Triple Murder Sentence
(Bangor) – A former Garland resident faces up to life in prison for killing his girlfriend and her two children more than two years ago. A judge will sentence Keith Coleman today in Bangor. Coleman strangled 36-year old Christina Sargent who grew up in Hancock County in December 2014, and told police he killed her 10-year old son and 8-year old daughter because they’d seen the killing. In addition to the 3-murder charges a jury convicted Coleman of sexual assault on the little girl.
Camden Town Manager Resigns
(Camden) – The Town Manager in Camden has resigned following a meeting behind closed doors a week earlier with the town’s Selectmen. Patricia Finnigan served in the top municipal post in the mid-coast city for just over 5-years. Former town manager Roberta Smith will serve as an interim manager while Camden searches for a permanent replacement. Village Soup dot-com reports Selectmen expressed concern about Finnigan’s job performance at their executive session with her last week. Finnigan is the former city manager of Auburn and was an assistant city manager in Portland for 4-years.
Birdsacre Confession
(Ellsworth) – Lawyers for the man accused of setting fire to the Stanwood home at the Birdsacre facility in Ellsworth want his confession removed from evidence. The Ellsworth American reports Christopher Kidder is accused of setting fire to the historic building in March 2014. The 33-year old Sullivan man was a suspect from the start as he reported the fire and was waiting at the scene when police and fire trucks arrived. The fire marshal’s office arrested him more than a year after the fire. His attorneys argue that Kidder was not competent when he supposedly confessed to investigators.
Kidnapping Sentence
(Rockland) – A 29-year old Portland man who kidnapped a Rockland woman last fall will spend 15-years in prison and six years after that on probation. The Portland Press Herald reports Shane Hall grabbed the victim from the street in Rockland. She fought back, but he eventually subdued her and shoved her into a vehicle which police spotted and stopped, rescuing the woman. A judge sentenced Hall yesterday after hearing from the victim who says she’s not been able to get a good night’s sleep since the incident last September.
4th Snowmobile Fatality
(Sidney) – A 32-year old Sidney man died when his snowmobile crashed along the shore line of Messalonskee Lake and he flew off the sled and onto rocks. The Warden Service tells Star 97-7 Jeffrey Fisher got separated from other riders before he crashed. Investigators say he wore a helmet. The crash remains under investigation -it’s the 4th snowmobiling fatality in Maine this season.
Fatal Crash
(Vinalhaven) – A 28-year old Vinalhaven man is dead after his truck crashed into a large tree and rolled over. The Knox County Sheriff’s Department reports to Star 97.7 Patrick Gasperini was alert and conscious when rescue workers arrived on scene, but died from internal injuries at the hospital. Deputies believe a medical issue may have led to the crash.
Superintendent
(Ellsworth) The superintendent for the Ellsworth School System will hold his position for a few more years. Dan Higgins tells Star 97-7 the school board voted unanimously to extend his contract by two years and approved a 2-percent pay increase. Higgins says he’s thrilled to remain in the community.
Higgins contract now extends through June 30th, 2022.
The Grand
(Ellsworth) The Grand Theater in Ellsworth will unveil their new digital projector system during a free viewing of Disney-Pixar’s “Up” in 3D. Board President Carla Haskell tells Star 97-7 even though the new system is in place, they haven’t quite hit their fundraising goal yet. The 3D screening of the movie “UP” is on Saturday, February 11th at 7:30pm and donations are welcome.
B-ball Coach Quits
(Millinocket) One of the top Class C basketball teams has lost its coach more than half-way through the season. Stearns girls basketball coach Nick Cullen resigned Tuesday after he was placed on administrative leave following an incident characterized as a thoughtless encouraging touch at the game in Searsport last Friday. Cullen will return to his regular work schedule at the school Monday, serving as a math teacher at Stearns High School and the Athletic Director for the Junior High.
Winter Carnival
(Ellsworth) Winter Carnival returns to Ellsworth on Saturday, February 11th. Registration for the annual cardboard sled races at the Woodlawn Museum begins at 9 with races starting at 10. Public skating at the Knowlton Park ice rink stops at 1pm and that’s when games begin like human bowling, races, and a kids hockey shoot out. The rink will reopen for general skating once these events are over. Union Square will have hot cocoa, popcorn and games at the Moore Community Center from 1 to 4. The fireworks begin at 6PM from the Ellsworth High School. All events are free and all ages are welcome.
Disorderly/Drug Arrest
(Gouldsboro) A Gouldsboro police officer arresting 2 people last week suffered minor injuries when things go out of hand. The Ellsworth American reports an officer pulled over 50-year-old Bruce Merchant and 38-year-old Melissa Pete, both of Sullivan. The officer smelled marijuana and began searching the car. Merchant resisted arrest and was struck multiple times by the officer’s baton. The scuffle went to the ground causing minor knee injuries to the officer and the woman took a scrape to the face. Merchant was charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing government administration and refusing to submit to arrest. Pete was charged with refusing to submit to arrest, disorderly conduct, and possession of crack cocaine.
Theft & Drug Possession
(Ellsworth) What started as a shoplifting complaint led to a drug arrest. The Ellsworth Police Department reports they received a call from WalMart about a woman steeling razor blades. 28-year-old Shana Tucker of Hancock was arrested and charged with Class C theft. Police found drugs on Tucker and also charged her with Unlawful Possession of Suboxone.
Jesup Closed
(Bar Harbor) Dust from the brickwork being done to the exterior of the Jesup Memorial Library has forced the historic library to close through at least next Tuesday. In a media release the library says the necessary repairs have caused dust to accumulate inside the building, which must be cleaned up before patrons can return. Activities scheduled over the next week have either been moved, postponed, or canceled. Contact the Jesup Memorial Library for details or visit: Jesup Library dot Org.
Sports
High School Basketball-Boys
Mount Desert Island 90, Presque Isle 67
Hermon 47, Central 31
Searsport District 51, Islesboro Central 43
Jonesport-Beals 83, Highview Christian Academy 36
Schenck 62, Penquis Valley 39
Girls
Ellsworth 45, Mattanawcook Academy 34
Presque Isle 58, Mount Desert Island 44
Jonesport-Beals 42, Highview Christian Academy 35
Shead 44, Narraguagus 33
Central 50, Old Town 29
College Basketball today: U-Maine men host New Hampshire, Women at New Hampshire
NBA: New York Knicks 117 Boston Celtics 106
NHL: Detroit Redwings 6 Boston Bruins 5 (shootout)
Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez votes into baseball’s Hall of Fame yesterday.
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