Water Main Break
(Ellsworth) – Water is flowing again in a section of Ellsworth, but it was brown last night, and that part of the city is under a boil order. The water department posted the boil order notices for parts of the Surry Road including Laurel Street to Edaco Court as well as Mountain View, Hillside Avenue and Westwood Drive. A water main broke yesterday morning, cutting water service to that area for several hours.
Fatal Fire
(Upton) – Friends of 79-year old Norman Mercier hadn’t heard from him for a few days, so they went to his house in Upton on the New Hampshire border to check on him. When they got there, the windows were covered in black soot. They called the Sheriff’s Department. Deputies found his body inside the home and called the fire marshal’s office. Spokesman Steve McCausland reports to Star 97.7 that Mercier died from smoke inhalation after his wood stove caught combustibles on fire. He said the fire used up all the oxygen in the house and self extinguished.
Credit Union Robbery
(Bangor) – Police in Bangor have issued an arrest warrant for a credit union robbery suspect. Lieutenant Tim Cotton reports to Star 97.7 that detectives are looking for 59-year old Ronald Tilley of Hampden. He’s suspected in last Wednesday’s robbery at Downeast Credit Union on Springer Drive. The FBI and Bangor police searched a home in Hampden and issued the arrest warrant after that and witness interviews. Tilley has gray hair and is balding and has tattoos on both arms and at least one tattoo on the left side of his neck.
Falcons
(Acadia Ntl. Park) – Park rangers have posted signs closing down several mountainside trails in Acadia National Park this spring. Falcons have returned to three cliff areas, exhibiting mating behavior. Rangers spotted the birds at Jordan Cliffs, Valley Cove and on the Precipice. Typically the falcons will hatch and raise their chicks in the spring of the year until they fly off, usually by August.
Fiberight
(Hampden) – The first load of trash has gone to a new plant in Hampden that will separate out recycling and convert the rest to a bio-gas. The Fiberight Plant was supposed to be up and running a year ago, but permitting and weather delays combined to set the facility behind schedule. The 115-towns that make up the Municipal Review Committee have had to send their trash to landfills for the past year. The Fiberight plant will slowly start accepting trash to get the facility operating correctly and says it hopes to have all member towns shipping material to Hampden by the end of June.
Lumber Yard Fire
(Jefferson) – A spectacular blaze that burned for the better part of two days in Jefferson was accident. State Public Safety Department spokesman Steve McCausland reports to Star 97.7 the fire at the N.C. Hunt Lumber Company started late Friday night and burned for most of the day on Saturday. It started after workers using torches to repair machinery inside a building Friday apparently sparked something combustible that smoldered for hours before spreading late a night.
Waterville Flood
(Waterville) – A broken water main is blamed for a flood in part of Waterville. WABI-TV reports firefighters hauled out a rescue boat to reach propane tanks that tipped over and turn off the gas. The flood filled the basement at the Goodwill Store with tens of thousands of gallons of water on Elm Street. It remained closed at the end of the day on Sunday. The gushing water filled the street when it overwhelmed storm drains.
Autism Awareness Month
(Ellsworth) In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Special Children’s Friends in Ellsworth brings a guest speaker to the city to will share his experience as the father of an autistic child. Maine author Derek Volk will talk about his book “Chasing the Rabbit – a dad’s life raising a son on the spectrum.” The memoir highlights the family’s challenges, coping strategies, and victories with autism. The free discussion is Wednesday, April 17th at 6 PM at the Ellsworth Public Library.
Shooting Investigation Closed
(Gardner) Police say a man fatally shot his estranged wife in Gardner before setting fire to her mother’s home and returning to the scene of the shooting to kill himself. Authorities say they still don’t know why 48-year-old Kenneth Bryant killed 44-year-old Autumn Bryant then burned her mother’s home in Sidney. The Kennebec Journal reports Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland released details of the investigation Thursday. Police concluded Kenneth Bryant drove to Gardiner to shoot his wife, drove to Sidney to start the fire and then returned to the Gardiner home to kill himself. The gun used in the shootings was a handgun owned by Kenneth Bryant. There were not any protection orders filed against Kenneth Bryant or any known gun restrictions.
BHC Dinner & Casino Night
(Blue Hill) Who doesn’t enjoy a night out playing a little Black Jack, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Roulette? The Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber of Commerce invites members to their annual Casino Night later this week. Executive director Lori Sitzabee says no money is required to play the table games. The Chamber’s Casino Night is 6 to 10 this coming Friday evening at MaineScape Garden Center in Blue Hill.
Spud Speedway for Sale
(Caribou) A race track in northern Maine is for sale. Spud Speedway in Caribou is on the market for $275-thousand-dollars situated on 48 acres. The race track, drawing racers from the U.S. and Canadian, originally opened in 1964. It closed after the 2015 season because it was losing money, but it reopened last year after improvements.
NLMCH Profits
(Ellsworth) Things are looking up at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth as president John Ronan tells the Ellsworth American that the hospital made a profit this quarter for the first time in nearly a decade. The earnings are attributed to an increase in surgeries after the hospital hired a new general surgeon, as well as an influx of people using the hospital’s walk-in clinic on Resort Way. Maine Coast begins its fiscal year in October, which means its second quarter ends in March.
Director of Philanthropy
(Ellsworth) A new Director of Philanthropy has been hired for Northern Light hospital in Ellsworth. Ruth Calas joined the Northern Light Health Foundation in 2015 as the Director of Philanthropy for Blue Hill Hospital where she has grown the fundraising program and works closely with donors. She’ll oversee fundraising for both hospitals now. Calas brings nearly 20 years of fundraising experience as she previously worked at Jackson Laboratory in various fundraising roles.
Custom Boat for Veterans
(Steuben) Dirigo Custom Boat Works in Steuben has built a custom 24-foot canoe specially designed to safely transport injured veterans on Maine’s waters. The boat named “Big Jack” was designed by registered Maine guide Jack Moshier after determining that modern fishing boats are unsuitable for mobility-challenged veterans who participate in his nonprofit company’s fly fishing trips. Big Jack made its public debut at the Maine Sportsman Show in Augusta on Saturday for a dedication ceremony and christening.
MMA’s Largest Gift
(Castine) Maine Maritime Academy has launched a $20-million-dollar fundraising campaign after receiving the largest gift in the college’s history. MMA President William Brennan announced Friday that a $10-million-dollar gift will go toward their scholarship program entitled “Opening Doors, Changing Lives”. Brennan says about 80% of MMA students require financial assistance. The money raised will allow MMA to double the amount of aid available to students.
Inmate Death
(Warren) The Department of Corrections says an inmate at the Maine State Prison in Warren died Thursday evening. The death of 65-year-old Carl Dyer is not considered suspicious. Dyer began serving a 20-year sentence in 2005 for Class A manslaughter.
Border Arrest-Deportation
(Waterville) The Border Patrol says a Mexican man accused of being in the U.S. illegally will be returned – for a fourth time. Two men were detained Thursday by border patrol agents working in Waterville. Officials say the men were taken to the Border Patrol’s Houlton sector office where routine checks showed one of the men already had been returned to Mexico on 3 prior occasions.
Sports
- Seattle Mariners 10 Boston Red Sox 8
- The Red Sox send David Price to the mound against Oakland tonight.
- Red Sox have reportedly agreed to a deal that will keep shortstop Xander Bogaerts with Boston until 2025
- Detroit Red Wings 6 Boston Bruins 3
- NCAA Final Four: Michigan State, Virginia, Auburn and Texas Tech.
- The Celtics are home tonight against the Miami Heat
