Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Maine’s High Court Upholds Sentence of Man Who Killed Girlfriend at ANP
(Portland) Convicted killer Raymond Lester won’t be eligible for release until 2063 at the earliest. On Tuesday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld the sentence of the Portland man found guilty of running down and killing his girlfriend on the campus of the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park in 2022. The high court rejected the 38 yo Lester’s argument that the court’s jury weighed too heavily in favor of the state and erred in sentencing him to 48 years.
(Portland) A Portland man who was found guilty of running down his girlfriend with his BMW on the Schoodic Institute Campus at Acadia National Park in 2022 won’t be eligible for release until 2063 at the earliest. On Tuesday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld the sentence of 38 yo Lester Raymond. Raymond had argued the court’s jury weighed too heavily in favor of the state and erred in sentencing him to 48 years.
Maine State Police Uncover Stolen Camper and Shed
(Searsport) Maine State Police uncovered a stolen camper and two stolen sheds during a weekend investigation in Searsport. Maine State News reports officers interviewed Craig Thomas at his Skinner Pit Road residence and discovered a Hampton Crossroads Trailer valued at $18K parked in plain sight behind Thomas’s residence. The camper was identified as one stolen in 2024. Two stolen sheds were also found on the property. Skinner reportedly admitted to using his employer’s heavy equipment to steal the two sheds. Thomas was taken to the Waldo County Jail for outstanding warrants for home repair fraud. The owners of Skinner’s Pit are not implicated in the thefts.
(Searsport) An investigation that led Maine State Police to a property in Searsport also led to the discovery of a stolen camper and two stolen sheds. According to Maine State News, troopers interviewed Craig Thomas at his Skinner Pit Road home and discovered a Hampton Crossroads Trailer that was reported stolen last year parked in plain sight behind Skinner’s residence. Authorities also discovered two stolen sheds on the property, which Thomas admitted moving with his employer’s heavy equipment during a previous snowstorm. Thomas was booked into the Waldo County Jail on outstanding warrants for home repair fraud. The owners of Skinner’s Pit are not implicated in the thefts.
MDI Man Sentenced for Hunting Violations
(MDI) An MDI man has been sentenced for hunting violations. The Bangor Daily News reports 51 yo Benjamin Hamor of Mount Desert was ordered to pay more than $11K in fines and related charges, according to court documents. Some of the alleged violations were committed on the island, where hunting is prohibited by state law, while others reportedly occurred in Hancock, Lamoine, Ellsworth and Surry. Hamor earlier this year pleaded guilty to 21 criminal charges and two civil charges, all of which stem from 2020, in exchange for the state dismissing the remaining counts.
(MDI) An MDI man has been ordered to pay more than $11K in fines and related charges for hunting violations going back to 2020, according to court documents. The Bangor Daily news reports 51 yo Benjamin Hamor of Mount Desert pleaded guilty earlier this year to 21 criminal charges and two civil charges, in exchange for the state dismissing the remaining counts. The alleged violations reportedly took place on MDI, where the state prohibits hunting, as well as in Ellsworth, Lamoine, and Surry.
Local Politics
Dems Begin Pushing Through Short Term Budget
(Augusta) The Maine House on Tuesday passed the short term budget that fills a $118M MaineCare funding gap. The budget passed along a 75-68 party line vote. Legislators say it will likely be approved in the Senate next week. Democratic lawmakers previously held off on giving the supplemental budget final approval because of a lack of Republican support. The Bangor Daily News reports the short-term plan will take at least 90 more days to become law because it was passed by a simple majority. In other legislative news, the Maine House voted to censure Republican Representative Laurel Libby for posting the picture and name of a transgender athlete, possibly compromising the student’s safety. House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham reportedly calling it a “sham censure”.
(Augusta) Despite a lack of support from Republicans, Democrats on Tuesday pushed through the short-term budget that fills a $118M MaineCare funding gap. The budget passed along a party line vote, 75-68, with Senate approval expected next week. Democratic lawmakers previously held off on giving the supplemental budget final approval because of a lack of Republican support. The Bangor Daily News reports the short-term plan will take at least 90 more days to become law because it was passed by a simple majority, resulting in a delay of MaineCare payments to hospitals and healthcare providers. Also on Tuesday, the House voted to censure Republican Representative Laurel Libby of Auburn for posting the picture and name of a trans athlete on social media, sparking concerns for the student’s safety. House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham said the censure motion “makes a mockery of the censure process.”
King Challenges Defense Nominee to Justify Looming Firings
(Washington, DC) Senator Angus King was back on the Senate floor Tuesday. In a tense exchange during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, King pressed Stephen Feinberg, nominee for Deputy Secretary of Defense, on whether he would support and institute what King called the continued arbitrary firings of officials across the DoD without coming up with a rational process that would not diminish national security programs. Senator King’s office says he has consistently sounded the alarm on what he called President Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution and critical functions of government.
(Washington, DC) A tense exchange on the Senate floor Tuesday, as Maine Independent Senator Angus King challenged Stephen Feinberg, nominee for Deputy Secretary of Defense. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, King pressed Feinberg on whether or not he would support and institute what he said were the continued arbitrary firings of officials across the DoD without coming up with a rational process that would not diminish national security programs. King said probationary employees who were on the chopping block can include those recently promoted or transferred from other departments and were not necessarily those the Trump Administration claims are “redundant” positions.
Legislation Would Give Hancock, Washington Counties Separate Prosecutors
(Augusta) A work session was held Monday in Augusta on a bill that would split Washington and Hancock counties into two different districts for those facing prosecution. One district attorney covers both counties right now. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Marianne Moore of Calais tells WABI the need is there due to back-logged cases and the size of the areas. This same bill passed both chambers a few years ago but was then pulled late in the process. District Attorney Robert Granger currently serves as Prosecutor for both counties.
(Augusta) Washington and Hancock Counties have long vied for separate prosecutors. A bill that would have secured that passed both the House and the Senate a few years back, but was then inexplicably allowed to die without a vote. This week in Augusta, the measure was back on the table. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Marianne Moore of Calais, said the need is there because of the number of back-logged cases and the size of the two counties. Proponents say the move would be at no additional cost to the two counties, both of which are currently served by District Attorney Robert Granger.
Economy
Ellsworth Finance Director Worked Through Budget Season Remotely
(Ellsworth) The City of Ellsworth has seen its share of turnover when it comes to Finance Directors. So when Nate Moore handed in his resignation in January, planning a move to North Carolina, the finance team asked if Moore could work remotely from his new home. That has allowed Moore to continue to oversee the recent budget, moving the City smoothly through the process. The Ellsworth American reports whether or not Moore will continue to work remotely is undetermined. Moore said the online work could be a trial run for future remote positions within the City, and that they’re in talks of offering more remote jobs in the future, or at least offering hybrid jobs.
(Ellsworth) There’s been a good deal of turnover in the Finance Department for the City of Ellsworth, so when the most recent Director, Nate Moore, turned in his resignation in January in order to move to North Carolina, the City got creative. Heading into budget season, the finance team asked City Manager Charlie Pearce if Moore could work remotely. The City agreed, and that has allowed Moore to see through the budget process and account reconciliations, according to the Ellsworth American. Whether or not Moore continues to work through the job remotely is still undetermined, but he says it could be a trial run for other jobs in the future, with an option of the City at least offering hybrid positions.
Budget Workshops Get Underway
(Ellsworth) Speaking of budget season, the City will be holding budget workshops for various departments during the month of March. We’ve shared the schedule on our Star 97.7 FB page. The first workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 13th and will include the City Clerk, Finance, Tax, County Tax, General Assistance, Assessing, Communications, Human Resources, and the Library.
(Ellsworth) Speaking of budget season, the City has scheduled a series of budget workshops coming up in March for various City departments and related entities that receive municipal funds. The first workshop is coming up March 13th. You can find a full schedule on the City’s FB page. We’ve also shared that on our Star 97.7 FB page.
Maine PFML Benefits Authority Holds Meeting for Public Feedback
(Augusta) About 20 people attended in person, while close to 400 watched on line Tuesday as the Maine Paid Family and Medical Benefits Authority held a public hearing to solicit comments on the implementation of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Authority Chair Maria Fox said they received both positive feedback and constructive comments from more than 30 folks who contributed. Fox said the Authority debriefed following the public comment period and prioritized issues to address in future meetings, as well as education outreach measures to be considered by the Maine Department of Labor.
(Augusta) As required by law, the Maine Paid Family and Medical Benefits Authority yesterday held a public hearing designed to gather feedback on the implementation of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. Authority Chair Maria Fox said about 20 people attended in person, with more than 370 watching online. Fox said feedback was both positive and constructive, and that the Authority debriefed following the meeting to prioritize issues to address in future meetings and to plan education outreach measures for the Maine Department of Labor to consider.
Sports
The Bruins lost to the Maple Leafs in overtime, 5-4. Bruins host the NY Islanders on Thursday.
The Celtics beat the Raptors last night 111-101. Celtics take on the Pistons tonight in Detroit.
Maine Maritime Academy star Evelyn Dagan set a school record for single-season three-pointers over the weekend, with 85 to her credit. Dagan graduated from George Stevens Academy.