Crime/Public Safety

Palermo Fire Victims Identified

(Palermo)  Authorities have released the names of the two victims of Monday’s house fire in Palermo.  45 yo Gary Crane was found outside the house with severe burns when firefighters arrived.  He remains in critical condition.  The body of his father, 64 yo Gary Crane, Sr., was recovered Wednesday from the Leeman Arm Road home.  The fire is believed to have been preceded by an explosion, possibly due to the home’s propane gas appliances or heating system.

Law Firm Issues Statement on Fatal School Bus Crash in Rockland

(Rockland)  Attorneys with Steve Smith Trial Lawyers yesterday released a statement regarding the RSU 13 school bus crash on November 21st that killed 12 yo Brayden Callahan.  The statement read, in part, families must be able to trust a school system to place a child in the care of a driver that has been vetted through careful supervision and strict adherence to safety standards. The firm further stated the tragedy appears to involve multiple points of failure, and that they intend to pursue accountability for all those responsible.  

Waterville Fire 

(Waterville)  One person is without a home, following a fire at a structure on High Street in Waterville. Crews were called to the scene about 1 a.m. yesterday morning.  First responders arrived to find heavy smoke.  The person living in the home escaped to the roof, from which firefighters were able to get them lowered to safety.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Lincoln Firefighter Rescues Cat From Tree

(Lincoln)  Lucy, a strictly indoor tuxedo cat, decided to investigate the outdoors last week, but ended up stuck in a tree, 95 feet up for two days, her tail freezing to a branch.  The Lincoln Fire Department reports firefighter Colter Mirtes, who had just finished his probationary period, came to the feline’s aid.  Lucy was reportedly quite happy to get back home, although she may be down to just eight lives now. 

Former School Board Candidate Charged

(Ellsworth)  A man who once ran unsuccessfully for the Ellsworth school board was arrested this week in connection with the theft of more than $37K from the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School Parents, Teachers, and Friends Organization.  Joshua Dudeck had been serving as treasurer of the organization, and is believed responsible for unaccounted-for funds removed from the account over a period of about 2 and a half years.  The Ellsworth Police Department tells Downeast Digest the theft investigation was opened last July, when the account was reported to have a negative balance.  The 45 yo Dudeck faces a Class B charge of theft by unauthorized taking.  Dudeck was arraigned Tuesday and released on $1K cash bail.

Local Politics

Washington County Passes 2026 Budget

(Machias)  The  Washington County Budget Committee and Commissioners came to an agreement yesterday on a budget for next year.  The total approved budget was just under 11 million 600 thousand with no overlay.  The Committee had passed a budget after a day-long session on December 3rd, but that budget was rejected a week later by the Commissioners.  Wednesday’s version reflects a close to $271K reduction from the December 3rd proposal.  Changes include cutting positions in probate and on the sheriff’s patrol – both of which are currently vacant.  A position of full time Finance Director was added. The County will add one police cruiser instead of the two originally proposed, and there will be no cost-of-living raises for salaried employees.  Non-union hourly workers will receive a 3% COLA.  

Mills Will Allow Bill Limiting Police Cooperation with ICE

(Augusta)  Governor Janet Mills said she will allow a bill limiting police cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to become law.  The Governor revealed the decision in a Portland Press Herald Op-Ed this week.  The bill, LD 1971, prevents law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities from detaining individuals for immigration purposes or notifying ICE.  Mills called the bill imperfect but said the state cannot ignore what many see as ICE’s unacceptable actions.  

Economy  

Electricity Costs

(Hallowell)  Regulators have approved a slate of changes to a program designed to ease the burden of electricity costs for low-income Mainers.  Beginning in October next year, Low Income Assistance Program funding will increase nearly 50% to $33M a year, with thousands more Maine residents likely to benefit.  The Portland Press Herald reports the program is entirely funded by a surcharge on most ratepayers’ bills.  

Ellsworth Project One of Four Historic Preservation Projects Awarded  Funds

(Ellsworth)  Revitalization of The Old Hancock County Sheriff’s Home and Jail in Ellsworth is one of four historic preservation projects awarded a total of 600K by Maine Downtown Center, in conjunction with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.  The awarded projects are considered critical to sustaining businesses and jobs in downtowns, supporting economic growth.  The Ellsworth Historical Society and Heart of Ellsworth were instrumental in securing the largest of the four awards – nearly $186K – for repair of woodworking on the south wall of the cellblock and on the west and north faces of the building.    Other projects funded included the Olde Federal Building in Augusta, Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft, and the J. Palmer Merrill Building in Skowhegan.  

Education

George Stevens Academy Belt Tightening

(Blue Hill)  George Stevens Academy is tightening their educational belt, this week announcing a “strategic reduction in force” totaling about $325K.  School officials told the Ellsworth American, the cuts are necessary because of declining enrollment at the private academy in Blue Hill, reporting the high school is down to 30 to 40 students.  Head of School Dan Welch said it’s still undetermined how many staff positions will be cut as part of the reductions, but that administrators are seeking to spread reductions across various departments so no one area is overly affected.

Health

Number of Flu Cases Surges

(Maine)  December brought a surge in influenza cases across Maine, nearly tripling from 131 for the week ending December 6th to 320 last week and hospitalizations jumping from 13  to 27, according to state data.  Experts say peak flu season often occurs in late January or February, when Maine typically sees thousands of cases per week.  According to the Portland Press Herald, the state record of 17,793 cases was set during the 2024-25 flu season.

Sumner Students Oversee Blood Drive

(Sullivan)  Kudos to the amazing students at Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan.  Yesterday, they oversaw and participated in an American Red Cross Blood Drive.  Leading by example, Superintendent Michael Eastman was one of the first to donate.  The need for blood is critical and ongoing.  Find a drive near you at red cross blood dot org.

Infrastructure

Water Main Break Prompts Conserve Water Notice for Ellsworth

(Ellsworth)  Residents and businesses on City of Ellsworth water yesterday morning were asked to immediately conserve water until future notice, due to an issue with the main water line coming into town on Bucksport Road.  The notice was issued about 10:30 a.m., with officials explaining crews needed to replace a malfunctioning pressure-reducing valve in order to protect the system and maintain service.  

Human Interest

Verona Island Resident Wins $10K From PCH

(Verona Island)  Years of filling out sweepstakes forms finally paid off for a Hancock County man on Tuesday, when representatives of Publishers’ Clearinghouse showed up at his Verona Island home with a check for $10K.  Scott Sepper was at work when the crew showed up, so they headed off to surprise him there.  Sepper said he’s played for five or six years but never expected to win.  

Where in the World is Sonnie?

(Maine)  Here’s a final hint for your chance to win this week’s “where am  I?” prize  – a $25 gift certificate to Harmon’s Car Wash in Ellsworth.  Find the photo on my FB page, then log onto downeastdigest.news to find more hints and how to submit your guess.  Super easy – thanks to all who have participated so far!  The building I’m standing by is a government building located in a town on the Kennebec River that was settled in 1670 and that was once one of the country’s largest seaports!  Good luck.  Drawing from all correct entries is Saturday.

National News

Chief of Staff Faces Criticism of Interview with Vanity Fair

(Washington, DC)  President Trump is defending his White House Chief of Staff after she gave candid interviews to Vanity Fair that included less than flattering descriptions of those in power in the nation’s capitol.  Among other comments, Susie Wiles told the magazine the President has “an alcoholic’s personality”, Spokesperson Pam Bondi “whiffed” on the Epstein files, and Vice President J.D. Vance’s pro-Trump makeover was politically motivated.  Wiles reportedly gave eleven on-the-record interviews that were published Tuesday.  She defended her words, saying they were taken out of context.  Trump called the interviewer “misguided”, but Vanity Fair backed the articles, saying the conversations with Wiles were “on the record”.  

Reiner Killings

(Undated)  Nick Reiner, the 32 yo son of slain director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, appeared in court yesterday, but did not enter a plea.  He’s charged with two counts of first degree murder in the stabbing death of his parents.  Reiner’s attorney told the court it was “too early” for a plea and that he and the prosecution had agreed to delay the arraignment, now set for January 7th.

Republicans Break with Speaker Mike Johnson on ACA Vote

(AP)  Four centrist Republicans yesterday broke with Speaker Mike Johnson and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on a proposed three-year extension of ACA tax credits.  The credits lower health insurance costs for millions of Americans.  The Associated Press reports the stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed forward a healthcare bill that failed to address the soaring monthly premiums millions will face when the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace expire at the end of this year. Three Republicans from Pennsylvania, along with Mike Lawler of New York, pushed the number of signatures to 218, the number needed to force a floor vote on their bill.  

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