Sports Bar
(Ellsworth) – A sports bar will reportedly occupy the space where Fuddruckers in Ellsworth closed down several months ago. The Ellsworth American reports Dan and Jenn Barker of Eddington plan to open the facility early next month. They’ll call the bar “Sidelines” and offer a wide variety of draft beer and have 11-TV’s on the wall. Fuddruckers closed down last June, citing a lack of available labor and high overall business costs.
Castine Manager Retiring
(Castine) – Castine’s town manager will retire in July. Jimmy Goodson started on the job in 2014 and tells the Castine Patriot that he’s looking forward to retirement. Goodson moved to Castine in 2002 and spent a few years running the Hancock County Habitat for Humanity before moving into the manager’s role in his new home town. He says he’ll assist Selectmen in the replacement search and training.
SPCA Exec Director
(Trenton) The Hancock County SPCA will honor its director who plans to step down from the position this spring. Diana De Los Santos is a former SPCA board member who intended to run the shelter temporarily – that was about 7 years ago. De Los Santos will return as a board member this spring. A reception and open house is planned for her January 30th from 5 to 7 PM. A new executive director will begin at the shelter in Trenton next month. After a year-long, nationwide search the SPCA has hired Nichola Redmond of Virginia.
Small House Fire
(Sullivan) A bathroom vent fan is blamed for a fire at a home in Sullivan yesterday. Sullivan Fire Rescue was dispatched to Morgan Lane for a possible structure fire around 11:30 in the morning. Crews quickly located the fire in an upstairs bathroom and put the flames out with minimal damage to the home. The occupants escaped without injury. Mutual aid assistance came in from Hancock, Franklin, Sorrento, Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor.
Vaping Presentations
(Mt Desert Island) With the increasing popularity of vaping, Healthy Acadia is trying to combat the notion that it’s somehow safer or healthier than traditional smoking. Drug Free Community Program Coordinator Tara Young is conducting educational trainings for youth, parents, and community members to understand the physical and behavioral health risks associated with vaping. Young says parents need to have a conversation with their kids about vaping before someone else does. The first presentation is tonight at 5:30 in the MDI High School’s library. The second one is February 7th at the Conners/Emerson library.
Cancer Donations
(Ellsworth) Darling’s Auto Group will present checks to two local area cancer charities this afternoon at 2 o’clock. As part of a recent promotion, customers who purchased a vehicle could choose a Maine cancer organization to receive $100 on their behalf. The promotion raised $5,200 for six cancer-related charities statewide. The Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center and the Mary Dow Center for Cancer Care at Maine Coast Hospital will receive a combined total of $17-hundred-dollars for their programs.
Hospital Arrests
(Ellsworth) – Police have yet to say what motivated three men to escape from a police officer who had stopped them after receiving a report that they displayed a weapon at an off-duty Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputy on Sunday. The incident ended with a scuffle inside Northern Light Maine Coast hospital in Ellsworth. Captain Troy Bires confirmed to Star 97.7 that a relative let the trio inside the hospital where a grandmother was receiving care. Police have not yet found the weapon they allegedly displayed.
River Herring
(Portland) More river herring are swimming up the Presumpscot River. The Friends of the Presumpscot River, the Conservation Law Foundation and Sappi North American say more than 50,000 river herring ascended a fish ladder at the Cumberland Mills dam last year.
Gas Prices
(Maine) Maine has the lowest gas prices in northern New England, though Vermont saw the biggest drop in prices over the last week. The latest surveys from GasBuddy show prices in Maine fell less than one cent per gallon to an average of $2.23 per gallon. The average price in New Hampshire was $2.28, while it was $2.39 in Vermont.
Pastor Calls Patriots Score
(Skowhegan) A pastor in Skowhegan who publicly predicted the final score of Sunday night’s AFC championship game isn’t claiming divine intervention. But he’s confident the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl, as well. On Friday, the Reverend Mark Tanner asked his secretary to post a message on the sign outside the Skowhegan Federated Church: “God doesn’t have a favorite team but the pastor does! Patriots 37. Chiefs 31.” On Sunday, that was the exact outcome when the Patriots beat the Kansas City Chiefs to win another spot in the Super Bowl. Tanner told the Portland Press Herald that he’s predicting a Patriots’ Super Bowl win Feb. 3, but he’s not revealing the score. Yet.
Sports
- Boston Celtics 107 Miami Heat 99
- U-Maine Hockey – Tied 4-4 with New Hampshire yesterday
High School Basketball
Boys
Sumner 62 Narraguagus 53
Bangor 80 Nokomis 27
Hermon 53 Presque Isle 42
Foxcroft 53 Mt View 43
Lee 50 Penquis 36
Mattanawcook 93 Piscataquis 43
Girls
Narraguagus 81 Sumner 26
Skowhegan 51 Hampden 27
Foxcroft 35 Mt. View 28
Hermon 49 Presque Isle 27
Winslow 66 Belfast 21
