Lawmaker Injured
(Sedgwick) – A State Representative from Deer Isle is recovering from a broken vertebra after a car crash in Sedgwick last week. Democrat Holly Eaton underwent surgery at a Bangor hospital then was airlifted to a Portland hospital after she suffered a pulmonary embolism during physical therapy. Bar Harbor Story reports Eaton is expected to spend several days in the ICU. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help with medical costs.
Driver Indicted
(Ellsworth) – Grand Jurors in Hancock County have ruled there’s enough evidence against a Bangor man to proceed to try him for numerous crimes related to a police chase that ended with a fatal crash in Washington County. The Ellsworth American reports the jury returned indictments against 21-year old James Nile Jr. who led deputies on a chase that began on Route 9 in Aurora when a deputy tried to pull over the vehicle for speeding. Nile allegedly took off and deputies gave chase until the car crashed in Wesley, killing 38-year old John Branscomb of Bangor. The Hancock County charges include eluding an officer, driving to endanger and causing a death while driving with a suspended license. It’s unclear whether additional charges will be presented in Washington County.
License Plate Recall
(Augusta) – Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles is recalling some of the brand new pine tree license plates issued starting last month. The Secretary of State’s office has sent letters to some plate holders saying new license plates will be mailed to them because of a spacing error. Letters say the error has since been corrected. Those getting the letters are advised to keep using the plates with the spacing error until the new plates arrive in the mail in August. It’s not known if 7-digit vanity plates will be replaced as well, as the first character on the pine tree plates blends in with the tree making it difficult to read.
Assault Indictment
(Ellsworth) – An inmate at the Hancock County Jail faces more charges after grand jurors returned an assault indictment this month. Patrick Hall is charged with assaulting a health care worker at Northern Light Maine Coast hospital on March 31st. Hall was already incarcerated at the jail when the alleged assault occurred, serving time for assaulting a police officer.
Mt. Desert Manager Search
(Mt. Desert) –The search is on for a new town manager for Mt. Desert. Current town manager Durlin Lunt is retiring in August and the Select Board last week opted to hire Maine Municipal Association to search for a replacement. Lunt has served the town for the past 15-years and was honored three years ago as the manager of the year by the Maine Town, City and County Management Association. MMA will charge the town $6,600 for the search process.
Painters Honored
(Union) – A painting contractor and his workers received honors from the Town of Union for helping stop an out of control wildfire that threatened a home they were working on last month. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the Select Board in Union presented the commendation to Ingraham Painting. Workers scrambled to hook up hoses when they saw a neighbor’s brush pile fire had gotten away from them and was headed toward the home they were working on. The homeowner noticed the commotion and was able to turn on the water to feed the hose and stop the fire before it caught his garage.
SAD 40 Superintendent
(Waldoboro) – A New Hampshire superintendent of schools will become the new superintendent in mid-coast Maine’s SAD 40 based in Waldoboro. The Mid Coast Villager reports school directors hired Thomas Ambrose who has served the past 8-years as superintendent in Kingston New Hampshire. He succeeds Steven Nolan who accepted a similar post in Falmouth starting next month.