Presque Isle Murder/Suicide
(Presque Isle) – Authorities have released the names of a baby boy and his father who died in a murder/suicide in Aroostook County. State Police spokesman Steve McCausland reports to Star 97.7 that 14-month old Quinten Leavitt died early Sunday morning from a single gunshot wound. The infant’s father, 35-year old Matthew Leavitt, shot himself afterward. Police concluded the search for evidence at the Reach Road home yesterday.
Drug Bust
(SW Harbor) – Hancock County deputies have charged two men with drug crimes and bail violation after a traffic stop in Southwest Harbor. Deputy Dakota Dupuis reports that he recognized 35-year old Christopher Thomas of Glenburn was behind the wheel and under suspension. A passenger, 44-year old Shawn Scott of Southwest Harbor was also in the car. Both men had prior drug arrests. Dupuis reports that they appear to have had cocaine in the vehicle in violation of previous conditions.
Bucksport Fire Chief
(Bucksport) – The long-time fire chief in Bucksport will retire next month. Craig Bowden is recovering from heart surgery a few weeks ago, but tells the Bangor Daily News that it’s time for him to retire. Bowden has served as the fire chief in Bucksport for the past 18-years, and 9-years before that as assistant chief. His last day on the job will be April 9th.
Lamoine Vote
(Lamoine) – Voters in Lamoine head to the polls today to pick two Selectmen from a field of three candidates. Robert Christie and Kathleen Rybarz seek re-election to their seats, while political newcomer Glenn Manring also seeks a seat on the board. Two incumbents running for school committee are unopposed, but no one is on the ballot for tax assessor for a 2nd straight year.
Diaper Drive
(Ellsworth) The newly launched Hancock County Child Abuse and Neglect Council is holding a diaper drive this month for local families in need. Member Sarah Hardison tells Star 97-7 that during the month of March diapers can be dropped off at Hannaford, Shaw’s, Marden’s, the Community Closet, and at Downeast Community Partners on the Bucksport Road. Hardison says there are no government funded programs that provide diapers. A bus from Downeast Community Partners will be parked at Hannaford in Ellsworth on March 30th as the council tries to “stuff the bus” with diapers to culminate the end of their promotion.
Citizen of the Year
(Ellsworth) The founder of a thrift store is this year’s Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year”. Jaqueline Wycoff runs the Community Closet on Eastward Lane in Ellsworth, a thrift store that’s also described as a lifeline for folks who have fallen on hard times due to disaster or economics. In a news release the Chamber says Wycoff embodies community spirit through volunteerism, involvement and advocacy. She and her aunt also run the Phillip Carter Reading Foundation which has given away about 14-thousand books in the past 3 years. Wycoff will be honored at the Chamber’s annual awards night on May 16th.
Murder Details
(Swanville) A state police affidavit indicates last Friday’s shooting in Swanville ended with one of the men in a love triangle being shot 7 times. 22-year-old Austin McDevitt of Morrill, who’s charged with murder, told police he got a gun from his car and shot 26-year-old Shane Sauer, of Belfast, after they fought over a woman. McDevitt said was awakened early Friday by Sauer hitting him in the face. WCSH-TV reports that McDevitt told detectives he was familiar with Sauer because they were both in a relationship with the same woman. The investigation is on-going and McDevitt was due in court Monday afternoon.
Elver Harvest Season
(Local) Maine’s elver fishing season begins this Friday. Fisherman hope to profit as much as last year, netting more than $2-thousand-dollars per pound for the baby eels. The statewide quota is capped at 9-thousand-688-pounds. Last year’s elver season was shut down 2 weeks early after state officials discovered unreported catch may have put Maine over its annual harvest limit. To reduce fraud this season, new rules are established requiring elver dealers to contact the Marine Patrol 48 hours ahead of packaging shipments, and a Marine Patrol officer must be present to monitor the preparation of the shipment.
Alaska Cold Case
(Auburn) An Auburn man who’s fighting extradition to Alaska for a murder charge is due back in court this week. Steven Downs is charged by Alaska authorities with the 1993 sexual assault and murder of 20-year-old Sophie Sergie at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He’s scheduled to be in Androscoggin County Superior Court tomorrow (on Wed 3/20). Downs was a Fairbanks student at the time of Sergie’s death. He was linked to the crime by DNA and is charged with being a fugitive from justice.
Mumps in Maine
(York) Doctors have found the first case of mumps in Maine this year at York High School. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports a lab test on March 15th confirmed the illness. The CDC says the unvaccinated student traveled outside the United States. The individual was not isolated during the beginning of their illness and may have exposed others to the virus at York High School and at the unified basketball game at Massabesic High School on March 7th. The Maine CDC is working to notify close contacts and has provided recommendations for the school.
Hikers Rescued
(Cutler) Maine game wardens rescued two hikers stranded on the Bold Coast Trail after the women failed to return from their hiking excursion. The Maine Warden Service reports 53-year-old Staci McCarthy and 73-year-old Margaret Ross, both of Pembroke, began their hike Sunday afternoon accompanied by 2 dogs. They hiked about 3-miles before realizing they would not make it back to their vehicle before dark, which was parked on Route 191 in Cutler. McCarthy was able to make a 9-1-1 call on her cell phone. It took rescuers about 5 hours to get the women back to their car at 2 AM.
Lobsta Suppa Results
(Sullivan) About 350 people turned out at the Sullivan Rec Center for the Lobsta Suppa in memory of Franky the dog, a beloved family pet who was brutally killed in Winter Harbor last August. Saturday’s fundraiser brought in more than $64-hundred-dollars and they ran out of food! Event coordinator Becky Sutherland tells Star 97-7 that the money will be distributed among The Ark Animal Shelter in Cherryfield, the Hancock County SPCA, Maine Friends of Animals and the Schoodic Animal Hospital. Donations of pet food will benefit a pet pantry in Sullivan.
Sports
- The U-Maine women’s basketball team will go into the NCAA tournament as a 14-seed and take on North Carolina State, the 3rd seed Saturday at 1-o’clock on ESPN 2. Maine lost to NC State 84-46 earlier this year.
- Denver Nuggets 114 Boston Celtics 105
- Spring Training: Minnesota Twins 4 Boston Red Sox 1 (Dustin Pedroia will begin the season on the disabled list – he’s still recovering from knee surgery more than a year ago.)
- The Bruins face the Islanders in New York tonight.
