Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Crews Rescue Injured Hiker at Great Pond Mountain
(Orland) Crews responded to Great Pond Mountain Sunday to rescue an injured hiker. The Orland Fire Department reports the person was on the Stuart Gross Trail near the base of the mountain when they suffered an undisclosed injury. Nine OFD and several Bucksport EMS personnel responded and were able to carry the hiker down the trail to an ambulance for transport. No word on the person’s condition.
National Safe Boating Week
(Undated) May 17th to the 23rd is National Safe Boating Week. Boat US officials say it’s a good time to remind boaters to make safety a priority all summer long. They say that includes making sure everyone on board has serviceable, right-sized life jackets. And they say it’s essential that jackets are worn or, at a minimum, readily available and not buried at the bottom of a locker or other hard-to-reach place. They say check all hardware and straps, ensure there are no rips or tears, be sure the label notes US Coast Guard approval; and if inflatable, test it and then repack according to manufacturer’s directions.
Former Maine Man Arrested in 2024 Eddington Arson Case
(Alabama) The Maine Fire Marshal’s office arrested a former Maine resident in Alabama last Thursday in connection with a 2024 fire in Eddington. Authorities say 59 yo Luther Green is charged with arson and burglary. He was flown back to Maine by investigators where he was taken to the Penobscot County Jail. The charges stem from a July 3rd fire that damaged the Heritage on 9 Restaurant and Tavern on Main Road. The business had closed the previous year and was not occupied at the time of the fire. The arrest follows a yearlong investigation that officials say remains active. The Pike County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama assisted with the arrest.
Orland Moves into New Fire Station
(Orland) Mold, a lack of exhaust emission control, and a shortage of proper equipment. NewsCenter Maine reports those were just some of the issues faced by the Orland Fire Department that for years had to make do under those conditions. Orland first responders recently moved into a new 9000 square foot station – triple the size of the previous building. Planning for the new, nearly $4M facility was almost a decade in the making, but Chief Bobby Conary and Assistant Chief Julia Gray say the new building allows them to use fire trucks of any size and allows for better management and better response times and resources when seconds count.
AARP Maine Bucksport Shredding Event
(Bucksport) Protect yourself against identity theft! Bucksport residents can get those sensitive documents shredded on site for free on May 23rd. The shredding event is sponsored by AARP Maine Bucksport and will take place at the Senior Center, beginning at 9 a.m. on May 23rd. You can bring up to four large boxes or bags per person. They ask that you NOT bring any plastics or electronics. Rain or shine, they’ll be accepting documents until 1 p.m. or until the truck is filled.
Local Politics
Changing Lobster Fishery Shrinks in Numbers, Not Voices
(Maine) Maine lobstermen once held more than 7,000 commercial licenses. The Bangor Daily News reports that number has shrunk by about half since the 1990s. Many factors have contributed to the decline, including climate change, increased regulation, the inability to find crew members, and competition for space in the Gulf of Maine. Even as the industry shrinks, the voices of those who remain have not. And politicians are listening, especially in light of the economic effect the lobster fishery brings to Maine, with some estimating it has a billion dollar impact on the state’s economy.
(Maine) Climate change, increased regulation, and a younger generation with different interests. The Bangor Daily News reports those are a few of the factors that have contributed to shrinking numbers of lobster fishermen in Maine. Maine lobstermen once held more than 7,000 commercial licenses; a number that’s gone down nearly 50% since the 1990s. But experts say that while their numbers are shrinking, their impact is not. Lobstermen have secured some key legislative victories in recent years, including helping to delay until 2028 a set of restrictions designed to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale. In Maine, they were also reportedly a key constituency that helped to elect Donald Trump.
Economy
What to Buy Before Tariffs Kick In
(Forbes) From sofas to washing machines, Americans are bracing for price hikes precipitated by sweeping global tariffs. Forbes says prices paid by American consumers will rise because tariffs, which are often positioned as taxes levied on foreign countries and companies, are, in fact, paid by American businesses importing the goods. Those costs are invariably passed on to consumers. Experts say what won’t be affected, at least for now, are tech products and electronics because of exemptions on smartphones, computers and the like. But as of May 2nd, those orders from Temu and Shein have come with higher fees that could more than double costs, the temporary freeze notwithstanding. And they say expect to pay more for things like appliances, TVs, imported foods, apparel, those ever-popular Hoka shoes, coffee and chocolate.
Health
Tick-Borne Diseases Spreading at Alarming Rate in Northeast
(Maine) Experts say tick-borne diseases are spreading at an alarming rate in the Northeast, likely driven by climate change. TWN reports the CDC previously added Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire to the list of states where babesiosis is considered endemic after cases rose by 25% between 2011 and 2019. The newly documented acceleration suggests further geographic expansion by the pests. Medical professionals say most concerning is the high rate of co-infection with other tick-borne diseases. Recent studies show 42% of babesiosis patients are simultaneously infected with at least one additional pathogen, most commonly Lyme disease.
Pen Bay Enrolling Patients in Tick Disease Study
(Maine) Tick borne disease – with the growth of such pathogens, there’s also a growing body of research. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the MaineHealth Institute for Research is working with Tufts University School of Medicine to try and understand why some patients fail to fully recover from Lyme disease, even after receiving standard courses of antibiotics. Pen Bay Hospital will be enrolling participants this month through affiliated doctor’s offices. The study team plans to recruit a total of one thousand patients as soon as they receive their diagnosis of Lyme disease and follow them over the course of a year. MaineHealth Pen Bay is also involved in ongoing Lyme vaccine research.
Infrastructure
Bangor Lane Closure
(Bangor) We’ve been keeping you up to date on roadwork, hydrant flushing and other infrastructure projects here in Ellsworth, thanks to City officials. But Bangor is a popular destination for many as well. If you’re headed over that way this week, be aware the Maine Department of Transportation will be performing a lane closure on Broadway this Thursday and Friday, May 15 and 16 between 9 and 3. MDOT says they’ll be doing backfilling operations, so Broadway traffic will be reduced to a single lane through the work zone. They say I-95 will not be affected. The work is part of a bridge replacement project that began in 2023 and is expected to be completed in late 2026.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Most Popular Baby Names
(Undated) Oh, baby! For the sixth consecutive year, Liam and Olivia were the most popular names for newborn American boys and girls in 2024. That’s the word recently reported from the Social Security Administration. Liam, an Irish derivative of William, usurped Noah as the most popular name for US-born boys in 2017. Olivia, based on the Latin word for “olive tree”, joined Liam at the top in 2019, ending a five year run for Emma. Noah and Emma remain in second place. Rounding out the top five in 2024 were Oliver, Theodore, and James for boys and Amelia, Charlotte, and Mia for girls. The only new name in the top 10 on either list was Sofia, which displaced Luna on the girls’ side at number 10.
Bar Harbor Fourth of July
(Bar Harbor) Bar Harbor is already looking ahead to the town’s big Fourth of July bash. Registration is officially open for the year’s Fourth of July parade. If you’re interested in showcasing your business or group, fill out the registration form you’ll find on the Chamber website by June 27th. And don’t forget the Annual Bar Harbor Town Meeting is coming up on Tuesday, June 3rd starting at 6 p.m. at the Conners Emerson Gymnasium. Citizens will have an opportunity to weigh in on the town’s budget. The town election takes place the following week on June 10th.
Heroes Return Home to Sullivan
(Sullivan) It was supposed to be a surprise, but whether Lynn Dunbar and James Murphy suspected anything, the Town of Sullivan will never know. The first lady of Sullivan and her husband have been in the hospital and rehab in Boston for months after James received a long-awaited heart transplant and had to have one of his legs amputated. Town members gathered at the park and gazebo last night about 9 p.m. to welcome them home with signs, flashlights, and honking horns. We know it’s been a long journey, but the town is certainly glad to have you back home.