Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Minneapolis Shooter Kills 2, Wounds 17 Others
(Minneapolis) The school year isn’t even underway in much of the country, and already we’ve lost children to gun violence. Wednesday morning, an 8 year old and a 10 year old were killed when a shooter fired through windows at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota. Seventeen others, including 14 children, were injured during a Mass that marked the first week of school, according to ABC News. Two children are listed as critical. The shooter, identified as Robin Westman, shot and killed herself at the scene. Governor Janet Mills has ordered flags to be lowered to half staff until sunset on August 31st to show support for the victims and their families.
Missing Plymouth Woman Found Deceased
(Plymouth) Authorities say they’ve found the body of a 70 yo Plymouth woman who has been missing since August 15th. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office reports the body of Pauline Berardi was found Tuesday afternoon in Newport. Berardi did not drive, but was last seen in a black sedan with an unknown driver. Her body has been sent to the office of the state medical examiner. The investigation into her disappearance and death is ongoing.
Belgrade Drowning
(Belgrade) An Oakland man apparently drowned Wednesday as he was attempting to retrieve his boat after launching it on Ellis Pond in Belgrade. Authorities say 66 yo Robert Gary launched his motorized aluminum craft at the pond when it began to drift out into the lake, also known as Salmon Pond. While swimming to the boat, Gary went under and never resurfaced. His body was recovered about 35 feet from shore. First responders attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The state medical examiner will determine a cause of death, which is presumed to be drowning.
First National Bank Warns of Scam
(Ellsworth) First National Bank is warning customers of a scam involving receipt of a postcard that claims there’s an issue with a bank loan. The postcard claims the notice is in regard to the recipients’ mortgage with First National and asks the customer to call an 855 number about an important matter regarding the loan, saying it’s time sensitive. First National says the solicitation is not affiliated with the bank, and customers’ loan information was not provided the sender by them. Such information is typically purchased through publicly listed sources, such as the registry of deeds. First National says theirs is an 800 number customers should call directly should they suspect fraud.
Wildfire Incidents at an All-Time High Across Maine
(Maine) Wildfire incidents are at an all-time high for August across Maine. NewsCenter Maine reports the usual number of wildfires reported in August hovers around 40. This month, so far, the Maine Forest Service and others have responded to more than 200 wildfires – double the previous high for August. MFS says it has increased staff and resources because hot spots must often be monitored for several days, and extinguishing even small wildfires can take hours. They say more fires generally occur in September when the leaves dry out and begin to fall; but this year’s drought has brought about the danger early, with many towns and areas instituting bans on any kind of burning.
University of Maine Inadvertently Shares Student Information
(Orono) It wasn’t usual protocol by any means, but the University of Maine Orono says a single email sent Monday revealed all the university-assigned email addresses of the nearly 1000 students on campus who receive services for learning and physical disabilities and mental health diagnoses. The email was sent from Orono’s Student Accessibility Services and was intended to go to students via a blind copy. Students included in the email did not have their disability exposed. The University said the error was not a FERPA violation, but not standard practice.
Local Politics
Waldo County Officials Struggle to Explain Use of Public Funds
(Belfast) Waldo County officials are working to explain their use of public funds as locals have begun questioning some perceived blanks in the county commissioners’ records. The Maine Monitor reports missing minutes, short staffing, and cloudy memories have prevented officials from answering repeated questions about how the county commission spent more than $100K of opioid settlement funds and filled a $580K error in the county jail budget last year. Minutes for a dozen county commissioners’ meetings this year and last reportedly appear to be missing from the county’s website as of mid-August. Concerned residents say without clear descriptions of what happened at the twice-monthly meetings, it’s difficult to reconstruct how public funds were used.
Governor Mills to Decide on Challenge to Senator Collins by November
(Augusta) Governor Janet Mills yesterday said she will decide by November whether or not she’ll seek the Democratic nomination to challenge US Senator Susan Collins in 2026. The Bangor Daily News reports the Governor was in Fryeburg Wednesday for a ribbon cutting at a state-owned shooting range. The 77 yo Mills would be competing against a growing field of challengers hoping to upset the 72 yo Collins; who, if elected, would become Maine’s longest serving Senator.
Economy
MDI Hospital Receives $10M Gift from Dick Wolf
(MDI) Dick Wolf is best known as the creator of television franchises such as Law & Order, Chicago, and FBI. He’s equally well known for his philanthropy, including this week’s $10M lead gift to MDI Hospital’s Building Our Future Campaign. The gift drives momentum as the campaign nears its $55M goal and moves into its community phase, with yesterday’s public launch at the Bar Harbor Club. Wolf has long summered in his oceanfront mansion in Seal Harbor, and two years ago built a second mansion off Indian Point Road in Bar Harbor. Wolf’s generous gift will accelerate construction of a new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, upgrade surgical suites, and add a welcoming new Main Street entrance. In presenting the gift, Wolf said, “MDI Hospital is the cornerstone of this community. I’m proud to help ensure the people of MDI and beyond have access to the best possible care, now and for generations to come.”
Savor Maine Auction Goes Live
(Surry) The Savor Maine online auction of experiences, dining, arts and more goes live TODAY! The auction, which includes more than 60 items ranging from gift cards to a greenhouse, is a fundraiser for the Surry Children’s Backpack Food Program. Opening bids range from $10 to $3500, with a goal of raising $10K to help stem food insecurity and ensure all children have needed school supplies. Four hand-scooped quarts from Pugnuts, a Down East Magazine Portrait Photography Adventure, dining at Fogtown Brewery, Provender, Perry’s Lobster, Leaf & Anna, and more … and five hours of architectural consulting with award-winning Eric Sturm, all up for bid … plus art work and so much more. Place your bids between now and September 7th at the link you’ll find on our Star 97.7 FB page or at Savor Maine Online Auction Fundraiser on FB.
Colby College Investments Contribute More than $2B to Maine’s Economy
(Waterville) Findings from an independent study commissioned by Colby College in Waterville show the college’s campus initiatives and investments have contributed more than $2.5B to Maine’s economy in the past six years. According to the study, the private liberal arts college contributed $1.3B in Waterville alone. MaineBiz reports Colby has built and repurposed several properties in downtown Waterville, and the institution’s investments in the arts locally have contributed to the city’s growing reputation as a cultural destination, drawing more than 300 thousand visitors from out-of-town and generating millions of dollars in total economic output and earnings for greater Waterville.
Health
Maine CDC to Use State Public Health Nurses
(Bangor) The City of Bangor has employed public health nurses for decades. The two currently employed nurses focus primarily on maternal and child health care and conduct free home visits – a service the Bangor Daily News reports is particularly vital for low-income families and those facing challenges with disabilities, substance use disorder, and housing instability. Now, the Maine CDC says it plans to start providing those services using state public health nurses, rather than continuing to fund Bangor’s program. While the CDC says there will be no disruption in services to clients and families, Bangor leaders are skeptical the state will be able to provide the same level of care as the current locally-based public health nurses.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Grand Lighting Renovations
(Ellsworth) Things are looking brighter than ever at The Grand in Ellsworth. Grand staff and volunteers spent two weeks stripping all lighting and cables out of the air for safety checks and cleaning. They removed nearly 500 feet of lighting cable with a redesign of the light plot. That alone permanently eliminated excess weight amounting to about 400 pounds from the theatre’s light pipes. Talk about heavy lifting! Crews also built new cable snakes to simplify and reduce clutter, did a thorough cleaning job (think years of accumulated dust!) and checked and cleaned every cable and all the stage lights. With the shiny lighting and new sound system, courtesy of a grant from T-Mobile, you’ll want to get your tickets early for the season’s first musical production – Grease! A little bird tells us there’s a $3 discount on adult tickets purchased before October 10th at your grand dot org.
Taps and Talks at Musquito Harbor
(Winter Harbor) It was one of Maine’s most devastating natural disasters – the 1947 Bar Harbor fire. This morning, join the Maine Forest Service’s Lt. Joe Mints as he explores conditions that led to the fire, the dramatic efforts to contain it, and its lasting impact on the landscape and local community. Mints says the blaze destroyed nearly half the town, including grand estates, historic buildings, and much of Acadia National Park and reduced the resort community to a smoldering ruin, displacing hundreds. That’s Taps and Talks this morning at 10:30 a.m. at Musquito Harbor Brewing Company in Winter Harbor.
Sea Captain Statue is on the Way
(Searsport) The Captain has boarded the ship and is on his way to the U.S. Dr. Karen Kelley, President of the Searsport Historical Society, tells Star 97.7, the iconic Sea Captain statue, sculpted in Hong Kong, should arrive in New York by the end of September. It will then make its way to Maine, where it will be permanently installed at the Penobscot Marine Museum and will watch over the town that was once home to more sea captains than any other place in the nation. We’ll keep you posted on an exact date for its dedication. The statue was the brainchild of the late Natalie Knox, and Dr. Kelley … and the community followed through with fundraising and the steps to make it happen. The statue was originally slated for installation on July 4th, but was delayed in part because of the tariff situation. If you’d still like to donate to help defray the cost of the statue, checks can be sent to the Searsport Historical Society at PO Box 235, Searsport, with “statue” in the memo line.
Ellsworth Attorneys Honored by US News & World Report
(Ellsworth) When you’re the best at what you do, it deserves recognition. Two attorneys with Estate Planning firm Jones, Kuriloff & Sargent in Ellsworth, have been named 2026 Best Lawyers, an honor bestowed annually by U.S. News and World Report. The ranking system recognizes elite practitioners, acts as a search engine for those needing legal advice or support, and is a resource for attorneys to refer clients to other specialties. Attorneys Jeff Jones and Rebecca Sargent are taking home the honors this year, though it’s nothing new to them. Jeff has been recognized with the honor since 1995, Rebecca since 2023, and the firm itself has garnered recognition, as well. They say they also have a staff with a tremendous amount of experience and skills. Kady Huff and Patrick Lyons of Viridian Law also made the list as Ones to Watch. Congratulations to all of you.