Driving/Snow
(Ellsworth) – A steady snow fall has coated the ground in Downeast Maine this morning as the first significant snow of the season has shut down schools about everywhere. The National Weather Service has advised that roads will be slippery and visibility limited during the fast moving storm that should end by early evening. A few accidents are reported this morning, including a roll-over crash on the Surry Road in Ellsworth.
Tax Settlement
(Belfast) – The city of Belfast will pay back its largest taxpayer nearly $350-thousand dollars for over assessing the property. Village Soup dot-com reports the city and STAG IV Belfast LLC settled on a much lower assessed value for the complex that houses the Bank of America and On Process Technology. The city had put aside money for the past couple of years anticipating the lowered value. Belfast had assessed the building at $41-million dollars and lowered the value based on vacant office space. An independent appraiser set the value at a little more than $16-million.
Police Crash
(Rockland) – A two vehicle accident in Rockland left a police officer hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Village Soup dot-com reports the crash at the intersection of Park and Union Streets occurred last evening. The police chief declined to name the officer. The other driver refused medical attention. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash.
DECH CEO
(Machias) – There’s a new Chief Executive Officer at the hospital in Machias. Downeast Community Hospital tells Star 97.7 that Steve Lail took over as CEO. He has a lot of history with the hospital, having served as the Chief Operating Officer and leading the project to expand the emergency and Rehab departments. The board chair at the hospital said it’s the first time in 20-years they hired a CEO who was completely familiar with the facility.
Chimney Fire
(Trenton) Firefighters in Trenton were called to a home before Noon yesterday to knock out a chimney fire. Crews quickly put out the flames at 759 Bar Harbor Road with mutual aid assistance from Ellsworth.
Fire Kills Cows
(Levant) Fifteen cows at a farm in Levant perished after a barn caught fire and collapsed early yesterday morning. WABI-TV reports fire crews were called to the Hodgdon Road around 6 AM yesterday and remained at the scene for hours to put out hot spots as the bar was filled with hay that kept igniting. The home nearby was not damaged.
Golden Wins CD2
(Augusta) – The Jared Golden campaign is celebrating. Bruce Poliquin is suing after a ranked-choice voting count has given Golden a come-from behind victory in the 2nd Congressional district. It’s the first time ranked choice voting has been used in a general election in Maine, and after the first round Poliquin had a lead. But, more people who voted for fringe candidates picked Golden as their 2nd choice, and when the counting ended, Golden came from behind to win. Poliquin filed suit against using ranked choice voting and will continue with the federal lawsuit.
Train Show
(Brewer) The Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club’s annual train show happens in Brewer this weekend. Club president Geoff Anthony tells Star 977 the event features more than just a modular layout with moving trains. The Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club’s train show is at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer tomorrow from 10 ‘til 3.
Mills Foundation
(Rome) A Powerball jackpot winner from the mid-west is gifting some of her winnings to an organization based in Central Maine. 51-year-old Lerynne West of Dexter Iowa was one of two Powerball winners on October 27th. WMTW reports West appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show this week to announce she’s donating $500-thousand-dollars to the Travis Mills Foundation in Rome Maine. The Mills Foundation runs a retreat on Belgrade Lakes for wounded veterans. West said she made the donation because she comes from a long line of family who have served in the military.
Pig Captured
(Palmyra) Maine State Police helped corral a large brown pig running loose along Interstate-95. Troopers were alerted to an “unruly subject” along the interstate in Palmyra on Wednesday. The pig was spotted several times over the past week, but had managed to elude capture. Captain Rick Moody and Trooper Jeremy Caron moved the “uncooperative” pig off the highway with the help of a town animal control officer. No injuries were reported.
Sports
- Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts is the Most Valuable Player in the American League last season. The National League named Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich as the MVP
- The University of Maine women’s basketball team made it close with Duke last night, losing 66-to-63.
- Thursday Night Football: Seattle 27 Green Bay 24
- Celtics home against Toronto tonight.
- Former Celtic Rajon Rondo will miss at least 4-weeks after breaking a hand. Rondo plays for the Lakers.
- The Bruins skate against the Stars in Dallas tonight.
- Maine’s fall sports season officially closes tomorrow with the state football championships in all four classes.
