Mt. Desert Moratorium
(Mt. Desert) – Selectmen in Mt. Desert will meet tomorrow to sign a revised town meeting warrant to ask voters to place a moratorium on retail marijuana sales. A vote on a moratorium had been set for a week from tonight, but that special town meeting was canceled by Selectmen following a public hearing on the article. Lawmakers are debating implementation of a retail sales system for recreational marijuana following passage that legalized such use last year.
Collins – Shutdown
(Washington) – As the government shutdown moves into the work week, Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins says she and several other senators are working to end it. Collins told reporters yesterday more than 20-senators have joined a bi-partisan group working to come up with a solution to the shutdown.
Hancock Lumber Fire
(Pittsfield) – Firefighters from five communities battled a building fire in Pittsfield yesterday, keeping it from spreading at a lumber business. The call to Hancock Lumber on Stinson Street came in a little before 11-o’clock in the morning. WABI-TV reports the fire started in the roof above a boiler room, but they’re not sure why. No injuries reported.
Jackman Town Manager
(Jackman) – The town manager in Jackman says he doesn’t plan to quit, but does expect to get fired. Selectmen in the Western Maine town are keeping silent on the advice of the town attorney about 37-year old Tom Kawczynski after numerous media outlets reported that he favors preserving a white majority and keeping out Muslims. Local business leaders have condemned his views. Kawczynski was hired last August.
Murder Trial
(Bangor) – A man suspected of killing a 16-year old East Millinocket girl in 1980 goes on trial today for her death. Phillip Fournier stands accused of killing Joyce McLain whose body turned up two days after she was reported missing. Fournier crashed a fuel truck the evening McLain was attacked and killed behind Schenck High School. He served time for possession of child pornography several years ago. He’s changed his story several times over the years.
Knox County Sheriff
(Rockland) – The current chief deputy for Knox County plans to run for his boss’s job. Tim Carroll turned in nomination papers last week to get on the primary ballot for the Sheriff’s job. The current sheriff, Donna Dennison, plans to retire after her term is up. Carroll comes from a law enforcement family – his father was the police chief in Southwest Harbor and he worked for the Bar Harbor police department and marine patrol before moving to Knox County in the 1990s.
New RCC Director
(Hancock Cty) – Hancock County has chosen a new director for the Regional Communications Center. The Ellsworth American reports county commissioners hired Charles McInnis of Old Town. McInnis has a law enforcement background including working as a Penobscot County sheriff’s deputy and corrections officer. He’ll leave his current job with the University of Maine police department and start as the Hancock County RCC director on February 12th.
Crime Uptick
(Bucksport) Bucksport police have been dealing with an increase in violent crimes lately. Police chief Sean Geagan tells WVII-TV in the last few months they’ve dealt with an alleged homicide and 4 cases involving firearms. With only 8 full-time officers it’s a lot for the department to take on. Geagan is hopeful that Bucksport’s crime rate will eventually go back down to normal.
Summer Meals for Kids
(Maine) The Maine Department of Education’s Child Nutrition team is looking for organizations to participate in a program to provide healthy meals to kids when school’s not in session. The summer food service program is federally funded, and in 2017 there were 438 meal sites throughout the state. Site approval requires an area to have more than 50-percent of children who are eligible for free or reduced meal benefits under the National School Lunch Program. Interested organizations should contact the Maine Department of Education.
Anti-Food Shaming Bill
(Calais) A Senator from Washington County has proposed a bill to prevent food shaming students who have a hard time paying for school lunches. At the request of the Maine Education Association, Senator Joyce Maker has introduced “An Act Forbidding Food Shaming, Food Denial and the Use of Food as Discipline Involving Any Child in Maine’s Public Schools.” Maker hopes to end the practice of punishing students for their inability to pay for a meal by serving them an alternate lunch. The bill has been referred to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee for consideration.
Gun Possession
(Glenburn) A Glenburn man will spend 100 months in prison for being a felon in possession of guns. Court documents say in November 2014 Penobscot County deputies went to 31-year-old Jonathan Gardiner’s home after someone reported hearing gunshots. Gardiner ran from deputies and threw a pistol, which they recovered. Deputies entered his home and found a sawed-off shotgun hidden in Gardiner’s bedroom. He’s not allowed to have firearms because of felony convictions for burglary, aggravated assault, theft and drug trafficking. Gardiner pleaded guilty last April and was sentenced last week.
Manslaughter-Test Results
(Rockland) A federal judge says the government cannot use blood test results done on a Cushing man charged with manslaughter for the death of 2 crew members who sank with his boat in November 2014. Village Soup-dot Com reports the defense says 29-year-old Christopher Hutchinson was asleep in a hospital bed when the sample was taken and he never signed a consent form. The prosecution alleges Hutchinson smoked marijuana and drank alcohol the day his lobster boat sank west of Matinicus, killing 2 men. Jury selection for the 10-day trial begins February 5th. Hutchinson could face up to 10 years in prison.
Harassment Training
(Augusta) A Maine legislative panel is endorsing a proposal to mandate in-person sexual harassment training for all lawmakers. The Legislature’s Rules Committee voted unanimously last Thursday in support of Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Nate Libby’s measure. Currently, lawmakers can miss such training by signing a form outlining the Legislature’s sexual harassment policy.
Sports
- New England Patriots 24 Jacksonville Jaguars 20 (Pats win AFC Championship)
- Philadelphia Eagles 38 Minnesota Vikings 7 (Eagles win NFC Championship)
- Orlando Magic 103 Boston Celtics 95
- Bruins & Celtics off tonight.
