Football Player Death
(Orono) – Rescue workers tried in vain to revive an 18-year old football player who collapsed during a workout at the University of Maine yesterday. Darius Minor, a freshman from Virginia, died on the football field – the first such death at U-Maine in the program’s history. It’s not known why he collapsed during what was described as a light workout. It was hot and humid in Orono at the time. Coach Joe Harasymiak says the program is devastated.
Child’s Death
(Oakland) – An 8-year old boy is dead in the Town of Oakland, and State Police are investigating. Spokesman Steve McCausland tells Star 97.7 that first responders found the boy unresponsive inside his Church Street home last evening. Detectives spent the night speaking with the youngster’s parents and collecting evidence from the home. The medical examiner will likely conduct an autopsy today.
Drug Dealer Convicted
(Portland) – A federal jury has convicted a 29-year old Boston man on drug dealing charges. The US Attorney’s office tells Star 97.7 that Cuwan Merritt and another man traveled from Boston to Lewiston to sell crack cocaine in May 2017. Drug agents intercepted their car and seized the cocaine that Merritt had hidden in his body. He faces up to 20-years in prison and a million dollar fine.
Hiker Rescued
(Acadia National Park) – Rescuers spent 8-hours getting a hiker down from a mountain in Acadia National Park this week. WABI-TV reports the unnamed hiker got injured on the difficult Orange and Black Trail on Champlain Mountain. The Bar Harbor Fire Department, Park Rangers, MDI Search and Rescue and others hooked up a complex set of lines to lower the injured hiker about 300-feet from the mountainside. No word on the hiker’s condition.
Drug Arrest
(Ellsworth) A routine traffic stop in Ellsworth resulted in a Trenton woman facing drug charges. Police pulled over 36-year-old Amanda O’Rourke on High Street after 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Officers learned O’Rourke had an active arrest warrant and while taking her into custody police allegedly found her in possession of Suboxone. O’Rourke didn’t have a prescription for the drug and is charged with Unlawful Possession.
Overdoses
(Waldo Cty) The Waldo County Sheriff’s Office says some bad, illegal drugs are on the streets after a string of recent drug overdoses resulting in two deaths. The Sheriff’s Office, Belfast police and the Waldo County General Hospital are sharing their concern that an abnormally high potency drug may be circulating the area. Since last Friday two people died of suspected drug overdoses in Belfast. Rescuers revived one person by using Narcan, and the hospital reports treating an additional 5 overdose patients during that same time period.
Blueberry Crops
(Downeast ME) Maine blueberries are sold in markets all over the world, but the iconic fruit won’t be as widely distributed this year. Maine Cooperative Extension blueberry expert David Yarborough says new tariffs between the US and China means fewer blueberries will go to China. Yarborough anticipates blueberries will hit the Midcoast and Downeast Maine markets around the first week of August.
Lake Reopens
(Rockland) A popular swimming area in Rockland is back open after a reported outbreak of swimmer’s itch. City officials closed Chickawaukie Lake on Monday while the Rockland Wastewater Department tested the water for parasites. The Bangor Daily News reports some campers from the YMCA contracted the temporary skin infection, prompting closure of the lake. City manager Tom Luttrell tells Star 97-7 the test came back clean and it’s safe for swimmers to return.
Deputy Tax Collector
(Ellsworth) A woman who’s served the citizens of Ellsworth for nearly 3 decades is set to retire. Ellsworth officials will celebrate Deputy tax collector Barbara Ameen on August 2nd in the City Hall auditorium. The public farewell will include cake and people sharing fond stories about Ameen.
Dugout Fundraiser
(Ellsworth) An Ellsworth Boy Scout working toward his Eagle Scout badge has one more fundraiser planned to help reach his $10-thousand-dollar goal. For his community service project Will Hutchins will build baseball dugouts at Ellsworth Elementary Middle School. He still needs to raise about half the money. A lobster roll luncheon will be served in the school cafeteria next Monday from 11 AM ‘til 2 PM. Hutchins is even helping to catch some of the lobsters! The cost is by donation and take-out is available.
Home Sales
(Maine) The Maine Association of Realtors says the number of existing single-family homes sold in the state ticked up in June. The association says the sale of 1,937 homes represented a 2.54 percent increase from the previous June. Home values were up, too. The association says the median sales price climbed almost 11 percent in that time to $227,500.
Road Race
(Hancock) The Hancock Volunteer Fire Department’s Lobster Classic Road Race is this Saturday. Walkers, runners, and even dogs can join the “protectors of the point” in a race out and back on the Point Road. It’s $20 to register in advance or $25 on race day. The 10-point-2 mile race starts at 8:30 this Saturday, the 3-point-1 mile race begins at 9. Registration forms are available on the Hancock Volunteer Fire Department’s website.
Camp Capella
(Lucerne) A local camp for kids and adults with disabilities will break ground this morning on a long-awaited facilities upgrade project. Camp Capella on Phillips Lake in Lucerne is building two new camper cabins, along with wheelchair accessible trails, a program pavilion, and an accessible outhouse. Camp Capella representatives say the project was made possible thanks to an unprecedented donation to the camp.
Dispatcher Shortage
(Augusta) A police union in Maine’s capital city says the number of police dispatchers in the state’s public safety center is low enough that it could compromise public safety. State employee union leaders said Monday that the dispatch center in Augusta, which also handles emergency calls for the southern portion of the state, is down to only 12 dispatchers out of 35 total positions. The Kennebec Journal reports the union says the Department of Public Safety has determined 15 should be the minimum number.
Sports
- Baltimore Orioles 7 Boston Red Sox 6 (The Red Sox hit 4-home runs in the loss including two from league leader JD Martinez)
- Tonight, the Sox send David Price to the mound against Baltimore. Boston 5-games in front of the Yankees in the American League East.
- The Yankees have obtained Baltimore’s closer, Zach Britton for 3-minor league prospects
- Portland Sea Dogs 1 Harrisburg Senators 0
- The investigation continues into why a University of Maine football player collapsed and died during a light workout yesterday. 18-year old Darius Minor of Virginia was a freshman on the UMaine squad.
