Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
MDMR Confirms Sunken Vessel That of Missing South Addison Fishermen
(South Addison) The Maine Department of Marine Resources has confirmed a vessel located in approximately 160 feet of water near Moose Cove in eastern Washington County is that of missing South Addison fishermen Chet Barrett and his son Aaron. Crews took advantage of slack weather Wednesday morning to utilize a remotely operated underwater vehicle, or ROV, equipped with sonar and a camera to observe the area. The family confirmed on FB yesterday the ROV recorded the presence of at least one body, as well. Although recovery was not possible Wednesday night, MMR says it will continue to work with family members to determine next steps as to whether recovery of the vessel is feasible. The vessel, Sudden Impact, was found in waters between the towns of Cutler and Lubec, an area known for dangerously strong tidal currents.
(South Addison) A remotely operated underwater vehicle, or ROV, equipped with sonar and a camera Wednesday confirmed a vessel sunken in 160 feet of water near Moose Cove in eastern Washington County is the F/V Sudden Impact. The boat with South Addison fishermen Chet Barrett and his son, Aaron, was transiting from Edmunds to South Addison Saturday when they hit rough seas and went down. A family member reported the men missing when they failed to return as expected. The family confirmed on FB Thursday the ROV also recorded the presence of a body near the sunken craft. The Maine Department of Marine Resources reports recovery was not possible Wednesday night, but they will continue to work with family members and others to determine next steps, including consulting with deep water salvage and recovery experts to determine the feasibility of a recovery effort.
Maine Gun Safety Coalition Turns in Signatures to Get Initiative on the Ballot
(Augusta) The Maine Gun Safety Coalition Thursday turned in more than 80,000 signatures collected over the past two months in support of the Safe Schools, Safe Communities initiative campaign. That means voters will have an opportunity in November to vote on Maine instituting Extreme Risk Protection Orders. They say ERPO’s empower family members to directly petition a court when a loved one is in crisis and may pose a threat to themselves or others. Through due process, a judge can temporarily limit someone’s access to deadly weapons. Under an ERPO law, both family members and law enforcement have more tools to intervene quickly before a crisis becomes a tragedy. Maine would join 21 other states and Washington, DC which currently have such laws.
(Augusta) Voters in November will have the opportunity to weigh in on the state enacting Extreme Risk Protection Orders. The Maine Gun Safety Coalition was in Augusta Thursday to turn in more than 80,000 signatures collected over the past two months in support of the Safe Schools, Safe Communities initiative campaign, enough to get the issue on the November ballot. ERPO’s empower family members to directly petition a court when a loved one is in crisis and may pose a threat to themselves or others. If passed, Maine would join 21 other states and Washington, DC in implementing the legislation.
Bangor Police Arrest Suspect in Multiple Convenience Store Robberies
(Bangor) Bangor police have arrested a suspect they believe to be the man connected to a recent string of convenience store robberies. WABI reports 23 yo Scott Dorn of Lincoln was wearing clothing matching the description of the suspect in all the robberies when he was arrested. The Irving on Broadway was robbed twice in the last two weeks; a robbery was also reported at the Big Apple on State Street. Dorn is also believed to have robbed the Circle K on Broadway Wednesday night. He was taken into custody after police say a vehicle matching a description of that of the robber was stopped on Griffin Road.
(Bangor) A 23 yo Lincoln man is under arrest in connection with a recent string of convenience store robberies in the Bangor area. Police took Scott Dorn into custody after a vehicle matching a description of that of the robber was stopped on Griffin Road. WABI reports Dorn is being held on one charge each of robbery and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon. The hold-ups include robberies at the Circle K on Broadway and at the Big Apple on State Street. The Irving on Broadway was also robbed twice in the last two weeks, with the robber displaying a knife during the thefts.
Local Politics
Washington County Lawmakers Applaud Testimony in Support of Separate DA
(Augusta) Washington County lawmakers are applauding a bipartisan effort to secure separate District Attorneys for Washington and Hancock Counties. Currently, DA Robert C. Granger serves both – in spite of the fact Washington County is among the State’s largest, covering more than 2500 square miles with a population of nearly 33,000. Multiple parties testified Wednesday in favor of the proposal, LD 16, including Democratic Senator Nichole Grohoski, Republican Senator Marianne Moore, and Washington County Manager Renee Gray. The change would not come at any additional cost to the counties. The only opposition came from a member of the ACLU, who alleged the change would mean MORE charges and MORE people going to jail instead of possible rehab. The same proposal last session made it all the way through both houses, but was then inexplicably skipped over and denied a vote.
(Augusta) Senators on both sides of the aisle this week testified in favor of having a separate District Attorney to serve Hancock and Washington Counties. The two counties are currently served by just one DA, Robert Granger. The proposal made it all the way through both Houses with bipartisan support in the last session, but was inexplicably skipped over and denied a final vote. The Legislature heard testimony in favor of LD 16 from Republican Senator Marianne Moore, Democratic Senator Nicole Grohoski, Washington County Manager Renee Gray and multiple State Representatives. The only opposition came from a representative from the ACLU, who argued having a separate prosecutor would basically mean more prosecutions. A separate prosecutor would not mean additional cost to the Counties.
Economy
Six Million Awarded for Targeted Economic Projects in Maine
(Maine) The City of Bangor will receive $500,000 to support the Central Kitchen, a shared-use commercial kitchen incubator for start-up businesses to prepare, package, and market local food products. The Passamaquoddy Tribe in Washington County will use its $250K to rehabilitate the Eastern Surplus Superfund and Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative sites and to restore and rewild an ancestral village on the shores of Meddybemps Lake. Those are two of ten statewide targeted economic development projects that will share more than $6M to support projects aimed at strengthening economic opportunity across five Maine counties. The monies are awarded through the Northern Border Regional Commission’s Catalyst and Forest Economy Programs.
(Maine) The Passamaquoddy Tribe in Washington County will receive $250K to rehabilitate the Eastern Surplus Superfund and Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative sites and to restore and rewild an ancestral village on the shores of Meddybemps Lake. In Bangor, $500K will support the Central Kitchen, a shared-use commercial kitchen incubator for start-up businesses to prepare, package and market local food products. The projects are two of ten across five Maine counties that will share more than $6M for targeted economic development. The monies are awarded through the Northern Border Regional Commission’s Catalyst and Forest Economy Programs.
Spending Up This Holiday Season
(Maine) We spent some money this past holiday season – about 4% more than in 2023. MaineBiz reports the 2024 holiday season was more Santa than Grinch for Maine retailers , which was in line with national consumer spending trends. That’s according to the head of the Retail Association of Maine. Maine sales tax receipts won’t be available until mid February, but U.S. Census Bureau data released last week showed core retail sales nationally brought in more than $994B, an increase over the previous year that the National Retail Federation called “unexpectedly high”.
(Maine) Mainers closed out 2024 with a holiday gift to retailers. MaineBiz reports the 2024 holiday season saw about 4% more spending in Maine than in 2023, and they say that’s in line with national consumer spending trends. The head of the Retail Association of Maine says Maine sales tax receipts won’t be available until the middle of next month, but U.S. Census Bureau data released last week showed nationally, core retail sales brought in more than $994B. The National Retail Federation called the increase over 2023 “unexpectedly high.”
Eastport Attracts Cruise Ships
(Eastport) The City of Eastport is getting ready to welcome cruise ships this year, delivering more than three times the city’s population in passengers. The Quoddy Tides reports 23 ships are scheduled to dock in the deepwater harbor, with a total of 55,000 passengers. Chris Gardner, Executive Director of the Eastport Port Authority, said a first for Eastport will be ships docking in all months of the season. He noted 17 ships came in 2022, with all but two in port after mid-September. In 2025, ships will be visiting from April through October. While Bar Harbor and Portland may have more than one cruise ship on a particular day, Gardner said the Port Authority is committed to having just one vessel at a time. Gardner also said the City will be cautious about the impact of cruise ship visits on the downtown area, something with which Bar Harbor has struggled. He said larger ships with 5 to 6 thousand passengers would not be among those coming to Eastport.
(Eastport) Bar Harbor’s loss is turning out to be the City of Eastport’s gain. The Quoddy Tides reports 23 cruise ships are currently scheduled to dock in Eastport this year, with a total of 55,000 passengers – more than three times the city’s population. But Eastport has been diligent in planning the cruise ship visits so as not to overwhelm the City’s downtown. Chris Gardner, Executive Director of the Eastport Port Authority, said that while Portland and Bar Harbor may have more than one cruise ship on a particular day, the Port Authority is committed to having just one vessel at a time. He also noted large ships with 5 to 6 thousand passengers wouldn’t be among those docking in Eastport. In 2025, ships will be visiting Eastport from April through October, a change from past years that saw fewer ships visiting closer together. Gardner said in 2022, 17 ships came, and all but two were in port after mid-September.
Technology
Maine to Receive $24M Investment for Maine Broadband Expansion
(Washington, DC) The State of Maine is set to become more connected than ever with the receipt of $24.8M to expand broadband and digital skills training across Maine. The federal funding was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law under the Biden Administration and is part of Senator Angus King’s Digital Equity Act. The monies will ensure communities have access and skills to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of background or circumstances.
(Washington, DC) Citing the critical role access to high speed internet plays in today’s world, Senators Angus King and Susan Collins on Thursday applauded the $24.8M awarded the state to expand broadband and digital skills training across Maine. The funding was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law under the Biden Administration and is part of Senator Angus King’s Digital Equity Act. The funding will be used to ensure residents across the state have access to the digital world, as well as the skills needed to fully participate in that arena, regardless of background or circumstances.
Human Interest
Town of Franklin Celebrates 200th Anniversary
(Franklin) 2025 marks the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Franklin, and the village has a host of events planned to celebrate. The Bicentennial year kicks off with an Open House tomorrow from 1 to 3 at the Franklin Community Center – two centuries and a day after the town was officially incorporated. The Franklin Bicentennial Committee will host and share a slideshow of the 1975 sesquicentennial. Summer especially will be filled with events, including a parade planned for Saturday, July 19th. Groups and individuals are welcome to participate, with the parade theme “Franklin and Hancock County History”. Follow Franklin Maine Bicentennial on Facebook to stay updated.
Sports
The Bruins held the Senators scoreless last night, with a 2-zip win. The Bruins off tonight. They’ll be home Saturday against the Colorado Crusaders. The Celtics take on the Lakers in LA.
Local high school basketball last night, the George Stevens girls beat Narraguagus 45-40, and the Orono boys get the win over John Bapst 52-41.
Local high school basketball games scheduled this evening: The George Stevens boys hit the court against Dexter, and these next matchups all involve both the boys’ and girls’ teams – the Ellsworth Eagles shoot hoops with Caribou, MDI vs. Presque Isle, and the Deer Isle/Stonington Mariners hit the court against the Shead Tigers.