Garland Shooting
(Garland) – A shooting in Garland last evening left one man wounded and another facing charges. Penobscot County Chief Deputy William Burch tells Star 97.7 officers arrested Ambimelec Costanon who allegedly fled to Medway following the shooting on the Dexter Road in Garland around 7-o’clock last night. Police have not named the victim who apparently suffered a non life-threatening wound. They’ve not yet said what led up to the shooting.
LEDs
(Mt. Desert) – The Town of Mt. Desert is in the process of replacing its streetlights with new LED lights, and they want to gauge public opinion. A dozen street light options are temporarily hanging from utility police on South Shore Road and Summit Road. Signs on the poles have a color and a number and the town has asked residents to rate the lights to see which they like the best. The new lights use less power and are night sky friendly.
Rockport Ransomware
(Rockport) – The Town of Rockport is back in business after a computer virus that installed ransomware on its files. The attack happened a week ago on Friday the 13th. Town Manager Rick Bates said computer technicians were able to rebuild the servers and restore the files and they did not pay the demanded ransom. Bates said the virus encrypted the town’s computer files, but none of the file information was stolen.
Penobscot Fire Chief Retires
(Penobscot) – The fire chief in Penobscot says he’s hanging up his helmet for good. Dennis Robertson has served in the fire department for 28-years, the last 11 as the town’s fire chief. The Castine Patriot reports the town built a new fire station during Robertson’s tenure. He successfully battled pancreatic cancer several years ago. Robertson and his wife own the Eggemoggin Country Store in Sedgwick.
Kaufman Race
(Ellsworth) The Downeast Family YMCA is hosting the 11th annual Jerry Kaufman Memorial 5K Run and Walk tomorrow. The event honors Kaufman, who died at age 59 from ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s disease). Race director Robin Clarke says the race honors “all things Kaufman”. Money raised supports ALS Maine Collaborative, VNA Home Health Hospice and the Y. Kaufman’s battle with ALS is still chronicled on his website: Stem Cell Man dot Com. Race registration at the YMCA on State Street begins tomorrow morning at 7:30. Walkers start at 8:30, the kids fun-run begins at 8:45, and 5K runners dash off at 9.
EMS City Services
(Ellsworth) – A change in how ambulance service is delivered in Ellsworth may be down the road. Fire Chief Richard Tupper outlined the possibilities to the City Council this week, saying trained EMTs could be added to the fire department to work in conjunction with the privately owned County Ambulance which provides coverage to Ellsworth and many other surrounding communities. The city will continue to study the options, and some citizens have expressed concern about the expense.
DHHS Impersonator
(Augusta) The Department of Health and Human Services is warning Mainers about an individual posing as a caseworker but who is not actually an employee. The alert follows an isolated incident in southern Maine. The department reminds people that all DHHS employees carry an identification card featuring the DHHS logo and the employee’s photo, name, title, and a number to contact if the ID card is lost. If you’re visited by someone claiming to work for DHHS you’re urged to request seeing their ID card if it’s not immediately presented.
Birdsacre Cleanup
(Ellsworth) The 14th annual spring cleanup at Birdsacre in Ellsworth is tomorrow. It’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week and volunteers are needed to help groom the grounds of this important urban sanctuary. Birdsacre president Grayson Richmond says many hands make light work. Birdsacre Cleanup is 9AM to Noon Saturday with coffee and donuts. You can call ahead or just show up.
Treatment Center
(Ellsworth) A new substance treatment facility that offers help and hope to individuals addicted to opioids has opened in Hancock County. The Downeast Treatment Center is located on State Street in Ellsworth. Healthy Acadia executive director Elsie Flemings says the new center offers medication-assisted treatment. Program participants start with group counseling 3 times a week and receive a prescription to fill elsewhere. As the person progresses in their recovery Flemings says the counseling sessions and medication are reduced until the person is stable enough to transfer to a primary care provider.
Hancock Wildfire
(Hancock) Area fire departments have started to cut off burning permits as several wildfires have broken out this week. Hancock’s fire chief Chris Holmes says his department called in help from Sullivan and Sorrento on Wednesday when a permitted burn got out of control as winds blew flames toward the woods on the East Side Road. Holmes says don’t let the unpleasant wet spring weather fool you. They contained the damage to about 2-acres.
Preschool Teacher Obit
(Ellsworth) The early education community is morning the loss of a longtime preschool teacher in Ellsworth. Joan Preble died last week at the age of 78 after losing her battle with colon cancer. The Ellsworth American reports her teaching career spanned 55 years. Preble, affectionately called Mimi, worked with the Downeast Family YMCA’s childcare program for 22 years before retiring in 2012. She was also the co-owner of the former Sunshine Nursery School.
Hospital Food
(Waldo Cty) The kitchen staff at Waldo County General Hospital is cooking up some plant-based meals using locally sourced ingredients. Nutrition services director at the Belfast hospital, Sheila Costello tells the Bangor Daily News her staff wants to serve delicious, nutritious meals for the patients, visitors, medical staff and even community members who come in especially to eat lunch and dinner there. On Tuesday the kitchen staff attended a special training to give them more practice with vegan cooking. It’s likely that some of the recipes they learned at the training session will make their way to other hospital cafeterias soon.
Sports
- Boston Bruins 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 (Bruins lead playoff series 3-1)
- Boston Red Sox 8 L-A Angels 2 (Mookie Betts his a lead-off homer, Eduardo Rodriguez got the win)
- The Sox have activated Drew Pomeranz from the disabled list and he’ll start against the A’s tonight.
- The Celtics are in Milwaukee to play game 3 of their playoff. Boston won the 1st two games.
- The long-time radio voice of the New England Patriots has died. Gil Santos turned 80-years old and died yesterday.
High School Baseball
Ellsworth 14 Bucksport 5
MDI 10 George Stevens 4
Hermon 8 Central 2
Sumner 20 Narraguagus 1
Softball
Bucksport 5 Ellsworth 2
Hermon 11 Central 2
Narraguagus 12 Sumner 1
