Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Pond Road Structure Fire
(Gouldsboro) Crews from multiple towns rushed to put out a fire Saturday morning at a structure in Gouldsboro. The building where the blaze occurred was unoccupied but sits off the road in thick woods with other homes nearby. Firefighters report flames were shooting 40 to 50 feet high when they arrived at 757 Pond Road shortly before 10:30 a.m. Quick work by those first responders kept the fire from spreading. The structure is a total loss. The incident remains under investigation.
Authorities Rescue Woman Lost in Carmel Woods
(Carmel) Members of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and RCC Sunday rescued a woman who reported being lost in the woods in Carmel. The woman called the 9-1-1 shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon, saying she was severely dehydrated and had suffered a head injury and was unsure of her location. Responders with the RCC used geolocation technology and quickly pinpointed her location, dispatching a deputy and the drone team to the area. The victim was carried to safety and was given the necessary medical care.
Camper Explosion Injures Two
(OOB) A camper explosion Saturday at a campground in Old Orchard Beach left two women with severe burn injuries. Public Information Officer Shannon Moss tells Star 97.7, fire and EMS responded to the Powder Horn Campground about 12:30 Saturday afternoon and quickly extinguished the fire. Due to the nature of the blast, the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called in to investigate. Initial findings indicate LP gas had been leaking into and beneath the camper and was ignited when one of the occupants lit a candle. The two women were taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment.
93 YO Eastbrook Man Charged in 2024 Fatal MV Crash
(Ellsworth) A 93 yo Eastbrook man has been charged in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred last December. The Ellsworth Police Department tells Star 97.7, the incident happened December 18th at the intersection of Water Street and the entrance to the Ellsworth City Pier. Authorities say Oscar Weigang was driving – his wife, who was a passenger, died as a result of injuries from that crash. Oscar Weigang is charged with Driving to Endanger, and a Motor Vehicle Violation Resulting in Death.
Hikers Rescued from Knife’s Edge
(Baxter State Park) Four hikers were rescued this weekend after one of them, a 47 yo woman, suffered a knee injury while the two groups were attempting to cross Knife’s Edge on Mt. Katahdin. Rangers were able to communicate with the four, who spent Thursday night on the mountain after authorities advised them to shelter in place. Friday morning, rescuers were able to reach the hikers, bringing food and warm clothing. They later escorted the three uninjured persons safely down the mountain. The injured woman was then airlifted to safety via an Army National Guard helicopter..
MDIFW Booklet Details Safety in the Maine Woods
(Maine) Approximately 90% of Maine’s land area is covered by forests. That makes our home the most heavily wooded state in the US by percentage of land area. So the possibility of finding yourself alone in the Maine woods is far from … well, remote. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has put together a tiny booklet you can carry with you as you hike or camp. The blaze orange pamphlet entitled “You Alone in the Maine Woods” is a go-to reference, with emergency contacts, survival tips, safety reminders, and practical pointers you can keep right in your pocket. It even includes emergency contacts for the Maine Warden Service. Cost is just $2 and you can order yours through MDIFW.
Local Politics
PETA Files Lawsuit Against Maine Lobster Festival
(Rockland) The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, filed a lawsuit last week against the Maine Lobster Festival and the City of Rockland. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the suit, filed in Knox County Superior Court, claims the steaming of live lobsters is a violation of Maine law prohibiting the torture and torment of animals. The festival begins this Wednesday and runs through August 3rd. No hearing has yet been set. PETA has stirred controversy because, in spite of its alleged strong animal rights advocacy, it has supported the culling of undomesticated cats as the answer to that animal’s overpopulation issue.
Education Funds Released
(Washington, DC) The U.S. Department of Education will release the remaining school funding that was promised and anticipated to be shared with school districts nationwide on July 1st. The Office of Senator Susan Collins said a pause in releasing the funds risked the loss of nearly $28M for Maine’s public schools. Collins said the funds are essential to the operation of the state’s public schools, supporting everything from classroom instruction to adult education. Collins and Senator Shelley Capito, a West Virginia Republican, had sent a letter to the Administration requesting release of the funds.
Senator Collins Requests Release of NIH Funding
(Washington, DC) Senator Susan Collins and twelve other colleagues have sent a letter requesting the release of funding for the National Institutes of Health. The Act promising the funds was signed into law earlier this year and contains critical funding to support NIH initiatives across a range of critical research areas, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and rare pediatric disorders. Collins has repeatedly voiced opposition to cuts in NIH funding.
Economy
Maine Weighs Benefits, Costs of Nuclear Energy
(Maine) With rising electricity costs, Maine is once again reportedly weighing the costs and benefits of nuclear power. The Bangor Daily News writes Wiscasset’s Maine Yankee Nuclear Plant closed 30 years ago amid rising repair and upkeep costs. Decades later, officials are still working to find a final resting place for 540 tons of spent nuclear fuel still stored at the former plant. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have pushed nuclear energy, and about a quarter of New England’s electricity comes from nuclear reactors in New Hampshire and Connecticut. Opponents say building new nuclear facilities won’t happen in time to meaningfully contribute to emissions reductions, while renewables, such as wind power, continue to be built with growing rapidity.
Environment
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Impacts Maine
(Maine) We may be seeing far fewer visitors from Canada, but Maine saw no shortage of smoke from those Canadian wildfires this weekend. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued air quality advisories for much of the state, including here along the coast, cautioning of elevated levels of particle pollution that were unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups. A toll free air quality hotline was established to keep residents updated on conditions. On a positive note, the hazy smoke has certainly made for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Pregnant Lobster Found in Utah Dies While Being Returned to Maine
(St. George, Utah) A lobster from a restaurant tank in St. George, Utah has passed away on her way back to Maine. The female was being returned because she was found to be carrying thousands of eggs, prompting quick action from the eatery’s employees, according to WGME. A hostess at the St. George Red Lobster noticed the crustacean flipping onto her back, with her tail curled underneath, which led to the intended “birth” of her freedom. Lobster fishermen try hard to notch the tails of pregnant lobsters and toss them back so they can reproduce. In fact, it’s illegal to catch, keep, or transport the so-called “berried” lobsters. Experts say a lobster may store sperm for months before fertilizing her eggs, which she then will deposit to the underside of her tail and carry until they hatch.
Help Fireflies Keep Shining
(Maine) If you’ve been out after dark this summer, you’ve no doubt been de”light”ed by the sight of those magical fireflies or lightning bugs. Unfortunately, University of Maine researchers say their “glowing” numbers are in decline. One big reason? Light pollution. The blinking gifts of the night use bioluminescent flashes in order to find mates. But too much artificial light makes it hard for them to communicate. Even low levels of outdoor lighting can disrupt the beetles’ ability to blink and be seen. Scientists say to help protect them, use motion sensors or timers on outdoor lighting, switch to amber or red lights as opposed to bright white, point outdoor lights downward, and close those blinds at night. Such simple changes not only support these twilight treasures, but also other nocturnal wildlife like bats and migrating birds, and also helps deter pests like those pesky browntail moths.
Health
Prevalence of Ticks a Growing Concern
(NYT) We hear a lot about ticks here in Maine. But the pests are beginning to be a growing problem across most of the United States. The New York Times writes as a result of climate change, tick-related ER visits are spiking nationwide. Polls suggest parents are now twice as worried about ticks as they are mosquitoes. The big concern, by far, is Lyme disease, carried by 50% of adult ticks. Lyme is generally treatable with antibiotics, especially if started within 72 hours. But Lyme is often misdiagnosed, leading to symptoms that can persist for years, even after treatment. Blacklegged or deer ticks represent the largest number of carriers. Doctors say it’s important to check yourself and your pets regularly, especially after you’ve been outside. Should you discover one on your person here in Maine, for a small fee, you can send it to the UMaine tick lab to be checked for Lyme.
EMEVC Encourages Spay/Neuter to Save Lives
(Bangor) Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic says they’re seeing more and more emergencies that are life threatening or that ruin the quality of pets’ lives, resulting in euthanasia. And they say that’s preventable in many cases by simply having your pets spayed or neutered earlier in life. Veterinarians report the procedures reduce the risk of cancer in reproductive organs, as well as life-threatening uterine infections. And intact male dogs and cats that aren’t fixed are much more prone to fighting and trauma such as being struck by cars, and can develop hernias and prostate issues that make it difficult to urinate. Be sure and talk to your vet and safeguard your pet’s life in order to ensure that you enjoy a long and healthy life … together.
Infrastructure
Power Outage Leads to Lack of Mail Delivery
(Ellsworth) Many of us do most of our transactions online these days. So unless you’re used to getting a boatload of mail each day, you may not have thought anything of that empty mailbox on Friday. But the truth is, there actually was no mail delivery Friday from Waterville to Madawaska. Not because it was a holiday, but because the Eastern Maine Distribution Facility in Hampden experienced a major power outage. No word on what caused the outage. Post offices were open for regular mail delivery, and USPS said it hoped to have everything delivered as scheduled by today.
Road Work Reminders
(Ellsworth/Machias) A reminder that Christian Ridge Road in Ellsworth between 228 and 256 is down to one lane today with alternating one-way traffic, in order to facilitate ditching and culvert replacement. That work is expected to last through Wednesday. Over in Machias, the Machias Dike Bridge is closed today so that MDOT crews there can work on a tide gate. That work scheduled today only so far – detour signs are posted.