Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Remembering 9-11
(Undated) It was 8:46 a.m. eastern time 24 years ago that American Airlines Flight No. 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At first, Americans were stunned, believing it a tragic accident. But 17 minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower … our security was shattered and we were forever changed by terrorism. Combined with a third plane that crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth that was likely headed to the White House but was retaken by passengers and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, some 3,000 were killed; thousands others injured that day, including brave firefighters and other first responders who rushed in to save people before the towers collapsed. For days after, men, women, and dogs searched the rubble for survivors. Today, Memorials stand at the sites of the attacks, and we’ve vowed to “Never Forget”.
(Undated) September 11th, 2001 began as an ordinary blue-sky day for many, with people rushing off to work at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and travelers boarding flights for various destinations. At the Portland International Jetport, mastermind Mohammed Atta and hijacker Abdul Aziz al Omari, who had spent the previous day in Maine, boarded a commuter flight to Boston, where they transferred to American Airlines Flight 11 to LA, according to the 9/11 Commission report. The hijackers then forced the pilots to change course, where at 8:46 a.m. Eastern they flew the plane directly into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Minutes later, another hijacked flight hit the South Tower, a third flight crashed into the Pentagon; and on a fourth hijacked flight, brave passengers subdued the hijackers, but only seconds before the plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Today, we remember the thousands who died, including the daring first responders who rushed into the towers, giving their lives to save others as the towers collapsed. On this day as then, we vow to “Never Forget” and we pay tribute to the victims and their heartbroken families they left behind.
(Undated) Many living today weren’t even born when on September 11, 2001, the United States was stunned by a devastating terrorist attack. Those of us who remember, know exactly where we were, will never forget what we saw, may even remember who we were with and what we were wearing when that first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. Minutes later, we watched in horror as a second plane hit the South Tower. Two more hijacked planes crashed – one into the Pentagon, another into a field. Thousands died that day, including brave first responders who rushed to the scenes in New York, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Aircraft were immediately grounded, with many being diverted to Bangor International Airport. Airplane travel and security were forever changed – as were we as a nation. We vowed then to “Never Forget” … and so we remember today and honor the victims and their families.
Stop the Bleed and Narcan Training
(Bar Harbor) A life-threatening bleed injury can happen anywhere; and the person next to a victim may be the one most likely to prevent fatal bleeding. On Tuesday, September 16th, the Bar Harbor Fire Department is offering Stop the Bleed & Narcan Training at 5:30 p.m. at MDI High School. Participants will learn to become an immediate responder, along with gaining knowledge and confidence to respond to an opioid overdose. For more information or to register, follow the link on the Bar Harbor Fire Department FB page.
MDI High School Delay
(Bar Harbor) The start of school day at MDI High School was delayed by a couple of hours yesterday morning. The Trenton Volunteer Fire Department reports shortly after 7 a.m., crews responded to a mutual aid call for a report of smoke and a possible fire at the school. One unit went directly to the scene, while another was redirected to establish a water supply. TVFD reports the MDI crews quickly mitigated the situation, and they were able to clear the scene without difficulty or loss. Great job by all on the swift and efficient response.
Local Politics
Republican GOC Request Expanded Review of DHHS Records Practices
(Augusta) A Berwick resident requested copies of records from the Department of Health and Human Services pertaining to him or his household under the Freedom of Access Act. He was told fulfilling that request would cost close to $51K and take a year to complete. WMTW in Portland requested records regarding late payments to child care providers. That was met with a quote of $250K. Republican Government Oversight Committee members are crying, “Foul,” and this week requested an expansion of a currently ongoing investigation by the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, or OPEGA. Senator Jeff Timberlake of Androscoggin said, “DHHS continues to shield itself from transparency requirements … a simple key word search should not require hiring a full-time employee. There’s simply no excuse for this type of response to routine requests for public records.”
King Calls for Corporations to Pay Fair Share of Taxes
(Washington, DC) From 2018 to 2020, thirty nine Fortune 500 companies generated $122B in profit. They paid zero dollars in federal income tax. That was before Congress passed The Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, or CAMT, which requires companies reporting over a billion dollars in profits to their shareholders to pay at least 15% of those profits in taxes. Senators Angus King and Elizabeth Warren say under the Trump Administration, the law hasn’t been strongly enforced and that changes to CAMT are planned which could weaken the law. And they say, “Enough is enough”. The two are leading a bicameral group in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary and Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent to strongly implement CAMT. The law applies to approximately 150 of America’s wealthiest corporations.
Annual Audit Turns Up Deficiencies
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth City Manager Charlie Pearce and his staff are all about transparency and have made no secret of the fact the city’s 2024 annual financial report found deficiencies in the financial year ending on June 30, 2024. The auditors attributed those deficiencies to turnover in key positions. The auditors were at a weekly Finance Committee meeting last week and say that while the city’s had some problems, Ellsworth is not alone in some of its struggles and experiences. They added that other governments and municipalities have had similar issues. The Ellsworth American reports Council members that were present expressed optimism about the situation. Chairperson Patrick Lyons said, “The City is in a really good position, because we know the problems, and we have the people to fix them.”
Platner Opens Office in Ellsworth
(Ellsworth) At least one of five confirmed Democratic candidates running to defeat Susan Collins for a seat in the US Senate is opening an office in Ellsworth. Graham Platner, an oysterman from Sullivan, has taken over space previously occupied by Raven and Maine consignment boutique at 6 State Street near the Heart of Ellsworth offices. Platner launched his campaign August 19th with a viral video that garnered 2.5 million views in 24 hours, raised a million dollars in the first nine days, and has more than 2,700 followers signed up as volunteers.
Seven Vie for Three Seats on Ellsworth City Council
(Ellsworth) Seven candidates will vie for three seats on the Ellsworth City Council come November. Monday was the deadline to file for the seats that will be vacated when incumbents Michelle Beal, Tammy Mote, and Jon Stein step down in November when their terms end. The City of Ellsworth reports the following people turned in the required signatures by the deadline: Earl Awalt, Timothy Carter, John Linnehan, Eric Marichal, Carol Martineau, Patrick Shea, and Marina Smith. While many are relative unknowns, Heart of Ellsworth and the City of Ellsworth generally sponsor a “Meet the Candidates” forum before the election. We’ll keep you posted!
Washington County Public Hearing
(Machias) As we’ve been sharing with you, Washington County is facing a serious budget shortfall. This November, citizens will be asked to approve an $11M bond issue to literally keep the county running. The reasons behind the shortfall are numerous – with no one person to blame; rather a series of missteps and oversights by many – potentially, the previous County Manager, Commissioners, budget committee and treasurer. The situation is one the current County Manager, Renee Gray, and the three new commissioners walked into and are looking at all options to resolve. Longtime Treasurer Jill Holmes, an elected Republican that has served since 1999, stepped down a week ago. Facebook, as is typical, is flooded with rumors and misinformation about the situation. While no one wants their taxes raised, neither do folks want a county without critical services, such as law enforcement and a 9-1-1 call center. A second public hearing is planned for 4 p.m. this evening at the courthouse in Machias to answer questions and clarify the situation with facts. Residents are encouraged to attend.
Education
COA Awarded Funds for Working Toward Student Well-Being
(Bar Harbor) College of the Atlantic is all about the environment – and that includes creating a campus environment that enhances student mental health and well-being. The College is among a nationwide consortium being awarded $8.5M for a student well-being initiative. The grant from the Endeavor Foundation is given to a group of ten small liberal arts colleges that has been working on student well-being since 2023. COA says the goal of the initiative is to make long-term improvements that put student well-being, belonging, community care, and purpose at the heart of the college experience.
Colby College Receives Record Gift for Science Complex
(Waterville) Colby College has received an anonymous gift to build a science complex on its Waterville campus. MaineBiz reports the $150M donation is the largest in the school’s history. The gift was earmarked to build a 200K square foot facility that will help the college build on collaborations with science research organizations and support K-12 STEM education. Besides construction of the complex, Colby plans to expand its science curriculum to include more applied science and engineering.
Environment
Maine Fishing Guide Trolls for Tires
(Durham) The Androscoggin River is looking way too “tired” – and Maine fishing guide Brandon Bichrest is out to do something about that. NewsCenter Maine reports Bichrest has so far pulled close to 200 old tires up from the riverbank. Bichrest says that’s just a tiny dent in what he estimates to be hundreds, maybe thousands of tires hidden below the surface. He said he first spotted the tires – some he thinks go back to the 1930s, with few newer than the 80’s – along the river’s east bank. He says the tires coat the river bottom, causing a rubberized barrier that prevents the natural flow of pollutants and keeps them in the water longer. Worse, as they disintegrate, the tires leak toxins. Others are also helping with their removal. MDIFW and the Forest Service are organizing an annual cleanup day this Sunday. If you’d like to help, email outdoor partners at maine dot gov.
Health
First Case of EEE Reported in State
(Augusta) The first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus was reported in our state this year, according to the Maine CDC. State health officials say the victim became ill with severe symptoms late last month and remains hospitalized. State officials caution the risk for Triple-E is considered severe in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and Waldo counties.
Human Interest
EPL Launches Dungeons and Dragons Club
(Ellsworth) Dungeons and Dragons is super popular with all ages – but this D&D group is for grades 8-12 only! OUTMaine is launching a 10-session Dungeons and Dragons Group for those grades, designed to empower LGBTQ-plus and allied youth. The sessions will be held at the Ellsworth Public Library and will run through February next year. If you’re interested, contact the library for specific days and times.