Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
MSP Pursuit Ends in PIT Maneuver, Arrests
(West Gardiner) Maine State Police arrested a husband and wife Tuesday after they say the pair failed to stop for law enforcement in West Gardiner. According to police, about 1:30 yesterday afternoon, officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by 34 yo Pearle Thomas of Augusta. Thomas’s husband and passenger, 33 yo Zebbie Thomas of Charleston, reportedly has multiple active arrest warrants for felony robbery, aggravated assault, and violating conditions of release. Authorities say the couple has evaded law enforcement multiple times in past weeks. A pit maneuver was utilized, terminating the pursuit by law enforcement. The two were treated for minor injuries and were to be taken to the Kennebec County Jail, where both face multiple additional charges.
Searsport Home Fire
(Searsport) No persons were injured, but two family pets, a cat and a dog, died in a house fire in Searsport Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the home at 438 East Main Street around 12:30 yesterday. One of the occupants was home and was able to escape safely. It’s believed the fire started in the kitchen, although an exact cause has not been determined. The home is considered a total loss. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.
MSP Investigate Palermo Homicide, Missing Golden Retriever
(Palermo) Maine State Police are investigating a homicide they say occurred in Palermo on or before April 19th. Officers responded to Boots and Saddle Road for a welfare check about 10:30 last Saturday morning and found the body of a man outside a residence. Detectives determined the death to be suspicious. An autopsy confirmed 56 yo Bruso’s death was a homicide, but say there’s no known danger to the public. They say Bruso owned a golden retriever named Lenny who is missing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Augusta RCC.
Warren Fatal Fire
(Warren) The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fatal fire that occurred in the Knox County town of Warren on Monday. The Warren Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 259 Ridgewood Drive shortly after 10 a.m.. The fire destroyed an attached garage, and a body was found inside the residence, prompting the investigation. The victim’s body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine positive identity and a cause of death.
Suicide Prevention Barriers Go Up on Penobscot Narrows Bridge
(Bucksport) Workers this week began installing suicide prevention barriers along the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. The Bangor Daily News reports the bridge, which connects the towns of Prospect and Verona over the Penobscot River, has been the site of at least a dozen suicides since it was constructed in 2006. Advocates have been calling for a barrier for many years, using the example of Augusta’s Memorial Bridge. Since similar barriers were installed there 23 years ago there have been no suicides recorded, compared to 14 in the 23 years prior.
(Bucksport) No Bridge the Gap race in April this year, likely because of a race to save lives. The 5K and 10K races, which crossed the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, have been a favorite since the run’s inception in 2012. This year, crews are on the bridge installing suicide prevention barriers. The Bangor Daily News reports the bridge, which connects the towns of Prospect and Verona over the Penobscot River, has been the site of at least a dozen suicides since it was constructed in 2006. There have been no suicides in the 23 years since a similar barrier was installed on Augusta’s Memorial Bridge, compared to 14 in the 23 years before that barrier was added.
Local Politics
Washington County Commissioner Retires
(Machias) The passing of a torch today in Washington County. Longtime Commissioner John Crowley is retiring after serving for the past 26 years. Crowley says he’s stepping down for health reasons. Governor Janet Mills has appointed Courtney Hammond to carry out the remainder of Crowley’s term for District III. Hammond is a retired forest ranger and President of the Pleasant River Ambulance Board of Directors. He resides in Columbia Falls.
Economy
Amazon Will Not Show Tariff’s Cost Next to Products
(Undated) The White House was on the attack Tuesday after Amazon reportedly discussed displaying the exact cost of tariff-related price increases alongside all its products. The NYT reports the action would have emphasized to American consumers they were shouldering the cost of the tariffs, rather than China, as the President claimed. An Amazon spokesperson said although the idea was discussed, the policy would not be implemented.
Education
Versant Power Planetarium May
(Orono) We know it holds the Universe together. We know it makes up about a quarter of our Universe. But Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center, tells Star 97.7, dark matter still holds a good deal of mystery – it’s the subject of their Friday night programming during May. (((MayStars 1 “…that makes up about 25% of our Universe.” :21))) That’s Friday nights at 7 during May. Tickets at the door or at astro dot umaine dot e d u. This Friday is the last chance to see the night sky through the historic Clark telescope until September. The free observing sessions are at 8, weather permitting, following Friday night programming.
(Orono) Learning is always more effective when there’s a touch of fun and wonder, and the Versant Power Astronomy Center has all that and more. Director Shawn Laatsch tells Star 97.7, during May, families can enjoy a fast-paced full dome demonstration of lunar phases, eclipses, day and night, and other puzzling events viewed with the help of a curious Coyote who doesn’t quite get how it all works. (((MayStars 2 “…helps folks understand why those are there, too.” :18)) The 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon programming concludes with a live tour of the Maine sky and its beautiful constellations. Tickets at the door and at astro dot u maine dot edu.
(Orono) Mr. Blue Sky, Livin’ Thing, Straight and more. Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center, tells Star 97.7, Sunday night music shows at the Planetarium in May feature the music of ELO: Ticket to the Moon. (((MayStars 3 “…set to some stunning dome visuals, of course.” :10))) Music programs are designed for adults and happen every Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets at the door or at astro dot umaine dot edu.
Conners-Emerson Science Olympians Earn Bid to Nationals
(Bar Harbor) The Science Olympiad team from Conners Emerson Elementary crushed the competition at the state level tournament earlier this month, earning them a spot at Nationals next month. Science Olympiad is a STEM competition where students compete in 23 events to test their skills in math, writing, chemistry, and other areas. The Mount Desert Islander reports the two CES teams entered at this year’s competition finished first and second overall. They’ll be headed to the University of Nebraska on May 24th, but need to raise $10K to fund the trip. They’ve applied for grants, and there’s also a GoFundMe page should you like to help.
Top Genealogy Collection Thrives in Ellsworth
(Ellsworth) “If you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know who you are.” Those words have guided Charlene Clemens’ work since 1992, as she has built, expanded, and shared one of Maine’s most important genealogical collections. Clemens is the Cataloguer and Special Collections Manager at the Ellsworth Public Library and is dedicated to ensuring such knowledge is preserved and that researchers and the curious continue to receive high-quality genealogy services. The library’s collection is among the six most important in the state and is available during regular hours at the Ellsworth Public Library.
Infrastructure
207 Area Code Now Projected to Last Until 2045
(Maine) Maine’s singular 207 area code has gotten another extension. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator has released an updated forecast, extending the singular 207 to the first quarter of 2045. The update marks a significant 35-quarter extension from the previous forecast, which projected the single area code would be exhausted by the second quarter of 2036. NANPA attributed the revised projection to reduced demand for new numbers and regular engagement by the Maine Public Utilities Commission with telecommunications carriers to prevent unnecessary release of central office codes, which are the limited blocks of numbers within an area code.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Feldman Named Maine Volunteer of the Year
(Camden) A Camden man who tirelessly volunteers at AIO Food and Energy Assistance in Rockland and Midcoast Habitat for Humanity is Maine’s Volunteer of the Year for 2024. Governor Janet Mills presented David Feldman with the Governor’s Award for Service and Volunteerism this past weekend. AIO Executive Director Alan Kearl said David is known as Super Volunteer – serving more than 500 hours at the two non-profits last year. His wife, Felicia, contributes as well. David worked in construction in New York City before moving to Maine. He says, “I wasn’t born in Maine, but I got here as soon as I could.” Who could blame him?!
Carney Wins in Canada
(Canada) Mark Carney won a narrow victory over Conservative Party candidate Pierre (POY-lee-ev) Poilievre, once thought to be a shoe-in, to serve as Canada’s next Prime Minister. The win was a stunning turnaround for Carney and his Liberal Party, thanks in no small part to Carney’s staunch anti-Trump platform. Carney is a former central banker running for office for the first time. The NYT reports Carney pledged to lead the fight against President Trump over trade and the nation’s sovereignty.
Trump Marks First 100 Days of Second Term
(Washington, DC) Today marks President Trump’s first 100 days in office during his second term. Trump held a rally in Michigan last night to mark the milestone. A new poll shows the American public is frustrated at the state of politics altogether, as shown by Trump’s historically low approval rating. The poll shows the public is equally dissatisfied with Democratic opposition.
Maine Now Has State Dog
(Augusta) Maine now has an official State Dog – the (Suh-PAW-la) Seppala Siberian, a breed of husky known for the heroic efforts of Togo, a sled dog in Leonhard Seppala’s team that raced across Alaska in 1925 to deliver deptheria antitoxin and stem a deptheria outbreak in Nome. Togo eventually retired to Poland Spring Resort in Maine.