Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Bar Harbor Fire
(Bar Harbor) Multiple departments responded to a fire Sunday at a structure located at 12 Stephens Lane, behind First National Bank in Bar Harbor. The SW Harbor Fire Department reports when crews arrived, the occupants were out of the building. They say they battled the blaze for several hours, reporting it was extremely difficult to extinguish as it was mostly in the second floor walls, ceilings, and floors of an older residence that had been converted to condominiums. Much of the work had to be done from the outside as parts of the second floor collapsed. Main Street was closed for several hours while firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control.
(Bar Harbor) Crews from multiple departments responded to a structure fire on Stephens Lane in Bar Harbor yesterday. The SW Harbor Fire Department reports everyone made it outside safely, except for a pet cat that perished. Firefighters reportedly had to battle the blaze largely from the outside after part of the second floor collapsed. They say the building was an older residence that had been converted to condominiums. No word yet on a cause. Main Street in Bar Harbor was closed for several hours while crews worked to bring that fire under control.
Belfast Domestic Violence Incident
(Belfast) Belfast police were called to the Gull Motel on Searsport Avenue last night on the report of a disturbance. When officers arrived to investigate, a woman came to the door and told them her boyfriend was hiding inside and was armed with a weapon. She told deputies he had recently been arrested for domestic violence against her, was released on bail and ordered to have no contact with her. Police were able to get the woman to safety, then worked until about 1:30 this morning negotiating with the suspect, 31 yo Jacob McFarland of Lincolnville. McFarland was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including Domestic Violence Assault. He’s scheduled to appear in court in April.
(Belfast) Belfast police last night were called to the Gull Motel on Searsport Avenue shortly after 8 p.m. on the report of a disturbance. Chief Robert Cormier tells Star 97.7, when officers arrived at the room, a woman answered the door and told them her boyfriend had taken her cell phone and over the course of three days threatened to kill her if she called police. She said he was hiding in the room and was armed and that he wanted to die by “suicide by cop”. Deputies were able to take the woman to safety, then negotiated with the suspect, 31 yo Jacob McFarland of Lincolnville, until about 1:30 this morning, when he was taken into custody without further incident. McFarland faces multiple charges, including Domestic Violence Assault. He’s scheduled to appear in court in April.
Men Charged with Swatting Home of Maine Secretary of State
(Portland) Two men have been charged with targeting the home of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows in a 2023 swatting incident. WGME reports the incident came after Bellows’s decision to remove President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot. The two suspects are from Romania and Serbia. Bellows was one of around 100 people around the country targeted by the two, who each face dozens of charges.
(Portland) A pair of suspects from Romania and Serbia has been charged with targeting the home of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows in a 2023 swatting incident. WGME reports Bellows was one of about 100 people across the U.S. targeted by the two, who now face dozens of charges each. Bellows says while effectively a hoax, swatting can cause real harm. She added with technology, it’s becoming a bigger problem in politics and other places, as well.
Local Politics
Mills, Trump Trade Barbs at Governors’ Meeting
(Washington, DC) It was the shot heard ‘round the world – or at least, it shot across social media, drawing cheers and jeers from Republicans and Democrats alike. At Thursday’s meeting of Governors in DC, President Trump fired the first shot, asking if Maine’s Governor was in the room. What followed was a back and forth, with Governor Janet Mills standing her ground on state policies she said were guided by the Maine Human Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on gender identity, while Trump threatened to withhold all federal funding over transgender student policies. Mills told the President she would see him in court, to which he fired back she’d seen her last political win.
(Washington, DC) Maine’s Governor Janet Mills and President Donald Trump exchanged tense words at Thursday’s meeting of Governors in Washington, DC. The back and forth centered on the rights of transgender students in Maine schools, which Mills defended, citing the Maine Human Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on gender identity. Trump then threatened to withhold all federal funding, to which the Governor replied she would see him in court.
Fallout From Mills/Trump Exchange
(Maine) Fallout from the exchange was swift, with Mills issuing a statement saying, “If the President attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of federal funding, my Administration and the Attorney General will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides.” The President wasted no time in launching an investigation into Maine schools, sending a letter to DOE Commissioner Pender Makin, asking federal agencies to interpret Title IX and investigate competition by transgender athletes. Closer to home, Republican lawmaker Laurel Libby of Auburn posted an unblurred photo of a student athlete she says is a biological male standing on a podium after winning a spot in a women’s event, and calling out the Maine Principals’ Association for what she called “failing our girls.”
(Maine) Reaction to the fiery exchange was swift. Governor Janet Mills issued a statement saying, “The State of Maine will not be intimidated by the President’s threats.” President Trump called for an investigation of Title IX and other school policies in Maine. Republican lawmaker Laurel Libby of Auburn posted an unblurred photo of a student athlete she says is a biological male standing on a podium after winning a spot in a women’s event, calling out the Maine Principals’ Association for what she called “failing our girls”. Even some Republican leaders pushed back against the post, while remaining steadfastly against transgender athletes being allowed to participate in women’s sports, while Democratic House Speaker Ryan Fecteau commented, “All kids, including transgender students deserve better than to be used as political fodder for internet bullies.”
Legislative Republicans Issue Statement on DEI Policies
(Augusta) Legislative Republicans, concerned parents, and others are responding to the state’s stand on DEI policies. Republican State Representative John Eder of Waterboro in a radio address said Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies IS a form of discrimination against students on the basis of race and is designed to stoke old racial divisions. Eder says DEI violates Title IX of the Civil Rights Act. He also called out Maine’s educational system, saying it is unacceptable that only 26% of Maine fourth graders are proficient in reading and 33% in math. Eder and other Republicans say the low rankings are what happen when core curriculum takes a backseat to DEI.
(Augusta) Legislative Republicans are defending their stance against DEI policies, blaming Maine’s low academic rankings on the teaching of “basics” taking a backseat to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In a radio address last week, Republican State Representative John Eder of Waterboro said DEI is a form of discrimination against students on the basis of race, designed to stoke old racial divisions. Eder says DEI violates Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, blaming such policies for what he calls unacceptable scores among Maine students – only 26% of Maine fourth graders are proficient in reading and 33% in math. Eder and other Republicans say the low rankings are what happen when core curriculum takes a backseat to DEI.
Infrastructure
Heart of Ellsworth Seeks Historic Preservation Consultant
(Ellsworth) Echoing from the walls of the Ellsworth Public Library, the Old Hancock County Sheriff’s Home and Jail, City Hall, The Grand Theater and elsewhere is an irreplaceable wealth of history. Heart of Ellsworth is looking for qualified consultants to participate in the historic preservation of Downtown Ellsworth. They’re seeking proposals to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Downtown Ellsworth Historic District, in order to preserve the city’s rich cultural heritage. The consultant will play a pivotal role in the quest to have downtown Ellsworth officially designated as a historic district, preserving its architectural legacy. Proposal deadline is March 14th. More details and submission guidelines are available at heart of ellsworth dot org.
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth’s historic district consists of close to 50 properties located across six and a half acres on four downtown streets. Heart of Ellsworth is planning to take the next step in preserving the city’s irreplaceable wealth of historic structures by seeking proposals to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination. In order to facilitate that, the nonprofit is seeking qualified consultants to participate in preserving the City’s rich cultural heritage. Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on March 14th. For more details and submission guidelines, visit heart of ellsworth dot org.
Bar Harbor Town Council Gives Green Light to Helipad
(Bar Harbor) The Bar Harbor Town Council last week gave LifeFlight of Maine the green light to build a helipad at the town’s athletic fields. The Mount Desert Islander reports Council voted unanimously to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the nonprofit air ambulance service. While LifeFlight has used the fields in the past, sometimes rainy conditions on the wet and muddy surface has resulted in less than ideal conditions for landing.
(Bar Harbor) Last year, LifeFlight of Maine performed nearly 3,000 transports for residents from 135 municipalities. Sixty nine of those were from Bar Harbor. Last week, the nonprofit “landed” unanimous approval from the Bar Harbor Town Council to build a helipad at the town’s athletic fields. The Mount Desert Islander reports the town has given the green light to entering a memorandum of understanding with the air ambulance service to support construction of the helipad.
I-95 Bangor Closure
(Bangor) If you’re headed to or through Bangor today, the Maine Department of Transportation says be aware of a lane closure on southbound I-95 where it passes over Broadway. The closure will run from 9 this morning until 3 this afternoon, with southbound traffic reduced to a single lane in that area in order to accommodate the setup of equipment and for worker safety.
(Bangor) I-95 southbound in Bangor where it crosses over Broadway will be down to one lane for much of the day today. The Maine Department of Transportation tells Star 97.7, the closure will affect traffic from 9 this morning until 3 this afternoon and is necessary to accommodate the setting up of equipment and for worker safety. They say northbound traffic will not be affected.
Sports
In high school basketball tournament action, Caribou moves on to face York in the Class B State Championship on Saturday. Caribou defeated defending champions Orono, who captured the past two Class B state championships, 41-40.
In high school basketball tournament play, the Hampden Academy girls got the win over Camden Hills 59-52 in double overtime in the Class A North regional championship. And from the “one to watch” files, keep an eye on Madawaska’s Quinn Pelletier. Pelletier scored a basket busting 43 points in the regional title game on Saturday. By the way, he’s only an eighth grader.
The Celtics shoot hoops with the Raptors tomorrow night in Toronto. The Bruins home against the Maple Leafs.