Fournier Trial Update
(Bangor) – The judge who heard an East Millinocket’s man murder trial will announce her verdict tomorrow. Justice Ann Murray has weighed the evidence against Phillip Scott Fournier who was accused of killing 16-year old Joyce McClain in 1980. Her body turned up behind Schenck High School after she failed to return home from an evening jog. Fournier reportedly confessed to his parents and a pastor, but his attorney said a head injury suffered in an automobile crash the same night that McClain disappeared caused brain damage that produced a false confession.
Dudman Obit
(Blue Hill) – A woman once named Maine’s Broadcaster of the Year has died at the of 93. Helen Dudman and her husband Richard owned three Ellsworth based radio stations during the 1980s and 90s, selling out to a larger and now defunct company. Dudman died this week at Parker Ridge in Blue Hill following heart failure, having lost her husband last year. A memorial service is planned on March 17th.
Boggia – Court
(Ellsworth) – A 32-year old convicted felon from Washington County captured last week in Trescott made his initial court appearance in Ellsworth yesterday. Robert Boggia appeared by video conference. Boggia is accused of several crimes, including rape. WVII-TV reports he allegedly stalked a woman and attacked her after she spurned his advances. She escaped to another state with her children. A judge ordered Boggia held on $50-thousand dollars bail and not to travel out of Maine.
Poliquin-NRA $
(Augusta) Republican U.S. Representative Bruce Poliquin is declining to comment on the National Rifle Association’s more than $200-thousand-dollars in spending to support his political career following criticism from author Stephen King. King tweeted that The New York Times revealed the NRA’s financial support for Poliquin. Federal campaign finance reports show the gun rights advocacy group spent such funds on donations to Poliquin and independent campaign expenses.
Land Trust Tax Push
(Augusta) Conservation advocates in Maine say Governor Paul LePage is using misleading information in his push to tax land trusts. The Portland Press Herald reports LePage renewed his effort to tax land trusts during his State of the State address Tuesday. Conservationists say LePage failed to explain that the state, federal government and municipalities own about $11.8 billion worth of Maine’s tax-exempt property.
Felon w/ Gun
(Ogunquit) State police who pulled over a vehicle on Interstate-95 in Ogunquit for a traffic violation wound-up arresting the driver. Troopers stopped the car last week and found a loaded handgun in the car driven by 30-year-old Allyson Mateo of New Hampshire. Mateo is a felon who’s prohibited from possessing firearms. She was arrested on the spot and transported to the York County Jail
Lobster Emoji
(Augusta) After negative public feedback, the organization that controls the release of emojis has added two more legs to the forthcoming lobster emoji to make it correct. Soon after the Unicode Consortium released proposed images of 157 new emojis set to be released this year, Maine residents took offense at the lobster emoji’s 8-legs instead of the correct 10. Other emojis being changed before release are the skateboard and DNA emoji.
Police Chief to Retire
(China ME) The head of the Maine State Police is retiring to take a position as security director at Colby College. Colonel Robert Williams has been in law enforcement for 33 years and spent the last 7 years as the State Police Colonel. At Colby, Williams will lead a staff of 40 employees and will manage and administer safety programming, facility security, compliance, training, emergency preparedness, and critical incident management.
Sports
- Boston Bruins 3 Edmonton Oilers 2
- The US has won a gold medal in cross country skiing; Lindsey Vonn won a bronze medal in the women’s downhill skiing.
- The NCAA has stripped Louisville of its 2013 Men’s basketball title for recruiting violations, including getting hookers for recruits.
High School Tourney
Class “C” quarterfinals wrap up this morning, Class “B” semi-finals this afternoon and tonight.
Class “C” Girls – #11 Calais 53 #3 Narraguagus 49
Class “C” Girls – #2 Dexter 42 #7 Fort Kent 13
Class “C” Boys – # 5 Fort Kent 66 # 4 Central Aroostook 45
Class “C” Boys – #1 George Stevens 55 #8 Houlton 43
Class “C” Girls – #5 Central 40 #4 Stearns 33
Class “C” Girls – #1 Houlton 65 #8 Piscataquis 26
