Storm
(Ellsworth) – It didn’t snow yesterday – that gave public works crews a chance to push back some of the high snow banks to make room for today’s storm. The good news, it’s nowhere near the foot originally feared. There is school in Hancock County today – it’s going to start 2-hours late. Some school districts way Downeast are not opening. Police report very few traffic problems this morning.
Skowhegan Fire
(Skowhegan) – The fire that left apartment dwellers homeless two nights ago in Skowhegan started with an over used extension cord. WABI-TV reports fire investigators traced the origin to a light duty extension cord that was in continuous use. Fire officials say the apartments had working smoke detectors and that helped alert residents to get out of the burning building.
Weather
(Ellsworth) A little snow goes a long way and lots of Mainers have had it up to here with the recent blast of winter storms. Ellsworth Public Works Director Larry Wilson says city workers have been working countless hours to haul the surplus of snow by dump-truck out to the city pit. Wilson says the latest storm puts them behind a bit. Wilson cautions those who plow private residences or roads that it’s illegal to push snow out into the roadway as it could cause an accident. Wilson assures residents that city plow drivers never intentionally hit mailboxes, and those workers will happily put back mailboxes that are installed properly according to the ordinance.
Drug Arrests
(Machias) – Deputies and drug agents hauled two out of state men to jail in Machias after a pair of house searches this week. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department reports to Star 97.7 they charged 18-year old Rafael Santiago of Brooklyn Connecticut and 23-year old Marco Serrano of New Bedford Massachusetts with drug trafficking. The home searches came after a joint investigation that included undercover heroin and crack cocaine purchases.
Gov’s Salary
(Augusta) Maine has the nation’s lowest salary for a governor and a lawmaker says it’s time to boost it. Republican Rep. Bradlee Farrin is sponsoring a bill to raise the governor’s salary from $70,000 to $150,000. The raise would start January 2019, so it wouldn’t apply to Republican Gov. Paul LePage.
Food Pantry Struggles
(Portland) Food pantries in Maine say they are increasingly overworked as a result of tougher eligibility requirements for food stamp recipients under GOP Gov. Paul LePage’s administration. One in four respondents to a recent survey commissioned by hunger relief agencies Preble Street and Good Shepherd Food Bank reported being dropped from the federal food stamps program administered by the state in the past year.
Red Light Special
(Augusta) A bill presented before the Legislature’s Transportation Committee would permit police in Maine to use 50-percent red lights when pulling over motorists instead of traditional blue lights. Police say the transition is based on multiple studies that have found that the human eye can see flashing red lights better during the day than blue lights.
Voting Bill
(Augusta) Legislators are considering bills that supporters say protect election integrity and critics say make voting harder. The ACLU of Maine said the bills solve problems that don’t exist and could lead to lawsuits.
Young Cops-Guns
(Augusta) A Republican lawmaker from Auburn has proposed that Maine extend the right for a police permit to carry a concealed firearm to residents who are 18 to 21 years old. The Sun Journal reports that existing law only allows those under 21 to carry concealed weapons if they are active members of the military or have been honorably discharged.
Sports
High School Boys Basketball Prelims
North Class B Belfast Area 65, Houlton 51
North Class C Woodland 64, Fort Kent Community 62
North Class D Houlton Christian Academy 57, Ashland Community 42
South Class D Pine Tree Academy 60, Islesboro Central 54
GIRLS North Class D Katahdin 59, Jonesport-Beals 51
Boston Celtics 116 Philadelphia 76ers 108 (Celtics at Chicago Bulls tonight)
Men’s College: New Hampshire 64 Maine 51
Women’s College: New Hampshire 65 Maine 57
Leave a Reply