Library Flood
(Bar Harbor) – A frozen drain pipe at the Jesup Library in Bar Harbor led to water in the basement for the 2nd time in less than a year. The Mt. Desert Islander reports staff and volunteers acted swiftly to protect books from water damage by putting them in plastic tubs or moving them to higher shelves. Workers also got a shop vac and a pump out to get rid of the water. A similar situation led to a flood at the library last spring, and the same clogged drain is blamed.
Searsmont Chiefs
(Searsmont) – A husband and wife who served as the fire chief and emergency services chief in the Waldo County town of Searsmont have resigned. Village Soup dot-com reports James and Joanne Ames stepped down about a week ago after complaints and accusations that they call lies. The couple said the accusations began in November and they did the best they could for the department which has a brand new fire station. Maine EMS would neither confirm nor deny that there were any issues with the Emergency Medical Services offered in Searsmont.
Gun Possession Plea
(Bangor) – A 26-year old Levant man faces up to 10-years in prison and a quarter million dollar fine for having a gun. The US Attorney’s Office reports to Star 97.7 that Damian Ouellette entered a guilty plea in federal court. Ouellette has three prior felony convictions for robbery and theft and was barred from possessing a gun. Deputies searched his residence last November and found a 9-millimeter handgun hidden in a clothing bin. Ouellette will be sentenced later.
Young Man Sought
(Westport Island) Police in Lincoln County are still searching for a young man wanted on an arrest warrant for theft. The Sheriff’s Office reports the last known address for 19-year-old Jake Traylor was on Westport Island. Detective Scott Hayden is asking for the public’s help locating Traylor and says tips can be made anonymously.
Local Blood Drives
(Hancock Cty) The American Red Cross says multiple snow storms, frigid temperatures and the government shutdown have further reduced lifesaving donations of blood and platelets. Weather travel advisories may cause even more donors to delay their planned donations. Spokeswoman Mary Brant explains that the blood supply fluctuates as the donations come in, then go out to hospital patients each day. Upcoming blood drives in Hancock County include Maine Maritime Academy today from 1 to 7 PM, First Congregational Church of Blue Hill this Saturday from 9 ‘til 2, and at Brooklin Elementary School next Monday from Noon to 5.
Hospital Debt
(Lincoln) A hospital in Lincoln seeking bankruptcy proceedings has listed debts of up to $10-million-dollars to nearly 900 different creditors. In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Bangor on Tuesday, Penobscot Valley Hospital sought Chapter 11 protection and its first-day motions were expected to be heard in court sometime today. The Bangor Daily News reports two of the top creditors to the hospital – The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – are owed millions.
CMP Investigation
(Hallowell) The Maine Public Utilities Commission staff is recommending an investigation into complaints against Central Maine Power by residents in the Dover-Foxcroft, Jackman and Caratunk service areas. The PUC staff recommends merging 3 different complaints into one investigation of complaints that the frequency and duration of power outages have become unacceptable. CMP previously requested that all three complaints be dismissed, but the PUC staff concluded Tuesday that an investigation is warranted because the claims are “not without merit.”
Mill Fire Cause
(Waterville) Officials say a blaze that drew crews from more than a dozen fire departments to a paper products plant in Waterville, Maine, started in a malfunctioning dryer unit. A firefighter injured Tuesday night while battling the blaze at the Huhtamaki plant on the Waterville-Fairfield line is out of the hospital. The Waterville School Department brought buses to the scene so firefighters could escape the single-digit temperatures to warm up. Damage estimates are around a million dollars.
Sports
- Boston Celtics 126 Charlotte Hornets 94
- Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight
- Roger Goodell acknowledged that the referees blew a pass interference play that was not penalized in the NFC playoffs.
High School Basketball
Girls
George Stevens 43 Bucksport 30
Searsport 63 Sumner 39
Calais 81 Woodland 46
