Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Newburgh Man Missing, Found Dead
(Newburgh) A Newburgh man was found deceased last Thursday after he inadvertently became locked in a shed on his property. Family members reported the 73 yo missing when they were unable to contact him. After searching the residence, authorities discovered a small shed on the property and found the man dead inside. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office reports it appears the man entered the shed to reach frozen pipes and the door closed and latched behind him. They say because of mobility issues, the victim was unable to escape and likely died of exposure.
Fatal Explosion in Aroostook County
(Molunkus) A 66 yo man was killed Friday afternoon when a propane torch he was using at his Aroostook Road home in Molunkus came into contact with gases and exploded. Public Safety Officer Shannon Moss reports to Star 97.7, Kerry Holmes, the property owner, was using a propane torch to thaw a frozen water tank on a commercial truck. At some point, the torch flame went out and propane gas collected in and around the tank. A second torch being used is suspected of igniting the gases. Holmes was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.
Deer Isle Fatal Crash
(Deer Isle) A single vehicle crash claimed the life of a Deer Isle man early Friday morning. Deputies with the Hancock County Sheriff’s office were called to the crash scene on Sunset Road about 2:30 a.m..on January 17th. They say a 2012 Toyota Tacoma driven by 42 yo William Bulger was traveling North when his vehicle left the road, rolled, and struck a tree before coming to rest. Bulger died of injuries suffered in the crash. Authorities say speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors.
Bar Harbor Man Reaches Plea Deal in MDI Hit-and Run
(Bar Harbor) A Bar Harbor man has reached a plea deal with prosecutors for a case in which he reportedly ran over and killed a woman with his truck. The Bangor Daily News reports 32 yo John Holdsworth is expected to spend at least nine months in jail on felony convictions for driving to endanger and leaving the scene of an accident , according to court documents. Holdsworth is accused of running over 35 yo Amber Robbins of Tremont as he drove along Route 102 in SW Harbor on June 10, 2023. He did not stop at the scene and later told a friend he thought he might have hit a deer. Robbins body was found the next morning in a ditch on the side of the road. Following discovery of the body, Holdsworth contacted police to say he might have hit her while driving back to Bar Harbor after attending a party.
75 yo Man Rescued After Truck Breaks Through Ice on Echo Lake
(ANP) A 75 yo man driving a rented UHaul is lucky to be alive after the truck he was driving broke through the ice on Echo Lake in Mount Desert early Saturday morning. Authorities say it appears the elderly man was confused and not aware of where he was as he drove down the Ikes Point Road and onto the lake, breaking through about 1-2 inches of ice some 450 yards from shore. The incident happened around 4:45 a.m., and the driver was able to climb to the top of the truck and call 9-1-1. Rescuers say the man did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. The truck later broke further through the ice and was totally submerged. A Marine salvage company will work to remove the vehicle only after the ice is thicker and conditions safer to do so.
(ANP) A 75 yo man escaped death early Saturday morning when the UHaul truck he was driving broke through the ice on Echo Lake in Mount Desert. Authorities say it appears the man was confused and not aware of his location when he drove down the Ikes Point Road shortly before 5 a.m. and ended up driving across the lake. About 450 yards from shore, the truck broke through 1-2 inches of ice and became partially submerged. The victim was able to crawl to the top of the truck and call 9-1-1. Rescuers say the man did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. The truck later broke further through the ice and was totally submerged. A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Marine Resources says the truck will not be removed until the ice is thicker and safer for a marine salvage company to do so.
Marine Patrol Continues Search for Missing South Addison Fishermen
(South Addison) The Maine Marine Patrol continues searching for a pair of commercial fishermen from South Addison who were reported missing Saturday evening when they failed to return as expected. The men were transiting from Edmunds to South Addison when their vessel, the F/V Sudden Impact, hit rough seas and were attempting to reach Cutler to take refuge, but have not been seen or heard from. The two are identified as Chet Barrett and his son Aaron. The U.S. Coast Guard and local fishermen joined in the search that was postponed Saturday night due to poor visibility but that resumed Sunday morning.
*Update – the Coast Guard has suspended its search for the missing fishermen.
(South Addison) The Maine Marine Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and local fishermen spent part of Saturday night and all day Sunday searching for a pair of commercial fishermen from South Addison who were reported missing when they failed to return as expected. Chet Barrett and his son Aaron were transiting from Edmunds to South Addison when their boat, the F/V Sudden Impact, reportedly hit rough seas. At last report, the Barretts were attempting to reach Cutler to take refuge, but the men have not been heard from since. Authorities are asking the public to keep their eyes open for any signs of the men and/or their boat between Lubec and South Addison.
Local Politics
Ellsworth Hires Deputy City Manager
(Ellsworth) The City of Ellsworth is welcoming a new Deputy City Manager. Sara Devlin officially steps into the role on February 10th. The City says it received some 200 applications for the position. Devlin reportedly stood out for her extensive experience in grants acquisition and management and her proven ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders. Devlin comes to Ellsworth most recently from the Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System, where she served as Executive Director. City officials say she’ll work alongside City Manager Charlie Pearce and staff to establish a strong foundation for continued growth, focusing on sustainable infrastructure and policies that preserve Ellsworth’s character, while promoting development in the growing community.
(Ellsworth) A growing City means growing needs; and Ellsworth is recognizing that with the hiring of a new Deputy City Manager. Sara Devlin was tapped from a pool of some 200 applicants to work alongside City Manager Charlie Pearce and staff toward the city’s continued growth and development. She says she’s always worked under the guidance of a board or council and thrives in a team environment. Ellsworth holds a special place in her heart, she says, with memories that go back to days spent at her grandparents’ camp on Branch Lake. Her great-grandfather was an Ellsworth High School graduate. Devlin returned to the area in early 2020 after two decades in Portland and says she’s eager to deepen her engagement with the community and raise her family here in Ellsworth.
Trooper Overtime
(Augusta) The Portland Press Herald reports Maine State Police topped $10M in overtime payouts last year, setting another record. The agency paid about $8.5M in overtime to staff in 2023. Records show over the past few years, some troopers earned over $100,000 in overtime on top of their regular paychecks, taking home about $200,000 a year. Maine State Police have faced a critical shortage of troopers that caused them to roll back time spent in certain rural areas, especially, which has weighed on other law enforcement agencies that also face staff shortages.
Republicans Propose Repeal of Waiting Period for Firearms Purchases
(Augusta) Republicans are bringing forward a proposal to repeal a 72-hour waiting period on firearms purchases that was put into place last spring in the aftermath of the Lewiston tragedy. The Portland Press Herald reports the legislation is the subject of a federal lawsuit brought by opponents. The bill to repeal the waiting period rule is sponsored by Republican Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham and is co-sponsored by six other Republican lawmakers.
King Co-Sponsors Legislation to Help Hold Down Health Care Costs
(Washington, DC) With thousands of Mainers facing an average thousand-dollar premium increase, Senator Angus King is cosponsoring legislation to help people avoid such a dramatic spike in their healthcare costs. The Health Care Affordability Act would permanently extend the enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which increase the amount of financial assistance available to people buying their own health insurance. The credits, originally created under the Affordable Care Act, are set to expire at the end of this year, leaving more than 20 million Americans – including some 3,000 Mainers – facing the sudden increase in health insurance costs, if the program is not extended.
(Washington, DC) Thousands of Mainers could, on average, be facing a thousand dollar insurance premium increase after this year. That’s because an extension of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits is set to expire in December. The credits, which increase the amount of financial assistance available to those buying their own health insurance, were originally created under the Affordable Care Act. To offset such a dramatic spike, Senator Angus King is cosponsoring The Health Care Affordability Act. The legislation would permanently extend the enhanced Premium Tax Credits, preventing the spike in cost.
Economy
BHB&T Donates Matching Funds to Food Pantries
(Bar Harbor) Bar Harbor Bank and Trust is doing their part to make sure our local communities are well-fed. The bank recently donated $5,000 in matching funds to help support the efforts of five local food pantries working to improve food security for residents of Hancock County. In honor of Giving Tuesday, the Bank pledged to match dollar for dollar up to $5K in donations made to five pantries in the first two weeks of December. All five pantries raised more than a thousand dollars in donations to ensure receipt of the matching funds, including Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Bar Harbor Food Pantry, Common Good Soup Kitchen, Emmaus Homeless Shelter and the Schoodic Food Pantry.
(Bar Harbor) When it comes to beating food insecurity, local food pantries say they can “bank” on Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for support. In honor of Giving Tuesday, the Bank pledged to match dollar for dollar up to $5K in donations made to five pantries in the first two weeks of December. All five pantries raised more than a thousand dollars in donations to ensure receipt of the matching funds, including Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Bar Harbor Food Pantry, Common Good Soup Kitchen, Emmaus Homeless Shelter and the Schoodic Food Pantry. Bank VP Director of Community Giving, Jack Frost, said, “It is our honor to match the generosity of the members of our community who stepped up to make donations to our local food pantries.”
Nordic Aquafarms Drops Plans for Belfast Salmon Facility
(Belfast) Nordic Aquafarms said Friday it is giving up on plans to build a land-based salmon farm in Belfast. Brenda Chandler, Nordic’s U.S. CEO, told the Bangor Daily News the decision comes after long-fought legal challenges waged by opposition. The company said in a statement it had spent tens of millions of investment dollars and many years of planning and permitting the project, a $500M facility capable of producing 30K metric tons of Atlantic salmon per year in recirculating indoor tanks. Other communities, including Bucksport, welcomed proposals for land-based fish farms, but opponents of the Belfast plan waged an intense legal battle over a number of years, ending in Friday’s announcement.
Credit Rating Agency Gives Northern Light a Negative Outlook
(Bangor) A credit rating agency has given Bangor’s largest healthcare system a negative outlook, although it decided against a further downgrade to its credit rating. The Bangor Daily News reports Moody’s Ratings in October lowered Northern Light Health’s rating from Ba2 to Ba3, with the threat of a further downgrade. Last week, Moody’s said the rating will stay at Ba3. The outlook for the hospital system is reportedly negative because of the chance of more decline in liquidity and the slow pace of improvement. According to Moody’s, Northern Light needs to repay roughly $100M still outstanding from a large advance from Optum, a company used to outsource administrative jobs in 2023.
(Bangor) Moody’s Credit Rating Agency has given Bangor’s largest healthcare system a negative outlook, but its credit rating will remain at Ba3 after it was downgraded last October from Ba2. The Bangor Daily News reports a downgrade in ratings is possible in the future if the hospital system fails to generate positive cash flow in 2025 or in case of a projected decline in cash on hand to fewer than 45 days. Northern Light maintains a “dominant market position” across a wide section of the state with limited competition, which Moody’s cited as favorable. But it needs to repay roughly $100M still outstanding from a large advance from Optum, a company used to outsource administrative jobs in 2023, and is reportedly spending about $180M annually on travel providers, an increase of $100M since 2019.
Sports
Local high school basketball – a couple of afternoon games on this Martin Luther King, Jr. school holiday – the Washington Academy girls take on Presque Isle, and the Ellsworth Lady Eagles shoot hoops with Foxcroft Academy. This evening, it’s John Bapst against Old Town. On the boys’ side tonight, Sumner hits the hardwood against George Stevens, and the Jonesport-Beals Royals vs. the Machias Bulldogs.
The Bruins host the San Jose Sharks this afternoon at TD Garden.
The Celtics hit the hardwood against the Golden State Warriors.
Congratulations to the Ellsworth High School Cheerleaders – they took first place at this weekend’s Big East competition – the first competition of the season.
In Saturday night’s game against Boston College, Duke freshman Cooper Flagg had 28 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots to lead No. 3 Duke to an 88-63 win.