DCF Vote
(Augusta) – A week ago today a state police tactical team stood guard as the Department of Corrections bussed prisoners from the Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport to a similar prison facility in Charleston. It’s been a busy week, but a vote in the Legislature yesterday means it’s unlikely the Machiasport prison will reopen. A bill to fund the facility passed, but not by enough votes to override an expected veto from Governor Paul LePage. Earlier this week the Department of Corrections agreed to stop removing fixtures from the Buck’s Harbor prison after County Commissioners filed suit, saying the Governor overstepped his authority to close the prison.
American – Plaques
(Ellsworth) – The Ellsworth American and Mt. Desert Islander Newspapers have filed copyright infringements complaints against a Connecticut based company that makes plaques on which newspaper articles are mounted. The papers report That’s Good News company has solicited business from people in the area, offering the plaques with the articles lifted from the newspapers. The paper complained to the Ellsworth Police Department that the plaque company has actively solicited locals to buy the plaques with the poached articles mounted on them.
Bar Harbor Port Authority
(Augusta) – Preliminary voting in the Legislature shows support for a bill that would allow the Town of Bar Harbor to create a Port Authority to run the former Bay Ferries terminal that the town will purchase. The measure faces several more votes. Meanwhile, the town council in Bar Harbor has ordered town manager Cornell Knight to investigate possible ethics violations by warrant committee members who may have conspired to work against the port authority measure.
MDI Silent Protest
(Bar Harbor) – The silence inside the Mt. Desert Island High School gym yesterday was powerful as students gathered in protest of gun violence in schools. They didn’t say a thing – many carried signs that said enough was enough following the shooting in Florida that left 17-people dead. Students organized the protest – the same day the school had planned to run an active shooter drill. That drill was postponed following the Florida school shooting.
Innocent Plea
(Houlton) An Easton man pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of his stepfather last month. 37-year-old James Peaslee was indicted this week for murder and appeared in Houlton court Thursday. He’s accused of killing of 79-year-old Paul Hilenski at Hilenski’s Bridgewater home. WABI-TV reports Peaslee is held in the Aroostook County Jail without bail.
Pedestrian Hit
(Rockland) A Hope woman suffered broken bones when she jogged into the back of a flatbed trailer being towed by a tractor trailer truck. The Rockland police department reports last week 42-year-old Jennifer Messier was crossing Camden Street where there is no crosswalk and jogged into the back of the moving vehicle without the driver knowing. Messier went to the local hospital with a broken pelvis, broken leg, broken elbow and other injuries. She’s is in stable condition and no charges will be filed.
Felon Sought
(Whiting) State police are asking for the publics’ help locating a Whiting man who could also be in the Ellsworth, Machias or Calais area. 32-year-old Robert Boggia is sought for serious felony crimes and troopers haven’t been able to find him. Boggia is about 6-feet tall, 185-pounds and has a shaved head. If you’ve seen him you’re asked to call state police or dial 9-1-1.
Body Recovered
(Harrington) – Fishermen in Harrington found the body of a missing clam digger yesterday morning. 62-year-old Delbert Caler of Harrington did not return home after clamming Wednesday evening. A search began at yesterday morning and Caler’s body was found 3 hours later in the water about a half-mile away from Lower Wass Cove on the Pleasant River. The Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta is working to determine Caler’s cause of death.
Tank Damaged
(Bar Harbor) Spill and site cleanup trucks rushed to a retirement facility yesterday in Bar Harbor after a propane leak. David Madore of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection tells Star 97-7 there was no danger to residents at Birch Bay Village. A chunk of ice fell from the roof and damaged a large propane tank. Irving Propane made the necessary repairs while DEP responders and Bar Harbor firefighters stayed on scene to assist.
School Threat
(So. Portland) A 15-year-old student at South Portland High School was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot up the school. Lt Frank Clark tells the Bangor Daily News police intercepted the student Thursday morning as he walked to school. He was in possession of a knife but no firearms. The unnamed male student is charged with terrorizing for posting the threat on Snapchat Wednesday evening.
Flu Update
(Maine) A state health official says she is “cautiously optimistic” that the flu season has peaked in Maine but warned that the disease is still widespread. On Wednesday, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 831 new flu cases for the week ending Feb. 10. That’s down from 876 cases the previous week. Epidemiologist Sara Robinson says it’s too soon to say definitively if cases will continue to decline.
Wiscasset vs MDOT
(Wiscasset) Town officials say they rejected a settlement with the Maine Department of Transportation over a traffic project because Gov. Paul LePage changed a key agreement. The Portland Press Herald reports the Wiscasset Select Board voted to reject the state’s proposal Tuesday night. Town attorney Peter Murray says LePage removed parking features and other details in the plan.
Star 97-7 Sports….
- The NBA is entering it’s All-Star break weekend.
High School Northern ME Tournament
Class “B”
5PM #3 MDI vs. # 6 Winslow (Girls)
6:30 PM # 2 John Bapst. vs. # 7 Waterville (Girls)
8:00 PM #11 Orono vs. #3 Presque Isle (Boys)
