Embezzlement Plea
(Bangor) – A former Brooklin resident who ripped off a boat yard where he worked as the business manager faces up to 30-years in prison and a million dollar fine after pleading guilty in federal court. The US Attorney’s office tells Star 97.7 Steven Nygren has entered guilty pleas to bank fraud, tax evasion and illegal credit card use. Nygren stole nearly $800-thousand dollars from his employers over the years, wiring the money to fake businesses he set up and using some of it to buy a general store that has since been sold and rebuilt.
Hodgdon Appeal
(Augusta) – A former teacher and coach at the Tremont Consolidated School will report to prison for the next 3-and-a-half years after losing his appeal before the Maine Supreme Court. The justices rejected Benjamin Hodgdon’s contention that jurors got poor instruction from the trial judge about the victim’s age. Hodgdon and a former student engaged in numerous sexual acts when the student was less than 14-years old. She came forward many years later and told police about the incidents. The high court released its 15 page ruling yesterday.
Weathering Shame
(Ellsworth Falls) Former TV meteorologist Kevin Mannix and wife Linda Rota will speak in Ellsworth Falls tomorrow about their childhood struggles and how it’s shaped them as adults. Mannix tells Star 97-7 he’ll talk about what it was like growing up with an alcoholic father and Linda will discuss losing her mother to suicide, but most anyone can benefit by attending their presentation. Mannix will sell and sign copies of his book Weathering Shame after the discussion tomorrow night at 6 at Union Congregational Church of Ellsworth Falls.
Route 1-A Paving
(Ellsworth) – A construction project in North Ellsworth that has spanned nearly 2-years should be complete next week. Crews are rolling final paving surfaces on Route 1-A. Resident Engineer Jeff Coffin says they’ve had a slight delay. Meanwhile, work continues on a new road in Ellsworth off the Route 1-A project and headed to Ellsworth High school.
PSAP Hearing
(Ellsworth) Hancock County commissioners listened to testimony Tuesday about hiring another agency to answer 9-1-1 calls instead of the county Regional Communication Center. Sheriff Scott Kane says county commissioners made no decisions, but the hearing was thorough and informative. Kane says he supports keeping Hancock County as a 9-1-1 answering point. He says if 9-1-1 call answering services are sent to Penobscot County, the county dispatch center would still serve area fire and police departments as it does now.
Elver Plea
(Woolwich) A Woolwich man faces up to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday to illegally selling elvers. Prosecutors say 38-year-old Michael Squillace sold 183 pounds of the baby eels to an unnamed Maine elver dealer in 2012 valued at $3-hundred-75-thousand-dollars. The Bangor Daily News reports Squillace is the 6th midcoast Maine man to be charged with selling poached elvers in recent years.
Drunk Driving Indictment
(Woolwich) A grand jury has indicted a Maine woman on manslaughter and drunken driving charges stemming from a head-on collision that killed a couple in January. The Sagadahoc County Sheriff ‘s Department says the crash was caused when an SUV driven by 34-year-old Danielle Ward veered into oncoming traffic on U.S. 1 in Woolwich.
Lyme Disease
(MARSHFIELD, Vt.) Tick numbers are on the rise across New England this spring, raising the prospect of an increase in Lyme and other diseases. The region got a break last year as the drought took a toll on ticks, whose numbers drop as the humidity falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Lyme disease cases has tripled to about 30,000 cases nationwide each year.
State Budget
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Lawmakers have reached the last official day of the session but are expected to stay for another week or so to hash out a budget deal. Lawmakers will likely vote on the matter Wednesday. Loose ends to tie up include Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s $6.8 billion, two-year budget proposal. The budget is due June 30 to avoid a government shutdown and negotiations have stalled over education funding.
Parking Meters
YORK, Maine (AP) – Officials of a Maine town say they’ve lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to faulty parking kiosks installed in May. The Portland Press Herald reports the electronic parking meters installed by the town of York last May have had problems since they were installed. The kiosks were meant to replace a set of vintage quarters-only parking meters originally installed in the 1960s.
Sports
- Boston Red Sox 8 Kansas City Royals 3 (Chris Sale strikes out 10. Sox send Drew Pomeranz against the Royals this afternoon. Boston a half game in front of the Yankees in 1st place in the American League East).
- Erie Sea Wolves 6 Portland Sea Dogs 4
- American Legion: Brewer 10 Trenton 4 (Bangor & Hampden rained out)
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