Fiberight Further Delayed
(Hampden) – A plant that will turn trash into biofuel looks like it won’t be in full operation until next summer now. The Fiberight plant which is under construction in Hampden, was supposed to have opened last April. Construction delays pushed back the opening, and plans were to slowly start accepting trash next month. The Kennebec Journal reports that is now pushed back until at least April, with all member towns of the Municipal Review Committee sending trash by June, or even later. While the plant is under construction, towns have shipped trash to landfills in Old Town and Norridgewock.
Lane Construction Sold
(Hancock) – A Connecticut based company that builds and paves a lot of Maine roads is getting sold to a company in France. Lane Construction has six permanent paving plants in Maine, including in Hancock and Hermon. The Bangor Daily News reports Eurovia, which is based in France, has purchased the company for a half billion dollars. Lane employs 370-people in Maine.
Storm Reprise
(Ellsworth) – That winter storm that left a little wet, heavy snow, wrapped back around itself last night and made a return with more snow overnight. That has delayed school openings in much of Washington and Hancock Counties this morning as snow fell longer than expected. Plow crews have been out this morning attempting to treat the roads. The temperature dropped and winds picked up overnight causing some pretty slow going in parts of Eastern Maine this morning. So far, no serious road problems are reported.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – The mother of a toddler whose disappearance prompted the biggest criminal investigation in Maine history is suing in hopes of unearthing more details. Monday’s announcement came on the seventh anniversary of the date 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds was reported missing by her father. Ayla’s mother has blamed the father for the girl’s death. But the body has never been found, and no charges have been filed.
Minimum Wage
(Augusta) Maine’s minimum wage will increase to $11 an hour in the new year thanks to a law approved by voters in 2016. The hourly wage will then increase again to $12 in 2020. Then, the wage will increase according to a formula tied to the cost of living. Some lawmakers last year unsuccessfully proposed to lower future minimum wage increases. Tipped employees will see their wages increase from $5 per hour to $5.50.
Texting to 9-1-1
(Local) You can now text emergencies to 9-1-1. The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Emergency Services Communications Bureau has been working with major wireless telecommunications carriers over the last several months to complete and test this advancement in technology. Hancock County Regional Communications Center director Bobby Conary says the texting option should only be used when making a voice call to 911 is not an option. When texting 91-1- no pictures, video, or other attachments can be sent with the emergency communications.
Richmond Homicide & Suicide
(Richmond) State police say the death of a Richmond couple over the weekends is the result of domestic violence. Detectives say 46-year-old Kirk Alexander Jr. shot his longtime girlfriend in the head then turned the handgun on himself. He and 37-year-old Niomi Mello were found dead in the kitchen Saturday morning by Mello’s 11-year-old son. The boy went to a nearby store to get help. He’s now staying with his father.
Fentanyl Trafficking
(Parsonsfield) A Parsonsfield man is sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. 41-year-old Jason Bolduc schemed with others to acquire large amounts of the synthetic drug in Massachusetts and sell it in Maine between September 2016 and January 2017. Federal and state drug agents arrested Bolduc as he returned from one of his resupply trips and seized 15-hundred grams of fentanyl from his rental car.
Sports
- Boston Bruins 4 Montreal Canadiens 0
- Monday Night Football: New Orleans Saints 12 Carolina Panthers 9
- Celtics & Bruins off tonight
High School Basketball
No games reported from yesterday
