Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Counties Pull Together to Help Piscataquis
(Dover-Foxcroft) The state of Maine recently placed operational restrictions on the Piscataquis County Jail, after multiple failures were discovered during a mid-July inspection. Piscataquis is one of the state’s largest, but most sparsely populated counties; and that sometimes leads to limited resources, funds, and training. But Mainers, being who they are, jumped into action. Piscataquis County authorities tell Star 97.7, fellow law enforcement staff from Somerset, Penobscot, Androscoggin, and Washington Counties pitched in to help remedy the identified shortcomings, allowing Piscataquis to be back in full operation last Friday.
Waldoboro Homicide
(Waldoboro) Authorities are calling the death of 53 yo Levern Kelley of Waldoboro a homicide. Kelley’s body was found when police were called for a well-being check of a woman on Genthner Road shortly before 8:30 Saturday. Police are not revealing a cause of death. We’ll bring you more as details become available.
Game Wardens Recover Bodies of Two Anglers in Baileyville
(Baileyville) Maine Game Wardens Friday recovered the bodies of two anglers on Grand Falls Flowage in Baileyville. MDIFW officials tell Star 97.7, shortly before 4 pm, wardens were alerted to an unoccupied boat drifting on the flowage and began a search. A volunteer found the body of 67 yo Charlotte Evans of Texas about 100 yards from shore shortly after the search began. Saturday morning, a dive team began searching for a second person and recovered the body of 67 yo Douglass Bass of Massachusetts. Rescuers say neither of the victims was wearing a life jacket. The deaths are not considered suspicious.
Ellsworth Man Arrested After Suspicious Person Complaint
(Orland) A suspicious person complaint at the Big Apple Store in Orland Friday led to the arrest of an Ellsworth man. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department reports to Star 97.7, 49 yo Anthony Robbins was taken into custody and charged with violating conditions of release. They say he was also on probation, and his probation officer requested a hold on him at the Hancock County Jail.
Bangor Mall Owner Fined $1.8M in Pennsylvania Court Case
(Bangor) While lawsuits against the owner of the Bangor Mall have been moving slowly through the courts in Maine the past two months, the Bangor Daily News reports civil citations and a criminal case against Namdar Realty Group moved quickly forward in Pennsylvania. That case involved a shopping center in Pittsburgh also owned by Namdar and also related to an alleged failure to maintain the property. In the Pittsburgh case, a lawyer for Namdar last month pled guilty to 36 citations and was issued a fine of $1.8M. Namdar owns close to 400 properties across the U.S. and is reportedly plagued by countless issues, including a defaulted loan in Connecticut, fenced off parking lot sinkholes in Pennsylvania, and rodents in a food court in California. Namdar and the City of Bangor are scheduled for a final hearing next month.
Scammer Inadvertently Targets Clinton PD Officer
(Clinton) A phone scammer recently chose the wrong target. The scammer claimed to be Officer Conners from the Clinton, Maine Police Department. He told the person who answered he had missed his Grand Jury indictment appointment and there was a warrant that could be cleared with Apple gift cards. Oopsie – the person he called turned out to be the real Officer Conners from the CPD. The real Officer Conners said he had some fun and played along, noting he couldn’t wait for the caller to show up and cuff him for not paying. But in all seriousness, authorities say Grand Juries indict felonies, not late fees, and if a caller wants gift cards, Venmo, or Starbucks stars, hang up and notify the real good guys.
Milford Child Death
(Milford) Authorities are investigating a tragic child death discovered in Milford. They tell Star 97.7, a three-year-old girl was found dead inside a vehicle at a local business in Milford on Saturday. Public Information Officer Shannon Moss reports the child’s mother, 40 yo Kelly Brown of Pennsylvania, was found nearby and was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Brown was booked at the Penobscot County Jail. The child’s body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine an exact cause of death.
DPS Establishes Elder Justice Investigator Role
(Augusta) It’s no secret the elderly are often the target of scammers. The Maine Department of Public Safety has established a new statewide Elder Justice Investigator position to help address the rising and often complex crimes targeting Maine’s older adults. Kennebunk police officer Candice Simeoni has been selected to serve in the new role. She’ll provide investigative assistance to departments handling elder crime cases, officer training, and education to frontline responders, analyze data on elder crime trends, and more. The position is made possible with federal funding, with the program expected to span the next two years.
Plaque, Ceremony Honor Slain Paddleboarder
(Union) A plaque honoring Sunshine Stewart is now mounted to a boulder at the edge of an island on Crawford Pond. Stewart was allegedly murdered by a 17-year-old boy, while paddleboarding the evening of July 2nd. The Pen Bay Pilot reports a group gathered at the site last Thursday to honor Stewart and to express frustration. Many women in Knox County who consider going on solo hikes, trail runs, paddles, or other adventures say they continue to wonder if they’ll be next. Said one of those in attendance, every man and woman should be able to go out and enjoy nature, alone, without the worry of having to be concerned about such crimes. Others said it was important to reclaim the lake and to honor Sunny, who has been described as independent who lived fearlessly.
Winter Harbor Purchasing New Pumper Tanker Truck
(Winter Harbor) The Town of Winter Harbor is in the process of purchasing a much needed pumper tanker fire truck. The current older vehicle, a 1989 model, is no longer in working order and recently failed its pump test. The new truck will make sure areas of town that don’t have hydrants – Grindstone, Summer Harbor, and Birch Harbor Road – have enough water on wheels in case there does happen to be a fire. They hope to not have to take the entire cost out of the Department’s investment fund; so if you’d like to make a tax deductible donation, you can make checks out to the Town of Winter Harbor and mail them to P.O. Box 98, 04693.
Local Politics
Grohoski Appointed Chair of REPTRTF
(Augusta) A new task force will be in charge of conducting a data-driven review of Maine’s real estate property tax structure and will look at how the State can better support municipalities and provide relief to residents. A familiar face will chair the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force. Senator Nicole Grohoski, an Ellsworth Democrat, will lead the closer look at property taxes. Grohoski is the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Taxation Committee.
Lincoln County Commissioners Take Stand Against Immigration Policies
(Wiscasset) Lincoln County Commissioners last week took a costly, but they say ethical stand, declining to apply for two Homeland Security Grants, citing a new requirement for awarding of the grants. In past years, Lincoln County applied for Homeland Security and Emergency Planning Management grants for disaster preparedness and response, which can be up to $35K. The Pen Bay Pilot reports County Administrator Carrie Kipfer discovered a new provision requiring recipients to cooperate with federal immigration forces and contacted two commissioners prior to their August 5th meeting. Kipfer told the commissioners during the meeting conditions for the grants significantly changed, adding, “We can’t in good conscience honor them.” Kipfer noted the policy is contrary to those of the sheriff’s office and Two Bridges Regional Jail, and said the County doesn’t have the mettle to interfere in immigration matters.
Economy
Former Coast Guard Housing Available in Jonesport
(Jonesport) Good news for those searching for affordable housing in Washington County. A developer has purchased the former US Coast Guard housing property in Jonesport. There are nine three-bedroom, one and a half bathroom units for rent – each with an attached one car garage. We’ve posted a number to call with this story on our Star 97.7 website if you happen to be in need. (781) 576-9355.
Chloe’s Cafe Supports SPCA Hancock County
(Ellsworth) Chloe’s Cafe in Ellsworth is named for a beloved cat that belonged to the owner. So supporting the SPCA of Hancock County was a natural fit. You’re invited to join them on Monday, August 25th from 3 to 6 for a special kitten adoption event and donation drive. You’ll find a wish list and more details on the Chloe’s Cafe FB page; and when you stop in during regular hours for a delicious breakfast or lunch, you’ll find photos of some adorable adoptees up as well. Thanks, Chloe’s.
Pembroke Company Expanding to International Distribution
(Pembroke) A marine specimen supplier in the Washington County town of Pembroke is going international. MaineBiz reports Gulf of Maine, Inc. has joined with VWR International to reach more customers. President Tim Sheehan began the company in 2000 with his wife Amy and local fishermen, gathering specimens using traditional, low-impact methods. Core products include wild seaweeds, live and preserved specimens, bait and aquaculture feed, educational and science kits, seashells and more, that are made to order and shipped overnight direct to customers, that will now also include international labs, schools, museums, artists, interior designers, and people in the fishing industry.
Environment
Federal Regulators Consider Opening Usually Closed Fishing Area – with a Catch
(Maine) Federal regulators are considering a rule that would allow Maine lobstermen to fish in an area that closes seasonally in order to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales. The seasonally restricted area, a nearly 1,000 square mile stretch of the Gulf of Maine that runs from the New Hampshire border to Midcoast Maine, is closed to fishing each year from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31. But The Portland Press Herald reports there’s a catch to that potentially unrestricted catch…fishermen would need to use experimental ropeless fishing gear. Maine lobstermen, who have previously taken issue with the seasonal closure, don’t seem to want those opportunities with the ropes … er rather, strings attached. Some say they’re suspicious it’s NOAA’s attempt at bypassing a six-year freeze on requiring them to switch to the ropeless gear.
Human Interest/Entertainment
(Orono) Cooper and Ace Flagg were back on the courts at UMaine this weekend to share tips with some lucky participants in their basketball camps. The August 9 and 10 sold out camps included boys and girls in grades 1 to 6. The Flaggs say they have fond memories of attending basketball camp in Syracuse while growing up and hoped to bring some of that joy and expertise to those in attendance this past weekend.
(Foxborough) And Tom Brady will now forever stand tall in Patriot Place Plaza. A bronze statue of the New England Patriots Quarterback who led the team to six Super Bowl wins was unveiled Friday in Foxborough.