Fatal Fire
(Acton) – A 28-year old Acton man died when his apartment caught fire during the weekend. The State Fire Marshal’s office reports to Star 97.7 that Edward Roberts’ body turned up in his apartment that passing motorists spotted ablaze late Saturday night. Investigators have not yet determined how the fire started. The medical examiners’ office will conduct an autopsy. Roberts lived in a 2nd story apartment above a garage in Acton.
Calais Crash
(Calais) – Police in Calais say three people went to the hospital early this morning after a crash on Route 1 near the Baring town line. WABI-TV reports four people were in the vehicle that slammed into a utility pole and brought down live wires. One of them suffered serious injuries. Police and rescue crews responded to the crash shortly after midnight.
Salmon Appeal
(Bucksport) – A salmon farm proposed for Bucksport could find its project delayed thanks to an appeal of a wastewater discharge license by a Belfast resident. The Bangor Daily News reports Holly Faubel filed a 27-page appeal with Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection. Faubel has called for a number of changes to the permit, including removal of mercury from water before it enters the salmon pens. The only opposition to the Bucksport proposal by Whole Oceans has come from Belfast residents. Another salmon operation is proposed for Belfast and that also faces opposition.
Police Cruise Accidents
(Dover-Foxcroft) – Motorists struck a pair of police cruisers in Maine during the weekend. State Police report to Star 97.7 that for a second time in a week, a trooper’s cruiser was totaled when a motorist did not swing around it on the Maine Turnpike in New Gloucester. The 22-year old woman and the state trooper suffered non-life threatening injuries. And in Dover-Foxcroft, WVII-TV reports a police cruiser parked on the side of the road with its lights on sustained damage when a motorist lost control while coming over a hill. Three children in the vehicle that struck the cruiser sustained minor injuries.
Celebrate Responsibly
(Local) Welcoming in the New Year can mean consuming alcohol for some folks. Healthy Acadia reminds everyone to celebrate responsibly. Spokeswoman Tara Young says if you even think you’ve had too much to drink, don’t get behind the wheel. Young suggests eating a meal or protein snack before drinking alcohol. She says pacing your beverages while still drinking water will also slow down your intoxication rate.
Burglary Arrest
(Bangor) Bangor police say a transient man who wasn’t wearing pants broke into a woman’s home in Bangor last week. The homeowner called police around 10:30 that night after hearing a noise and discovering the intruder. She hid in a different room until officers arrived and found 37-year-old Brian Swett in the woman’s kitchen. Swett had allegedly rummaged through the victim’s purse, and several cabinets and drawers, and had stolen some of her belongings. Swett is charged with Burglary and Theft.
Election Suit Over
(Bangor) Maine’s outgoing Republican governor has signed off on the results of a disputed congressional contest, but not before getting the last word with a handwritten note calling it a “stolen election.” A federal appeals court filing Friday showed all parties agreed to the dismissal of Republican Representative Bruce Poliquin’s lawsuit over the November election without any award of legal fees. The filing makes formal Poliquin’s Christmas Eve announcement he’d drop the suit. The election marked the first use of ranked-choice voting in a congressional race. Democratic Representative Jared Golden received fewer votes than Poliquin in the first vote-counting round, but pulled ahead when second-choice ballots were later counted.
DV Homicides 2018
(Maine) Maine is paced to wrap-up 2018 with 9 domestic violence homicides. WVII-TV reports three of those cases were murder-suicides. One of the most publicized domestic violence homicides of the year was the beating death of 10-year-old Marissa Kennedy, who was living in Stockton Springs when her parents allegedly killed her. 2018 also saw a number of police shootings, including one on June 29th in Dixmont, where Michael Grendell reportedly fired shots at police and was then shot by Maine State Police. Grendell survived. Three people died in armed confrontations with police in Oakfield, Wales and in Old Town. The Maine Attorney General’s Office is still investigating those shootings.
Cause of Death Undetermined
(Blue Hill) The State Medical Examiner’s Office says the cause of death is unknown for a Blue Hill woman whose remains were discovered in November. 37-year-old Jessica Grindle had been missing since August when a hunter found human remains in the woods off Grindleville Road. Dental records were used to identify her. The Ellsworth American reports Medical Examiner Office Administrator Mark Belserene says it’s not uncommon for this type of case and the cause of death can be changed if any new information is received.
Bear Hunt
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Wildlife officials in Maine say it’s possible the state’s bear hunt could be expanded to try to prevent the population of the animals from growing even more. Maine has the largest population of black bears on the East Coast, with more than 35,000 animals. Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife spokesman Mark Latti says the bear hunt could be changed to try to better manage the population.
Scallop Closure
(Machias) – Maine’s Department of Marine Resources has closed down more scalloping areas. As of yesterday Machias and Little Machias Bays are closed, but the outer portion of the Machias Bay Rotational Area remains open for scalloping. The scallop season began at the start of December, but scientists have closed down some Downeast areas to prevent overfishing. It’s likely more areas will get closed as the season progresses. More scalloping was allowed this year than in previous years as the species makes a comeback.
Sports
- New England Patriots 38 NY Jets 3 (Pats get a 1st round bye. The Jets fired coach Todd Bowles after the game)
- The Baltimore Ravens make the playoffs by holding on to beat Cleveland, eliminating the Steelers.
- Indianapolis makes the playoffs, defeating Tennessee last night.
- The Celtics play the San Antonio Spurs tonight
- Bruins have tonight off
- The U-Maine women’s basketball team fell to Chattanooga 66-to-61 yesterday.
