Murder Verdict Appeal
(Portland) – A Washington County woman will ask the State Supreme Court to overturn her murder conviction this week, saying evidence allowed in at her trial is faulty. Kailie Brackett is serving a 55-year prison term for the 2022 stabbing death of 43-year-old Kim Neptune. Brackett’s attorneys will argue tomorrow that evidence from a podiatrist to identify blood-soaked footprints was faulty, along with misstated cell phone tower evidence. The 41-year-old Perry woman also contends that autopsy photos should not have been allowed at the trail.
Voter Info Withheld
(Augusta) – The Secretary of State in Maine says the Department of Justice has not shown a good reason for wanting sensitive information about all Maine voters. Shenna Bellows yesterday formally rejected an August 8th request for things like driver license numbers, dates of birth and partial social security numbers from voters. In the official letter sent yesterday, Bellows said the federal government has a terrible track record for keeping private data safe. She said releasing the data from nearly a million voters would put privacy and data security Maine voters at risk.
Wesley Man – Sex Crimes
(Machias) – A grand jury in Washington County has determined there is enough evidence to proceed to trial against a Wesley man on sex crime charges. Grand jurors returned an indictment against 67-year-old Duane Geel for sexual abuse of a minor. Police arrested Geel last April and continue to investigate the case. He faces 13 counts of gross sexual assault and 2 of criminal restraint.
Mt. Desert Elementary Attendance
(Mt. Desert) – School officials in the town of Mt Desert say a large number of students are missing a lot of school. The Mt. Desert Islander reports chronic absenteeism at the elementary school has reached 20-percent. Being absent for at least 10-percent of the school year is considered chronic. The principal said some of the absences are for illness, but a number of families take vacations during the school year outside of school vacation weeks. Principal Heather Dorr said the school team wants to work with parents to make sure their children show up for school.
Parking Kiosks Vandalized
(Camden) – New parking kiosks to purchase parking time in Camden did not survive the weekend they were installed. Yesterday morning, police said 25 of the 30 kiosks suffered extensive damage from vandalism. The Midcoast Villager reports someone filled credit card slots with an expanding foam and spray-painted screens. The kiosks were installed earlier in the weekend. The Town of Camden is offering a $5-thousand-dollar reward for information on who might have vandalized the kiosks. Surveillance video showed a suspect wearing a hood and covering their face.
Ellsworth Road Work
(Ellsworth) – Two residential side streets in Ellsworth close down today for construction work. City officials tell Star 97.7 that Hancock Street and part of Elm Street will be closed as public works crews install water valves and drainage devices. The closure is expected to last through next Monday in preparation for paving. Motorists can still access Elm Street from High Street to the post office back parking lot.
Gateway Center Finally Opens
(Trenton) – It’s the first full week of operations for the new Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton. The $26-million dollar facility has finished construction after years of work. It was supposed to open a few months ago, but some finishing touches remained and are finally done. The center had a soft opening last week. It’ll serve as a hub for the Island Explorer Bus system, and the Maine Tourism Association will distribute literature about local accommodations. The Center replaces the locally run information center that operated on Thompson Island for decades, but closed down last October and remains vacant.
El Faro Remembrance Planned
(Rockland) – A ceremony in mid-coast Maine will mark the 10th anniversary of a freighter ship sinking the claimed 33-lives, including five Maritime Academy graduates. The El Faro went down in a hurricane in 2015 near the Bahamas, killing all 33 crew members. The noon time ceremony on September 27 will specifically remember Rockland natives Dylan Meklin and Danielle Randolph who were part of the crew. It’ll take place at a memorial on the Rockland waterfront.
Whiting Woman Left over $207,000 to Down East Community Hospital
(Machias) – Downeast Community Hospital in Machias has received more than $200-thousand dollars from the estate of a Washington County woman. Bonnie Basset left the donation to the hospital. She and her husband established Moon River Press which republished county atlases from New England which dated back to the 1880s. They were founding members of the Trescott Historical Society.