Coach Charged
(Deer Isle) – A 25-year old Blue Hill man who coached the Freshman basketball team at Deer Isle/Stonington High School is charged with unlawful sexual contact. A social worker and others at the school noticed that Izaak Bolduc would disappear with an under-aged girl for periods of time. They reported that to the Department of Health and Human Services and State Police ended up investigating the case. The Ellsworth American reports the District Attorney’s office filed the charges late last week.
Jackman Fire
(Jackman) – Fire tore through a large Jackman home, leaving 11 people homeless during the weekend. WABI-TV reports the blaze broke out late Saturday night and destroyed the building. One person suffered from smoke inhalation. The fire chief says the fire started in a 2nd story apartment, and likely was a result of an electrical problem. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.
I-295 Fatal
(Freeport) – One man is dead and members of a Connecticut family injured after a crash on Interstate 295 in Freeport. It happened Saturday during heavy holiday traffic. State Police say 50-year old Raymond Bisson of Gardiner lost control of his car, clipped a 2nd car then crossed to the Northbound lane of the interstate and slammed into the Connecticut family’s car. Bisson died in the wreck – the first fatal Memorial Day weekend accident in 4-years in Maine.
Drug Bust
(Bangor) Maine drug agents and Bangor police investigating the sale of heroin and crack cocaine nabbed 6 people after searching a Center Street residence. Arrested Thursday evening were Alexander Moleon, Karol Sullivan and Azaria Sullivan, all of Bangor. Two men from Detroit Michigan were also handcuffed, and Trisha Burke is charged with felony possession of heroin and methamphetamine. Police seized 47 grams of heroin and $14-hundred dollars in suspected drug proceeds. The group was taken to the Penobscot County Jail. More arrests are likely.
Surry Forest Meeting
(Surry) Blue Hill Heritage Trust will give an update on Surry Forest and the natural resource inventory they conducted during the last year. They’ll also discuss their plans to purchase the 2-thousand-plus acre Meadowbrook property near Patten Pond. The public meeting is this Wednesday evening at 6:30 at the Surry Elementary School.
Memorial Day Afternoon Events
(Local) Several Memorial Day events are planned for this afternoon. The Cherryfield town band will play patriotic music at the band stand by Legion Hall at 1 this afternoon, and the Memorial Day parade down Main Street starts at 2. Over in Surry there’s a Memorial Day observance at 1 o’clock at the Surry Memorial Park, located at the intersection of Surry Road and North Bend Road. And Bucksport’s Memorial Parade begins lining up at 3:30. The parade steps off at 4 o’clock and heads down Elm Street onto Main Street and ends at the Veterans Memorial on the waterfront.
Sign Contest Winners
(Augusta) The Maine Department of Transportation has announced the winners of their “My Maine Sign Contest”. A Maine DOT panel reviewed 2-thousand entries and narrowed it down to 60 for the public vote on in April. Between now and the next couple months, large message boards along Maine’s highways will say: “A Cold Suppah Is Bettah Thana Hot Ticket”, “Be Protected – Not Projected – Buckle Up”, and “Keep In Mind – Moose Eyes Don’t Shine”. Prizes varied for the winners but the real prize is having their message flashed on signs across the state.
Snowshoe Hares
(Local) If you’ve noticed an uptick in the wild rabbit population in your neighborhood you may be concerned about what predators may be lurking. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regional biologist says it’s unlikely your yard will turn into a zoo, but the snowshoe hare makes a nice meal to many creatures. Thom Schaffer says the department doesn’t do any sort of population tracking, but if you’re noticing more snowshoe hares around it’s a good indication the population has hit a high point in its cycle.
Town Manager
(SW Harbor) Selectmen in Southwest Harbor have appointed a new town manager. The Mt Desert Islander reports 39-year-old Justin VanDongen will begin his new post the end of June. VanDongen has served as Bar Harbor’s assessor for the last 5 years and has prior experience in municipal government. Outgoing manager Don Lagrange will assist in VanDongen’s first week of work, then Lagrange will remain as Southwest Harbor’s code enforcement officer.
Splash Pad Open
(Ellsworth) Just in time for the 80-degree weather, the splash pad a Knowlton Park in Ellsworth is open for the season. The splash pad operates daily from 10 AM ’til 8PM as long as the temperature remains above 65. City officials say the temperature sensor is bypassed for this weekend so the splash pad will operate through the long holiday weekend regardless of the temperature.
Animal Cruelty Plea
(Swanville) A Swanville farmer who police say killed and buried a dozen malnourished pigs before agents inspected them has pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty charges. Jerry Ireland faces 13 counts of cruelty to animals. Authorities say Maine Animal Welfare Program agents who responded to Ireland’s farm in March found a live pig locked in a barn without food or water. A further search uncovered a dozen dead pig carcasses. Agents say the living pigs were all thin.
Chicken Pot Pie
(Auburn) An Auburn man is suing his local KFC restaurant alleging permanent damages from a piece of bone he says he found in his chicken pot pie. Willie Blanchette claims he badly hurt his teeth when he bit down on a large bone contained in his chicken pot pie ordered from the restaurant chain’s store in Scarborough in 2015. The Sun-Journal reports that Blanchette is seeking damages plus attorney fees for “great pain and suffering and mental anguish requiring medical treatment.”
Sports
- Cleveland Cavaliers 87 Boston Celtics 79 (Cleveland wins Eastern Conference final)
- Western Conference NBA final game 7 is tonight between Houston and Golden State
- Atlanta Braves 7 Boston Red Sox 1. (Sox send David Price against Toronto this afternoon)
- Will Power wins the Indianapolis 500. Kyle Bush wins the Coca-Cola 600
High School Baseball
Foxcroft 6 Washington Acad. 0
Hermon sweeps Presque Isle
DI/Stonington 15 Machias 2
Softball
Old Town 8 MDI 0
Hermon sweeps Presque Isle
Foxcroft 9 Washington Acad. 0
DI/Stonington 21 Machias 1
