Christmas Story, the musical, opens December 13th. Tickets at grand online dot org.
Sports
The Cavs got the best of the Celtics yesterday, beating Boston 115-111. Celtics host the Miami Heat tonight at TD Garden.
The Bruins beat the Candiens 6-3. Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
The Indianapolis Colts tripped up the Patriots on a brazen two-point conversion Sunday with just 12 seconds left on the clock. Final score 25-24.