Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Contractor in Construction Site Death to Appeal Findings of OSHA
(Brownville) A Glenburn contractor whose company was reportedly cited by OSHA for a worker’s death last summer in Brownville says he will contest those findings. The U.S. Department of Labor says Clifford Lane, who owns Patriot Paving Group, ignored repeated warnings from an onsite expert that led to an unbraced retaining wall collapsing, killing Lane’s brother, 67 yo Stephen Lane. OSHA has slapped the company with five violations and has proposed a fine of more than $160,000. In a phone interview with the Portland Press Herald, Lane called the accusations bogus and untrue.
(Brownville) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reportedly cited a Glenburn contractor for five violations and is proposing a fine of more than $160,000 in relation to the collapse of a retaining wall in Brownville last June. The U.S. Department of Labor accuses Clifford Lane, owner of Patriot Paving Group, of ignoring repeated warnings from an onsite expert regarding concerns about an unbraced retaining wall on which they were working. The wall collapsed, killing Lane’s brother, 67 yo Stephen. In a phone interview, Lane reportedly called the accusations bogus and untrue and says he will contest the findings.
Court Orders Psych Evaluation for Woman Accused of Murdering Teen
(Sidney) The court has ordered a psychological evaluation for a woman accused of killing a 14 yo boy in Sidney earlier this month. Thirty-nine yo Megan McDonald made her initial court appearance on Friday, where Superior Court Justice Daniel Mitchell ordered that she undergo the assessment. Police say on December 20th, McDonald drove to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office to report an “incident” at her house. Authorities arrived to find the body of the teen outside the home. An autopsy confirmed the boy, who neighbors say was McDonald’s son, died of asphyxiation, manual strangulation, and sharp force injury. McDonald is being held without bail in the Kennebec County Jail.
(Sidney) A Superior Court Judge on Friday ordered a psychological evaluation for a Sidney woman charged with murder in the death of a 14 yo boy. On December 20th, 39 yo Megan McDonald drove to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office to report an “incident” at her house. Authorities arrived to find the body of the teen outside McDonald’s Summerhaven Road home. An autopsy confirmed the boy, who neighbors say was McDonald’s son, died of asphyxiation, manual strangulation, and sharp force injury. McDonald was arrested and charged later that day. She’s being held without bail in the Kennebec County Jail.
Local Politics
High Court Denies Access to Confidential Files in Child Death Cases
(Augusta) The Maine Supreme Court says a legislature’s watchdog committee cannot force the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to allow access to confidential files in high-profile child death cases. A 2020 study concluded Maine had the highest rate of child mistreatment in the nation, following multiple child deaths allegedly at the hands of parents. And just last week, dozens of staff called on Governor Janet Mills to replace DHHS’s new Executive Director, citing child safety and a lack of attention to staff concerns. The ruling ends a years-long dispute between the Mills’ administration and the Government Oversight Committee; but lawmakers plan to consider a new version of a bill when the legislature convenes in the new year that would give the oversight committee access to such records.
(Augusta) Maine’s highest court has ruled state records related to the high profile deaths of four children in 2021, allegedly at the hands of parents, are confidential and may not be released to lawmakers. Legislators had appealed to see the files as part of their work to understand and address serious issues related to child protective services. A 2020 study concluded Maine had the highest rate of child mistreatment in the nation. And just last week, dozens of staff called on Governor Janet Mills to replace DHHS’s new Executive Director, citing child safety and a lack of attention to staff concerns. According to The Portland Press Herald, the court said that while professional staff in the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, or OPEGA , should have full access to the DHHS records, the law does not grant that same access to the elected members of the committee.
Economy
Minimum Wage Increase
(Maine) Changes in pay are coming for many workers and employers beginning Wednesday. Maine’s minimum wage jumps 50 cents an hour to $14.65. The tip wage will rise to $7.33 an hour, meaning employees must receive at least that amount in direct cash wages from their employers and the minimum wage per hour when combined with tips. New pay thresholds for overtime pay also go into effect. Salaried employees who earn less than $58,656 a year will now be eligible for overtime pay – that’s up from just under $42,500 per year in 2024.
(Maine) Look for a little extra in your paycheck beginning Wednesday. Beginning January 1st, Maine’s minimum wage jumps to $14.65 – a 50 cent per hour increase. The tip wage will rise to $7.33 an hour, meaning employees must receive at least that amount in direct cash wages from their employers and the minimum wage per hour when combined with tips. New pay thresholds for overtime pay also go into effect. Salaried employees who earn less than $58,656 a year will now be eligible for overtime pay – that’s up from just under $42,500 per year in 2024.
Education
MSM Scholarship Application Period Opens
(Cherryfield) Maine Seacoast Mission will be accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year beginning on Wednesday, January 1st. Students can submit applications until Saturday, March 1st. Mission Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors and adults who have completed the HiSET or GED, and who live in Washington or Hancock County, or on an outer island served by the Mission. Scholarships are available for individuals entering trade, technical, two- and four-year colleges. Apply at seacoast mission dot org.
(Cherryfield) If you live in Hancock or Washington County and are headed for college or a trade school in the 2025-26 academic year, you’re invited to apply for a Maine Seacoast Mission scholarship. Applications will be accepted beginning Wednesday, January 1 until Saturday, March 1st. Mission Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors and adults who have completed the HiSET or GED, and who live in Washington or Hancock County, or on an outer island served by the Mission. Scholarships are available for individuals entering trade, technical, two- and four-year colleges. Apply at seacoast mission dot org.
Environment
Ultra-Rare Lobster Makes Worldwide Headlines
(Blue Hill) An ultra-rare lobster who now calls the Shaw Institute in Blue Hill home is making headlines worldwide. From the New York Post to the UK’s Daily Mail, readers have become enamored with Arnold Clawmer, an extremely rare, split-colored lobster. Arnold was first spotted at the Milbridge Shop and Save and first went to the Bar Harbor Oceanarium and then on to Blue Hill. About 1 in 50 million lobsters have such split coloring, the result of the fusion of two fertilized eggs during development. And while that is certainly rare, the Seacoast Science Center reports albino and cotton candy lobsters are even more unusual, with just one in a hundred million.
(Blue Hill) Not a split personality, but a rare, split-COLORED lobster has found his forever home in a touch tank at the Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, a research center dedicated to the science of improving human and ecological health. Arnold Clawmer, as he’s been dubbed, first scored a hole-in-one when he was spotted at the Milbridge Shop and Save. As such colorations only appear in about 1 in 50 million lobsters, Arnold found himself first teed up at the touch tank at Bar Harbor’s Oceanarium, before making the scoreboard at the Shaw Institute. The rare crustacean’s story has been driven by publications such as The New York Post and the UK’s Daily Mail. Guess that’s just par for the course when you’re such a rare find.
Wildlife Corridor Could Help Prevent Crashes
(Caribou) In the two decades leading up to 2023, there were 127 crashes involving wildlife on a short, two-mile stretch along Route 1 in Caribou. MDOT officials are hoping a $9.3M federal grant will not only reduce that number, but also help conserve a species of trout in a nearby brook. The Portland Press Herald reports the money will go toward replacing two older, narrow culverts that run under Routes 1 and 164. At least one culvert will be replaced with a pre-cast concrete arch that will include a concrete tunnel with a simulated natural stream and a raised shelf large enough and tall enough to support moose and deer. Details of the plan for Route 1 are still in development, with design slated to kick off a year from next May.
(Caribou) In just the past two decades, a short, two-mile stretch of road near Caribou has seen more than 127 deer/moose/vehicle collisions. The road crosses two old and narrow culverts that run beneath Routes 1 and 164, hindering the passage of trout and drawing wildlife to drink and then attempt to cross the road. The Maine Department of Transportation is hoping a $9.3M federal grant and other monies can be used to alleviate the issue. The Portland Press Herald reports at least one culvert will be replaced with a pre-cast concrete arch that will include a concrete tunnel with a simulated natural stream and a raised shelf large enough and tall enough to support moose and deer. Details of the plan for Route 1 are still in development, with design slated to kick off a year from next May.
Health
Institute Receives Grant to Improve Tribal Child Welfare
(Portland) A $21M federal grant will help improve tribal child welfare services here in Maine and across the country. MaineBiz reports the gift is the largest ever received by the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine. The funding will establish the National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement – a program dedicated to fostering systemic, sustainable improvements to tribal child welfare services across Indian Country, not only here in Maine but nationwide.
(Portland) Technical assistance tailored to the needs of individual tribes; peer services and training opportunities for tribal child welfare professionals, and technical assistance aligned with Tribal customs, traditions, and beliefs. Those are some of the goals of the soon-to-be-formed National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement. MaineBiz reports the program will be funded by a $21M federal grant to the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine. The Institute will partner with other organizations across the country to spearhead the five year project that will be dedicated to fostering systemic, sustainable improvements to tribal child welfare services across Indian Country in Maine and nationwide.
Infrastructure
Iberdola Completes CMP Acquisition
(Maine) Spanish energy company Iberdola has completed its acquisition of Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power. The $2.5B deal was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and makes Avangrid a private company. That exempts the utility umbrella from filing certain financial records with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Maine Public Utilities Commission will reportedly still retain broad regulatory power over CMP.
(Maine) Central Maine Power’s parent company, Avangrid, has been acquired by Spanish energy company Iberdola. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the $2.5B deal, which makes Avangrid a private company. That status exempts Avangrid from having to file certain financial records with the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the Maine Public Utilities Commission will reportedly still retain broad regulatory power over CMP.
Sports
Local high school basketball: this afternoon, the WA Lady Raiders take on Narraguagus, for the boys, the Shead Tigers hit the court against the Machias Bulldogs. And the Deer Isle/Stonington boys and girls take on Bangor Christian.
This evening, these girls games scheduled: the Ellsworth Eagles shoot hoops with Houlton, Machias takes on the Woodland Dragons, and the MDI Trojans on the hardwood against Hermon. Boys’ games this evening, the Jonesport-Beals Royals meeting Woodland, GSA vs. Narraguagus, the Sumner tigers take on Mattanawcook, and Central on the court against the Searsport Vikings.
The Pacers beat the Celtics yesterday 123-114; Celtics vs. Raptors in Boston on Tuesday.
Bruins in Washington Tuesday for a game against the Capitals.