Pole Crash – Ellsworth
(Ellsworth) – Police were still looking for the vehicle that ran into a utility pole early yesterday morning, and then took off. The crash occurred on State Street in Ellsworth near the intersection with Maine and Water Streets. It happened at about 1:15 in the morning, and though the police station is right around the corner, the vehicle that hit the pole was gone when officers arrived. The crash cut out electricity for a while and off and on during the day as Emera Maine crews replaced the utility pole.
Freedom – Recall Vote
(Freedom) – Voters in the Waldo County town of Freedom vote a week from tomorrow on whether to remove two of the three selectmen in town from office. Petitions accuse Steve Bennett and Ron Price of abusing the office of Selectman. Village Soup dot-com reports much of the problem came up when a motorist got stuck on a muddy town road and asked if the town’s insurance company would pay for the tow truck. An informational meeting is set for Thursday night.
Ellsworth Emergency Radio
(Ellsworth) – The police and fire departments in Ellsworth say the emergency communications radios that serve their fire trucks and police cruisers have problems. An aging radio tower and repeater transmitter in North Ellsworth likely needs modernization. City manager David Cole tells Star 97.7 that a capital improvements committee has started looking at things that need investment for the city, and the radio communications system is on the radar. Cole says borrowing money to upgrade the radio system would mean paying back the cost over time instead of one huge expenditure.
Acadia Nat’l Park Crash
(Bar Harbor) A Florida man received a summons after a crash in Acadia National Park. 24-year-old Saige Deluca allegedly rolled his vehicle last Tuesday near Bubble Pond and fled the scene. Park spokeswoman Christie Anastasia tells the Ellsworth American that rangers found drugs in the vehicle. Rangers identified Deluca as the motorist and contacted him the next day. The crash totaled his vehicle and caused damage to a coping stone at the park.
Downeast Drug Arrest
(Local) A New York man is charged with aggravated trafficking in heroin in Downeast Maine. Last month after a series of raids in Hancock and Washington Counties saw 25 people arrested, drug agents obtained a criminal arrest warrant for 24-year-old Basillio Liranzo. New York City police arrested him on May 23rd at the Maine DEA’s request and charged him as a fugitive from justice. Liranzo appeared in court last week and waived extradition to Maine. He’s expected to travel here in the coming weeks to face the charges.
Embezzler Appeals Verdict
(Skowhegan) The former tax collector in Anson who was convicted of embezzling over $500-thousand-dollars from the town is appealing her guilty verdict. WABI-TV reports 68-year-old Claudia Viles was found guilty of theft in June 2016, sentenced to 5-years in prison, and ordered to repay the town $566-thousand-dollars. She took the stand in Skowhegan last Thursday still claiming her innocence and said her attorney did not defend her properly. The State said Viles was provided with a vigorous defense. It could take up to 2 months for a decision to be reached.
Prison Sanitary Napkins
(Augusta) Women in Maine prisons and jails will have free access to menstrual products under a new law. The law follows up on an announcement by the federal Bureau of Prisons in 2017 that all people in its facilities would be guaranteed free menstrual products. The change didn’t affect people incarcerated in state and county prisons. Democratic Representative Charlotte Warren of Hallowell says creating “unrestricted access” to the products is “an issue of human dignity.” Governor Janet Mills signed the proposal into law last week.
Moon Viewing
(Prospect) The Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory in Prospect is offering after-hours viewing of the moon rising. Folks will take the elevator and stand 420 feet above the ground to see the moon come up on the night of June 15th from 8:30 to 10:30. The cost is $6 per person and all ages are welcome. The event is weather dependent.
Planned Outage
(Orono) Some Emera Maine customers in Orono will experience an outage tomorrow morning (on 6/4). It’s a result of planned maintenance on the electrical system that’s scheduled to begin at 9 AM and take about 3 hours to complete. Emera spokeswoman Judy Long reports affected customers will be on Winterhaven Drive in Orono.
Climate Change Forum
(Blue Hill) The next Blue Hill Public Library Community Issues Forum will focus on young people and changing government responses to climate change. The discussion will be lead by local science teacher Nell Herrmann (female) and Sean Birkel of the University of Maine Climate Change Institute will lead the discussion. Herrmann has first-hand research experience in Antarctica, Greenland and onboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus. Birkel is the Maine State Climatologist, and a researcher at the University of Maine Climate Change Institute. The free forum is next Wednesday, June 12th at 6:30 PM at the Blue Hill Public Library.
Sports
- Boston Red Sox 8 NY Yankees 5 (David Price gets the win, Xander Bogaerts and JD Martinez homer)
- The Red Sox have today off
- The Bruins and St. Louis Blues play game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals tonight. Boston leads the series 2-1.
- Golden State Warriors 109 Toronto Raptors 104 (NBA Finals – series tied 1-1).
- High School baseball and softball playoffs start tomorrow
| State Track & Field – Boys Winners
Class “A” Scarborough Class “B” York (MDI 3rd) Class “C” Sacopee Valley (Orono 3rd) |
State Track & Field – Girls Winners
Class “A” Chevrus Class “B” – Brewer Class “C” – Orono |
