Crime/Public Safety

RSU 34 Threat Prompts Lockdown

(Old Town)  RSU 34 in Old Town received a threat Wednesday morning, resulting in a lockdown at multiple schools.  Because the University of Maine borders one of the schools, notifications were sent to the UMaine campus, where students and staff were also told to “shelter in place”.  The RSU 29 District in Houlton also went into lockdown  Authorities responded to a scene in the area of Stillwater Avenue, ultimately deeming the threat was not credible.  The lockdowns were all lifted by 9:30, but officers remained in the area in order to put students at ease. The incident remains under investigation.  

ICE Claims 50 Arrests in Maine

(Maine)  ICE Agents on Wednesday told Fox News they’ve arrested 50 people so far in Maine, saying the agency was apprehending people who had committed crimes of sexual assault, drug trafficking, and driving under the influence.  But a Portland woman detained by ICE yesterday has a clean record, has been in the United States for nearly 10 years and has a pending asylum application.  The Maine Monitor ran a background check on Micheline Ntumba, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and found she has no criminal record.  Ntumba was arrested as she dropped her daughter at high school.  Agents reportedly did not ask for identification or give any explanation before taking Ntumba away, and agents refused to answer reporters’ questions about why she was detained.

Mills Announces Plans for School Bus Safety

(Augusta)  Two students in Maine died within weeks of each other in separate crashes involving school buses at the end of last year.  In response, the Portland Press Herald reports, Governor Janet Mills has announced plans to improve school bus safety.  Mills will propose $4.3M in her supplemental budget package this spring to pay for enhanced safety measures, including retrofitting Maine school buses with crossing arms and anti-pinch door sensors.  She also signed an executive order to establish a special safety commission to review statutes and rules regarding school bus safety.

Charges Pending in Deadly I-95 Crash

(Waterville)  A driver involved in the deadly January 13th crash on I-95 in Waterville that claimed the lives of two Maine Department of Transportation workers could face serious consequences.  WMTW reports charges are pending against Samantha Tupper, the driver of a passenger van who authorities say failed to stop at a stop sign at an on-ramp and then failed to yield the right-of-way while merging onto the freeway.  Tupper’s van was struck by a tractor trailer.  The impact pushed the van into the work zone, hitting three workers, and killing two who were thrown off the bridge onto the roadway below.  

Skiers Rescued from Mountain in New Hampshire

(NH)  While this next story happened in neighboring New Hampshire, it’s certainly a word of caution to those hiking and skiing this time of year.  Two Massachusetts men are lucky to be alive after they became stuck in deep snow and blizzard-like conditions on the summit of Mount Moosilakue (MOO-suh-lock) near Benton on Saturday. With just 2% remaining on their phones and no warm gear or light, the two 30 year olds were able to notify conservation officers that strong winds and lack of visibility had caused them to lose the trail.  It took rescuers six hours of trudging through extremely deep snow and thick trees to locate the skiers,  another hour to get them back onto the trail and another three hours to get back to a staging area.  Authorities caution people to be prepared with proper clothing and provisions before venturing out.

Lewiston Mayor Confirms Increased Presence of ICE Agents

(Lewiston)  The mayor of Lewiston this week confirmed the “increased presence” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in that city.  Social media posts indicate the agents are operating in the Greater Portland area as well.  The Portland Press Herald reports schools throughout the state are taking extra precautions against the threat.  The ACLU and law enforcement officials remind people peaceful protest is a right, including yelling, banging drums, and videotaping activity.  But they say protestors cannot block access to government buildings and should not cross the line by escalating tensions with officers.  

Local Politics

Washington County Moves Forward in Overcoming Budget Crisis

(Machias)  Washington County has come a long way since it first faced the overwhelming budget crisis discovered last year.  The crisis left the county virtually broke, due to irregular accounting and a backlog of audits that have since come to light as an issue in several other counties, as well.  The mismanagement took place under the previous commissioners and county manager. Current County Manager Renee Gray credits Provisional Treasurer Grace Falzarano with the idea of asking towns to pay their 2026 share of county taxes early in order to get back in the black.  It was Gray’s idea, in spite of initial pushback from Commissioner Billy Howard, to get her staff on the phone, alerting towns they could save up to thousands in possible interest charges by paying now instead of waiting for the fiscal year. Milbridge on Tuesday was the latest of the nearly 70% of towns to vote to pay early, most by unanimous agreement.  The move not only saves participating taxpayers money, it allows the County to pay off the current Tax Anticipation Note and thus get a new TAN that will keep the County solvent.  Gray said they are just waiting for final word from the bank before paying off the $8M plus interest debt owed.   

Economy

Sweet Cheeks Celebrates One Year in Ellsworth

(Ellsworth)  It’s the sweetest anniversary around – Sweet Cheeks Bakery in Ellsworth turns one year old this week, and they’re celebrating by giving you a chance at discounts all this week.  The bakery was founded on Verona Island in 2021 by Jonathan Beal and Michael Roy and quickly grew from a local favorite, using old family recipes, into a regional phenomenon, now with storefronts in Holden, Ellsworth, and Bucksport, along with their newest venture – Sweet Cheeks Diner in Bucksport, a 50s themed delight offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Follow them on social media to learn more and don’t miss out on their deliciousness.

City of Ellsworth Seeks Community Input

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth is inviting residents, neighbors, and anyone who loves Ellsworth to share their thoughts about the city.  They say they want to take a thoughtful look at how the City presents itself, and that community input will help guide the look, feel and message that reflects who they are, now and into the future. Access the survey on the City’s website.  We’ve also shared a link on our Nice and Easy Internet Radio social media pages.  You’re asked to complete the survey by February 6th.  

Environment

Woodlawn Offers Tracks in the Snow Training

(Ellsworth)  You wake to newly fallen snow and find all kinds of tracks criss-crossing your property.  But whose are they?  A fox?  A raccoon?  A bobcat?  Find out at the Science Saturdays Series at Woodlawn in Ellsworth!  Join Naturalist and tracker Matt Haviland on February 14th from 9:30 to 11:30 for “Clues in the Snow”.  The family friendly event costs just $10 per person.   Children must be accompanied by an adult, and they ask that you leave the dogs at home for this one.  Space is limited, so register today at woodlawn ellsworth dot org.

Bitter Temperatures Prompt Safety Warnings

(Maine)  Experts are warning folks to bring the pets indoors and make sure they have plenty of fuel – gas, oil, wood, or other sources to heat their homes safely and adequately.  An arctic blast is expected to drop temperatures as low as 18 below this weekend, with winds forcing a feels-like temperature of 40 below in the mountains of western Maine.  Meteorologists say the air temperature will dip to 17 below in Rangeley on Saturday night, with the bitter temperatures expected to last well into the afternoon.  They caution anyone outdoors for any length of time will be at risk for frostbite and hypothermia.  

Human Interest

Live Theatre at The Grand

(Ellsworth)  Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express cold.  The luxurious train is full – but in the morning, a gruesome discovery.  One of its passengers, an American tycoon, is found stabbed to death in his compartment.  Isolated in the mountains, a killer among them, a detective must uncover the truth … before the killer strikes again.  It’s the classic “Murder on the Orient Express”, live theatre directed by Brent Hutchins at the Grand in Ellsworth, February 13-15 and 20-22.  Tickets are now on sale at your grand dot org.  

National News

Monks Walk for Peace

(Undated)  A group of Buddhist monks is in North Carolina today, part of an ongoing 2300 mile pilgrimage from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C.  The pilgrimage began October 25th last year and is scheduled to end at the Capitol on February 13th, passing through ten states along the way.  The walk, referenced recently by Maine historian Heather Cox Richardson, is intended to promote peace, compassion and nonviolence – they say not as a protest, but to “awaken the peace that already lives within each one of us.”  They’re accompanied along the way by a rescue dog named Aloka.  You can track their journey at Walk for Peace on Social Media. 

Minnesota Police Chiefs Allege Racial Profiling

(Minnesota)  Meanwhile, a group of Minnesota Police Chiefs this week warned legitimate law enforcement officers that ICE agents are racially profiling off-duty officers there.  Brooklin Park Police Chief Mark Ruhle, backed by a group of other Minnesota police chiefs, told Fox News at a press conference they’ve been receiving endless complaints about ICE violating the rights of U.S. citizens. Among concerns, people are being stopped in traffic without just cause, with agents demanding paperwork, including from off-duty police officers, all of whom are people of color.  The chiefs say their officers know what the Constitution is, they know what right and wrong is, and they know when people are targeted.  They say the illegal activity by federal agents is widespread.

Trump Addresses World Leaders in Davos

(Davos, Switzerland)  President Trump arrived in Zurich yesterday to address world leaders at the annual World Economic Forum.  ABC News reports Trump opened his remarks by saying he brought “phenomenal news” from America.  The President’s increasingly antagonistic language over the takeover of the Danish territory of Greenland has put him at odds with fellow NATO countries and other allies.  When asked Tuesday about how far he was willing to go to secure Greenland, he dismissed the lack of support for such a move and responded, “You’ll find out,” causing some to worry about the possibility of a world war.  Such talk, a recent threat sent to Norway’s leader, and Trump’s often rambling speeches have prompted efforts to invoke the 25th amendment, which allows removal of a U.S. President who is no longer capable of leading. 

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