Crime/Public Safety

Maine Search & Rescue Crews Get New Resource – A Horse

(Benton)  When it comes to search-and-rescue, Maine isn’t “horsing around”.  NewsCenter Maine reports law enforcement now has a new resource – a horse named Kodak.  Authorities tell Downeast Digest when a person goes missing in the woods, time is of the essence.  Over the summer, Kodak became an official member of the Mounted Air Scent Team. The certification means Kodak is able to help find missing people in wooded terrain by scent, just as a dog would.  It’s believed the horse is the first to receive credentials under a regional or national certification, and officials say it’s a game changer.  It took Kodak and his handler, Sharon Pomeroy, almost a decade to achieve the credentials.

Knox County Sheriff’s Office K9 Team Gets Certified

(Rockland)  The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is now more “on track” than ever.  The K9 Team of Deputy William Reed and K9 Roo recently acquired their tracking certification.  Certification requires six months and 200 hours of K9 tracking school through All Points Maine Police Canines.  Deputy Reed and K9 Roo will be able to aid in searches for missing children, people with dementia, or others who may be lost, as well as track suspects who may flee crime scenes.  Deputy Reed has been with the Office since November 2024.  K9 Roo is a one-year-old Dutch Shepherd from Cloverfield K9 in Vermont.  

Mixed Bag for Hancock County Sheriff’s Office

(Ellsworth)  Officers with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office never know what they’ll encounter. This past week was no exception.  On Saturday, Officer Devin Grindle responded to a report of a violation of protection order.  As a result of that investigation, 44 yo Calandra Fitzgerald of Blue Hill was summoned and given a court date to answer to the charge of violating a Protection from Abuse Order.  On Tuesday, Officer Kamren Jennings was called for a wellbeing check on an elderly resident in Stonington.  Jennings  ended up helping that person get their home heating working and contacted their family for further assistance.  Members of HCSO will be at the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth Friday morning to help with Community Closet 207’s Community Christmas Toy Delivery event.   

Gorham School Closed Due to Gas Leak

(Gorham)  An elementary school in Gorham was closed for a second day Wednesday due to concerns about a gas leak.  WMTW reports Narragansett Elementary was evacuated Monday due to the smell of gas in the building. The school remained closed Tuesday and yesterday.  Other district schools were not affected and remained open.  In a letter to parents, Superintendent Heather Perry said Maine Natural Gas was completing a full review of the elementary school’s systems.  It’s the second time in a month a gas smell was reported at the school.  The school was also evacuated on November 5th, due to the issue.

Local Politics

Wagering on a  Winner

(Sullivan)  Mainers are weighing in with wagers when it comes to the top pair running in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.  The Portland Press Herald reports bets are coming in on both Polymarket and Kalshi, sites that allow folks to place bets on elections, sports, and current events.  On both sites, Sullivan oysterman and veteran Graham Platner is leading Governor Janet Mills.  Some experts say the sites are better predictors of likely outcomes than polls.

Maine’s Congressional Delegation Pressing for ACA Tax Credit Compromise

(Augusta)  A key vote in the Senate today may decide on a potential extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.  The Portland Press Herald reports Congress is mulling numerous plans, including compromise plans introduced by members of Maine’s Congressional delegation.  Independent Senator Angus King told the press a bipartisan solution is key, adding, “Not solving this problem would be a disaster.”  The Biden-era tax credits subsidize premiums for plans on the ACA marketplace.  If they were to expire, some lower- and higher-income enrollees would be swamped with large premium increases, in some cases thousands more dollars per month.

(Augusta)  The Senate is set to vote today on whether to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire at the end of this year.  If allowed to expire, some people will be hit with huge increases on their premiums.  In an interview with the Portland Press Herald, Cynthia Cox, Vice President of KFF, a national health policy think tank, said she’s heard of at least eight different plans that could be debated and/or come up for a vote.  A bill introduced by Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins would extend the tax credits for two years and create a new cap for when the subsidies would be cut off.  Collins’s plan also eliminates zero premium plans for lower-income enrollees, requiring people to pay at least $25 a month.  Democrats have proposed a three-year extension. 

Ellsworth Considers Overtime Pay for Management-Level Employees

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth is considering a change that would allow overtime pay for management-level police employees and other 24-hour departments.  The Ellsworth American reports that while managers in the police department currently do collect overtime pay, it’s not technically allowed under a current ordinance.  Chief Troy Bires told the Finance Committee being down four people, with  three others taking paternity leave in the coming weeks has created a worst-case scenario.  He said with upwards of 10K complaints a year, the bottom line is they can’t run short, nor can they risk burning people out.

Economy

Area Projects Awarded Economic Development Funding

(Jonesport) A project proposed by the Town of Jonesport is one of 10 that have been awarded a total of $6.5M in economic development funding.  The Washington County commercial fishing hub will receive close to $800K of the nearly one million dollars needed to construct a commercial working waterfront facility at Henry Point. MaineBiz reports the project, which includes a boat launch, parking, and floating docks, will support 250 fishermen and women and 20 to 50 marine businesses. Other area projects include more than $499K to Farmington’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies to expand its career training program in agriculture, retail, and entrepreneurship into the Hancock County Town of Franklin, and $35K for a feasibility study by the Hancock County Planning Commission to look at  improvements to countywide public transportation access and infrastructure.   .

Environment

MDIRSS Students and Faculty Create Climate Resolution

(Bar Harbor)  Students and faculty at MDI Regional School System aren’t having it.  They recently came together to craft and adopt a Climate Policy Resolution.  Modeled after the state’s climate plan, “Maine Won’t Wait”, the Mount Desert Islander reports goals include making the district’s buildings and facilities carbon neutral by 2030, fossil fuel-free by 2045, and carbon negative with zero waste by 2050.  Science teacher Ruth Poland has been working with students on the issue for years and says she wants her students to know it’s not about an  “all or nothing” approach, with people weaving moments of climate action little by little into their everyday lives.  After a presentation to the Town of Bar Harbor by the students, along with students from College of the Atlantic, the Town Council voted to declare a climate change emergency.  Poland says it helps students “feel like a participant in the world, and not just a passenger.”

Human Interest

SNL Skit Features Locally Made Cheese

(Machias)  Some Saturday Night Live skits are cheesier than others.  The “cheese sample” skit this past weekend featured Melissa McCarthy and Jeremy Culhane – and a cheese from Josh Pond Farm in Whiting.  If you watched closely, you may have noticed a Rocky Lake Raclette cheese sign, which the actor mentioned was from Maine.  Sources tell Downeast Digest it IS a real cheese, made locally at the Whiting farm.  So how did a cheese crafted in Maine end up on SNL?  We’re told Josh Pond Farm has been owned by SNL producer Lorne Michaels since 2009.  You can catch the skit on YouTube if you missed it.

Pet Photos with Santa

(Trenton)  We’ll give you a minute to cover your pets’ ears before this next surprise … ready?  Santa is coming to the SPCA of Hancock County in Trenton this Saturday from 11 to 3!  Bring your furry family members for pictures with Jolly Old Saint Nick!  Now, there is one catch – registration is REQUIRED at the link you’ll find on the SPCA website and FB page.  All pets have to stay outside until their assigned time, and must be brought in a carrier or remain on a leash until their photo op with Santa, Mrs.Claus, and their critter-loving elf.  Ho-ho-hope to see you there!

National News

EPA Removes References to Human-Caused Climate Change

(WaPo)  The Environmental Protection Agency has removed references to human-caused climate change from its website.  The Washington Post reports the EPA has tweaked pages to focus on the “natural processes” driving climate change and wiped other pages from the internet.  An example is a clear statement from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that stated, “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.”  That statement now deleted. Climate scientist Daniel Swain called it one of the more dramatic scrubbings seen so far in the climate space, noting not only have pages been removed, but replaced with inaccurate information.  Swain called it “a deliberate effort to misinform”.  

Miami Elects First Democratic Mayor in Decades

(Miami, FL/WaPo)  A pivotal win for Democrats this week.  Miami, Florida elected its first Democratic mayor in almost 30 years.  Former County Commissioner Eileen Higgins’ win capped a strong election year for Dems, who have taken advantage of backlash against the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.  The Washington Post reports the administration’s move to eliminate bond hearings for immigrants facing deportation has resulted in an explosion of legal challenges claiming the policy violates due process.  

Trump Proposes Asking Foreign Visitors for Social Media History

(CBS News)  The Trump Administration is proposing a request for visitors from several dozen nations that enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S. to submit additional personal information before entering the country, including five years of their social media history.  CBS News reports a notice this week from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the proposal.  The list of 42 countries in the visa waiver program includes European nations like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as other allies around the world, including Australia, Israel, and Japan.

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