Lamoine – Marijuana
(Lamoine) – Voters in Lamoine will decide whether to ban retail marijuana sellers and growers from town. Selectmen last night set a public hearing for February 16th prior to a referendum vote at the annual town meeting on March 7th. Several other communities in Maine have already voted to at least temporarily ban marijuana selling and cultivation businesses following November’s narrow vote to legalize recreational pot use.
Lobster Prices
(Ellsworth) – It’s a good time of year to be in the lobster meat business. Lobster is in high demand world wide – especially in China and Europe. The Ellsworth American polled prices at various locations. Local fishermen are getting up to $6-dollars a pound. At this time of year, most lobstermen who stay inland have hauled their traps in until next spring. Offshore fishermen are supplying the world market, and for tail and claw meat, retail prices are nearly $60-dollars a pound.
Cops – MDI Schools
(Bar Harbor) – Mount Desert Island’s new school superintendent has assigned a police officer to the elementary schools in Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert and to MDI High School. And, he’s issued an apology to school board members. The Mt. Desert Islander reports superintendent Marc Gousse made the agreement with police chief Jim Willis without seeking school board approval. Two former school board members have complained about having a police officer in the high school. The school board will discuss that in coming days.
Stockton Springs Building
(Augusta) – A Stockton Springs woman has 30-days to fix up her home or tear it down after a ruling from Maine’s highest court yesterday. The State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the town which declared Holly Beal’s home dangerous. An inspection by Code Enforcement Officer John Larson last year revealed rotted sills, exposed wiring, inadequate plumbing and a chimney with no flue liner. Beal challenged the town’s Board of Selectmen findings, saying she was not given a chance to present testimony. The high court ruled the town acted correctly.
Son/Killer Confesses
(Winthrop) – A 17-year old Winthrop boy arrested for killing his parents last Halloween allegedly confessed to a 9-1-1 dispatcher that he had done it. Court records released yesterday showed Andrew Balcer called police after he allegedly stabbed both his mother and father to death in their Winthrop home. He also killed the family dog, but spared his brother. When Winthrop’s police chief responded, he noticed blood on Balcer and asked if the youngster was hurt. Balcer said he was OK – the blood came from his parents. A court has not yet decided whether the teen will be charged as an adult.
Perry Fire
(Perry) – Firefighters from four Washington County communities rushed to Route 1 in Perry yesterday after reports of a building fire. Several passing motorists called 9-1-1 at about 7-o’clock in the morning. The Washington County RCC confirmed to Star 97.7 that Pembroke, Robbinston and Pleasant Point fire departments responded to the scene to assist Perry’s firefighters. No word on injuries or what caused the blaze.
Weathering Shame
(Ellsworth) Former TV weatherman Kevin Mannix comes to Ellsworth next week to discuss the book he’s written “Weathering Shame” about the challenges of depression. The Rotary Club of Ellsworth is hosting the free presentation, sponsored by Maine Coast Memorial Hospital. Mannix says taking that first step to get help leads to a path of healing. Both Mannix and his wife Linda Rota have struggled with depression and the associated stigma of mental health issues. The free discussion is Tuesday night at 7 at the Moore Community Center on State Street in Ellsworth.
Hit & Run Suspect
(Bangor) State police are looking for the person involved in a hit-and-run crash on I-395. Police tell WABI-TV a pickup truck was cut off by the driver of a small, gray or silver SUV on Wednesday afternoon. The truck rolled several times, but the driver – Damon Noyes – had only minor injuries. The SUV driver stopped for a moment before fleeing the scene. Anyone who may’ve witnessed the crash or has information should call state police.
LePage – Bean Statement
(Augusta) Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage is criticizing a liberal group that is calling for a boycott of L.L. Bean in protest of donations that the founder’s granddaughter made to Donald Trump backers. LePage on Thursday said the group is trying to destroy Linda Bean’s reputation and damage the Freeport-based retailer’s “iconic brand.” The governor is encouraging customers to continue to support L.L. Bean.
LL Bean – Trump
(Augusta) A pro-Trump PAC linked to L.L. Bean heiress Linda Bean is now reporting donations it never disclosed to the federal government last year. The amended filings by Making Maine Great Again say Bean donated 30-thousand-dollars, not 60-thousand-dollars as the political action committee originally reported. The PAC now says Diana Bean, who is believed to be Linda Bean’s sister, contributed $15,000 with the rest coming from four previously undisclosed donors.
Sports
High School Basketball – Boys
Sumner Memorial 65, Deer Isle-Stonington 55
Searsport District 40, Bucksport 38
Mount View 56, Belfast Area 41
Machias 61, Narraguagus 31
Lee Academy 72, Mattanawcook Academy 66
Girls
Bucksport 40, Searsport District 25
Ellsworth 29, Orono 21
Hermon 61, Mount Desert Island 36
Houlton 66, Calais 54
Mount View 43, Belfast Area 31
Narraguagus 86, Machias 15
Shead 62, East Grand (GHC) 40
Woodland 60, Jonesport-Beals 38
Stearns 103, Lee Academy 12
NBA: Celtics at Atlanta Hawks
NHL: Nashville Predators 2 Boston Bruins 1
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