Inn Sold
(Bar Harbor) – A Belfast couple has purchased the historic Bass Cottage Inn in Bar Harbor. The Bangor Daily News reports Eddie and Judy Hemingsen sold the Belfast Bay Inn last Thursday and closed on the Bass Cottage Inn the same day. The Hemingsens owned the Bluenose Inn in Bar Harbor and sold that in 2000 after fire destroyed it in 1994. They also own Ullikana in Bar Harbor, which they purchased last year.
Shots Fired
(Cushing) – Gunshots fired at homes in Knox County have deputies advising residents to lock their homes and vehicles. The Sheriff’s Department posts on its Facebook page that it has received reports from home occupants in Friendship and Cushing that bullets have hit their buildings during the early morning hours. No one is injured. The Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate and asks anyone with information to contact the detective looking into the shootings.
FOAA Request – SW Harbor
(Southwest Harbor) – A Southwest Harbor man who requested phone records from the town office says the town has taken way too long to comply. The Mt. Desert Islander reports Jim Snow requested town manager Don LaGrange’s cell phone records in December 2016 and has yet to obtain them. LaGrange tells the paper he’s written to his cell phone provider to request the records, and they’ve not yet come in. Snow wrote a check to the town for research and photocopies, but the town has not cashed the check and says it can’t cash it now because it’s so old.
Facebook Scam
(Machias) – The Sheriff’s Department in Washington County says an offer that looks too good to be true over Facebook is. The posting from a group claiming to be the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agency is offering big grants. When the on-line application is filled out, the group asks for a $3-thousand dollar payment. Star 97.7 checked the Federation – it’s based in New York State and does not apparently offer grants to individuals. Deputies say the offer is a likely scam.
Ellsworth Open House
(Ellsworth) The city of Ellsworth, the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce and the Ellsworth Public Library will collaborate to welcome newcomers and neighbors during the Ellsworth Open House. Committee member Abby Morrow says every family that attends will get a welcome bag. Anyone interested in learning more about Ellsworth can stop by the Ellsworth Open House held at the library on State Street this Wednesday from 4 to 7.
River Flow Meeting
(Augusta) – With well over 2-feet of snow falling from 3-nor’easters in the past 2-weeks, the spring flood potential in Maine is a lot higher than it was at the beginning of the month. Maine’s River Flow Advisory Commission met Friday in Augusta to discuss ice conditions and flood risk across the state. MEMA spokeswoman Susan Faloon says several agencies including the Maine Geological Survey and the National Weather Service attended. Spring flooding is expected to be above average and Faloon says the River Flow Advisory Commission will meet again in 2 weeks to reassess the situation.
School Threat
(Baileyville) Authorities took a young man allegedly responsible for making a threat that closed 2 schools in Baileyville to Downeast Community Hospital for evaluation. Baileyville police chief Bob Fittzsimmons reports the 19-year-old Woodland High School graduate threatened to harm himself in a vehicle on school grounds. As a result the schools closed early Friday morning and students sent home. The suspect was arrested later on Route 9 by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and he’s charged with Terrorizing.
Crack Arrests
(Warren) A Maine man and 2 women from New York were busted for crack cocaine distribution in the mid-coast area. Police say the New York women stayed at motels and residences in Knox and Lincoln Counties where agents conducted several undercover purchases. The trio, which includes 52-year-old Joseph Malburg of Warren, were arrested at Malburg’s home last week where police seized drugs, cash and other evidence of drug trafficking.
Cocaine Arrests
(Scarborough) A car pulled over in Scarborough was found to be occupied by people with prior criminal records who were in possession of cocaine. The operator, 26-year-old Chelsea Wyman of Clinton, is charged with Operating After Habitual Offender Revocation and Unlawful Possession of Drugs. 47-year-old passenger Scott Gordon of Clinton is charged with Unlawful Possession. And a passenger from New York is charged for failing to give his name as well as being a fugitive from justice in his home state. All 3 were locked up last week.
LL Bean Trouble
(Freeport) L.L. Bean sales declined slightly over the past year and that means no bonuses for workers for the first time since 2008. The Maine-based outdoors retailer announced Friday annual revenue of $1.6 billion-dollars, which was nearly flat. CEO Steve Smith said cost-cutting efforts are putting the company on a path “to a more prosperous future.”
Goat Murder
(Scarborough) A man questioned in the death of a pregnant goat killed with a crossbow has been barred from the Maine farm where the animal was found. A judge issued a protective order for the owner of Smiling Hill Farm against 40-year-old Daniel Arnold. Police investigating the goat’s death arrested Arnold last month on suspicion of possessing a crossbow in violation of a previous probation order. He has not been charged with killing the animal.
Sports
- The bracket busting continued in the NCAA playoffs as Syracuse knocked off Michigan State, Florida State beat # 1 Xavier, and Nevada dumped # 2 Cincinnati. UMBC, which knocked off Virginia, lost to Kansas State. Just two #1s remain in the Sweet 16.
- New Orleans Pelicans 108 Boston Celtics 89
- The Patriots have obtained kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson from the Raiders.
- Red Sox 2 Pirates 1 (Spring training) – Sox host the Phillies today
- The Bruins face the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.
