Lamoine Gravel Ordinance Verdict
(Lamoine) – A Maine court has ruled that a change to a town gravel ordinance in Lamoine is not an unconstitutional land taking. Several gravel mining companies sued the town after voters increased the required setback from 50-feet to 100-feet from property lines before digging could take place. The gravel pit owners said that put millions of dollars worth of gravel off limits. Maine’s business and consumer court ruled last week that the pit owners still had access to mine gravel from their land and should expect that mining regulations would change from time to time.
Locomotive Restoration
(Hancock) – A locomotive that last pulled a train car in 1954 sits awaiting restoration work at Washington Junction in Hancock. Downeast Scenic Railroad purchased the 124-year old steam locomotive that got moved to Hancock several months ago. They estimate it’ll cost at least $100-thousand dollars to restore the old engine, and are trying to raise money for the project.
House Relocation
(Mt. Desert) – A pair of roads in Mt. Desert are closed this morning so that moving crews can relocate a house. The Mt. Desert Police Department is guiding the convoy from Pretty Marsh Road to Beech Hill Road. Police advise motorists using the Pretty Marsh Road to go from Mt. Desert to Tremont to take an alternate route. Officers and signs are posted to help get traffic to the proper location.
DCF Update
(Washington Cty) The Downeast Correctional Facility is in a holding pattern until the next vote by lawmakers determines the prison’s fate. While the House voted in favor of emergency funding last Thursday, it did not win the 2-thirds support it needed for a veto-proof margin. Representative William Tuell tells Star 97-7 the next vote on whether to fund the prison is coming soon. The state agreed to stop removing fixtures from the empty Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport after the Washington County Commissioners filed an injunction.
Warmer Weather
(Maine) Mainers are expected see record warm temperatures tomorrow. Temperatures in Bangor may exceed 60-degrees, the highest recorded temperature in February in the Queen City, dating back to 1937. The warm front is expected to arrive on Wednesday. Parts of western Maine could potentially see 70 degree temperatures. Cooler air will then return, and more snow is still possible in the coming weeks.
Crash & Charges
(Searsport) A crash in Searsport took out a utility pole and led to charges for the driver. Village Soup-dot Com reports 30-year-old Danielle Seekins of Searsport lost control of her car on Prospect Street and careened into a snowbank before snapping a utility pole. An ambulance took Seekins to Waldo County General Hospital. The car is a total loss; she’s charged with Operating After Suspension.
Scallop Fishing Lottery
(Maine) A plan to create a fishing license lottery to get new people into the scallop fishery has passed a key hurdle in the Maine Legislature. The Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources unanimously approved the proposal on Feb. 14. It now moves to the full Legislature, which is likely to vote on it in the next couple of weeks.
OOB Bathrooms
(Old Orchard Beach) The town of Old Orchard Beach is considering adding additional public restrooms after getting complaints about people relieving themselves near the town beach and on private property. The town has public restrooms downtown but not at other access points to the beach. Some residents have even complained about visitors “going” in public places.
Environmental Study Funding
(Brunswick) The University of Maine says projects about seaweed, the acidity of Gulf of Maine waters and the way climate change is impacting fish will receive nearly $1 million in funding. The federal government and matching sources are awarding the funds to faculty at UMaine and other institutions through the Maine Sea Grant College Program.
Hire Tax Credits
(Augusta) Lawmakers are set to consider a lawmaker’s idea to offer tax credits for logging and trucking businesses that hire U.S. residents. The concept bill is sponsored by Democratic Senate Leader Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger whose family still works in Maine’s forests. A trade group said Maine has seen the closure of five pulp and paper mills in the last four years along with the periodic idling of two wood energy electric facilities.
Hannaford Strikers
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – A food workers union that represents employees at a Maine distribution center says it has rejected a contract proposal and will go on strike. The 250 workers are members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 who work at the Hannaford Distribution Center in South Portland. The union says the current three-year contract expired at midnight on Saturday.
Sports
- The Red Sox have signed slugger JD Martinez to a 5-year, $110-million dollar contract
- Boston Bruins 2 Calgary Flames 1 (OT)
- University of Maine Athletic Director Karlton Creech is leaving to take a similar job with the University of Denver.
High School Tournament
Class “C” Girls and Boys start their quarterfinals today
Monday
Boys #6 Machias 56 #3 Katahdin 47
Boys #2 Jonesport Beals 65 #10 Southern Aroostook 55
Girls – #5 Katahdin 23 #4 Shead 21
Girls – #1 Southern Aroostook 71 #9 Jonesport Beals 39
Boys – #5 Schenck 54 #4 Greater Houlton Christian 30
Boys – #1 Woodland 53 #8 Bangor Christian 45
