Murder Solicitation
(Ellsworth) – Earlier this month a 14-year old boy from Ellsworth and a 16-year old from Brewer started talking about murdering another student in an on-line chat room. Police arrested both of them on murder conspiracy charges. Now prosecutors have upped the charge against the 14-year old to murder soliciting murder, a class “A” crime. The Bangor Daily News reports the youngster’s attorney doesn’t believe the elevated charges will hold up in court.
Lamoine – Town Meeting
(Lamoine) – Voters in Lamoine gave applause and overwhelming approval to a new comprehensive plan for the Hancock County town last night. The plan will go the state for compliance approval and makes major updates to the last comprehensive plan passed 23-years ago. Voters also swiftly approved changes to the town’s land use ordinance which will allow for cluster housing. The town’s harbor ordinance also changes, banning so-called mushroom moorings which the town’s harbor master said are not strong enough during heavy winds.
Mud Boot Ball
(Ellsworth) The Downeast Family YMCA is hosting the first ever Mud Boot Ball this Saturday. Money raised will help buy shade equipment for the playground at their Early Learning Center on Beechland Road. Site director Courtney Wood says families and individuals can dress-up, but don’t forget your mud boots. The Mud Boot Ball is from 3 ‘til 6 this Saturday afternoon at the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth.
Flu Status
(Augusta) Five Mainers died from the flu last week, bringing the season total to 29 in the state. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly surveillance report issued Tuesday indicates influenza remains a problem heading into spring, calling influenza “widespread.” Last week there were 775 positive tests for the flu and 88 new hospitalizations. In 2018 Maine experienced one of the deadliest flu seasons in five years, with more than 9,000 confirmed cases and 82 deaths.
Chief at FBI Course
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth’s police chief has returned from a 10-week training at the FBI National Academy in Virginia. The Ellsworth American reports Chief Glenn Moshier took classes on drugs and society, managing image and the media, and critical analysis of modern-day policing. Moshier tells the newspaper he hopes to implement some of the strategies and programs he learned at the academy, including a peer-to-peer counseling program for officers dealing with trauma.
Guilty Plea-Deferred Sentence
(Eastbrook) A Winter Harbor woman pled guilty to reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon in exchange for dropping manslaughter and OUI charges related to a fatal crash. WABI-TV reports if 21-year-old Maryah Sprague stays out of trouble and gets treatment for substance abuse, she can plead guilty to a lesser charge and pay a fine. Police say Sprague was driving in April 2017 when she crashed into a pole off the Eastbrook Road. 24-year-old Kirk Chandler of Sullivan died. Another passenger was seriously hurt.
Alaska Cold Case
AUBURN, Maine (AP) – A Maine judge denied a bail request Wednesday for a man who is wanted in Alaska for killing a woman more than two decades ago. Steven Downs, 44, of Auburn, Maine, is charged with the sexual assault and murder of 20-year-old Sophie Sergie at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1993, when Downs was a student and Sergie was a former student. Downs’ lawyer told a newspaper that his client “adamantly denies” involvement in the crime.
YORK, Maine (AP) – York’s Wild Kingdom, the zoo and amusement park in Maine, is up for sale for $14.2 million. Seacoastoline.com reports the 58.4-acre property went on the market in late February, and is being offered by KRE Brokerage Group, with offices in Falmouth and Old Orchard Beach.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Police have arrested two additional suspects in connection with a fatal shooting of an airman at an Arkansas gas station. North Little Rock police said Wednesday they’ve arrested a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old on suspicion of capital murder and aggravated robbery. They are accused in the Friday night killing of 23-year-old Shawn Mckeough Jr., who was originally from Westbrook, Maine but was stationed at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville.
Sports
- Philadelphia 76ers 118 Boston Celtics 115
- Spring Training – Boston Red Sox 6 Baltimore Orioles 4. Sox host Tampa Bay today.
- MVP Mookie Betts says he will not likely sign a long term deal early with the Red Sox, but will test the free agent market when his contract expires next year.
- The Bruins will skate against the New Jersey Devils tonight.
