Crime/Public Safety

Sullivan Man Charged with Criminal Speed 

(Sullivan)  A Sullivan man is charged with criminal speed after officers say he was observed going 86 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone.  The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports an deputy stopped 62 yo Bruce Bosinger on Highway One in Sullivan shortly after 6:30 Monday morning.  Bosinger was issued a summons and released. Authorities say he’s due to appear in court in Ellsworth to respond to the charge.   

Four of Six Plane Crash Victims Identified

(Bangor)  Officials on Tuesday released the identities of four of the six people killed when a plane crashed at the Bangor International Airport on January 25th.  According to a Bangor Police Department press release, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner positively identified the victims as 46 yo Tara Arnold, 47 yo Jacob Hosmer, and 33 yo Jorden Reidel of Texas and 34 yo Shelby Kuyawa of Hawaii.  The medical examiner’s office continues working to confirm the identities of the other two victims.  The airport remained closed for several days following the crash, as weather hampered an investigation of the incident.

Public Safety Stats

(Ellsworth)  Ever wonder just how busy your local first responders are?  Here’s a sample – in 2025, the Ellsworth Police Department responded to more than 10K offenses – motor vehicle accidents, thefts, assaults, wellness checks, and other incidents.  175 of those calls included the fairly new AHMC mental health agent.  And that’s not counting calls handled by members of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, and services rendered through the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency.  The Hancock County RCC handled more than 21,000 calls.  The Ellsworth Fire Department covered 2300 incidents, 76% of which involved EMS and Rescue.  They also handle business and fire system inspections, plan reviews … and last year spent 2500 hours in fire and EMS training, plus an additional 500 hours in advanced officer training.  Kudos to all our area first responders who stand ready at all hours to ensure public safety.

Local Politics

Transgender Issue

(Maine)  Supporters of a referendum that would bar transgender students from sports teams and private spaces that align with their gender identities have reportedly collected enough signatures to force a statewide vote. The Portland Press Herald reports the referendum would require public school students in Maine to compete on teams and use restrooms, locker rooms, and other private spaces based on the sex listed on their birth certificates.  Supporters this week delivered more than 82K signatures to the Secretary of State’s office, which must now review and certify them before the referendum is approved to appear on the November ballot.

Waldo County Budget Woes

(Belfast)  Waldo County continues to face a contentious budget process that began with a proposed 36% spending increase.  The Midcoast Villager reports officials are wrestling with how to align fiscal reality with taxpayer expectations.  At last week’s meeting, Budget Committee members voted unanimously to send the county’s revised 2026 budget proposal back to the commissioners for additional cuts.  The current draft would raise the county’s annual spending by about 17%; but several members said they would like to see the overall increase at 10% or less.  Until a final budget is approved, Waldo County continues to operate under a temporary rule that caps expenditures at 80% of the 2025 budget.  

Town of Sedgwick to Discuss Cannabis Issue

(Sedgwick)  Sedgwick residents will have an opportunity this evening to learn about a coming proposal to build a recreational adult-use cannabis retail establishment in the town.  An informational session is set for 5 p.m. tonight at the Sedgwick Ridge Road Fire Station.  Officials will discuss what “opting in” means, the process of local ordinance development, and state safety regulations. The gathering will also allow for questions residents may have.  Questions about the meeting can be directed to the Town Clerk today during regular business hours.  

Calais City Council Opts for Cooperating with ICE

(Calais)  The Calais City Council  wants out of a resolution that became law last month, allowing Maine’s law enforcement to pull back on cooperating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents,  at least symbolically.  Governor Janet Mills allowed LD 1971 to become law in January without her signature, but said the times call for it, especially with the terrorizing tactics being used by agents in Minnesota.  Calais City Manager Mike Ellis called the measure a matter of politics. Councilors will vote on the resolution at their February 12th meeting.  In January, President Trump called for an increased ICE presence in Maine,  but Senator Susan Collins convinced him to pull back on that threat, signaling a growing schism in the Republican Party over MAGA policies and the need for support by members of the Republican Party.

Economy

MDI Hotelier Continues to Face Liens, Legal Complaints

(MDI)  The owner of the Asticou Inn on Mount Desert Island continues to face liens and legal complaints over alleged unpaid contractor services for work done at the hotel.  The Bangor Daily News reports Kennebunkport developer Tim Harrington has a documented history of “stiffing” contractors and faces $14M worth of liens associated with the recent overhaul of the NE Harbor hotel.  Harrington was also accused of stiffing contractors during renovation of a rental cottage property in 2022. A Kennebunkport glamping resort owned by Harrington will be auctioned off next month due to foreclosure.  At least four of the companies that previously filed liens have filed complaints in Hancock County Superior Court in order to try and recoup money they are owed.

Owner of Clean Energy Company Wants to Build Apartments in Belfast

(Belfast)  The owner of a Belfast-based company that installs energy efficient systems wants to build an eight-unit apartment complex there.  The Bangor Daily News reports Josh Oxley, owner of Logix, says the complex could help meet the need for what he calls “missing middle” housing.  Oxley proposes building the units on Swan Lake Avenue with high energy-efficient standards, to be rented to folks who would live there year-round.  The City has approved a preliminary plan for the project, which still needs to go through a final review.  If approved, Oxley hopes the first tenants will move in in late 2026 or early 2027.

Environment

Maine Experiencing One of Coldest Winters on Record

(Maine)  If it seems this has been one of the coldest winters on record, you’re not imagining things.  NewsCenter Maine reports statistics back up what we’re all feeling – the coldest winter in years. January was the state’s third consecutive below-normal month.  Bangor is experiencing the coldest winter in nearly 20 years, with the average temperature at 18.2 since December 1st.  

Sports 

Winter Olympics

(Milan)  When the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics gets underway Friday, a Maine native will be one of Team USA’s flag bearers.  NewsCenter Maine reports Bethel native and bobsledder Frank Del Duca will join speed skater Erin Jackson in leading the U.S. delegation in the Parade of Nations.  It’s the second Olympics for the 34 yo UMaine grad, who represented the USA in Beijing.  Maine is well-represented in Italy this year. Sources say 20 yo Nathan Pare, who grew up in Farmingdale but  now lives in Bethel, could win the United States’s first Olympic gold medal in snowboard cross in 16 years. Multiple other athletes with Maine connections will be part of the Games, including Boston Bruins Goalie and former UMaine standout Jeremy Swayman competing on the Men’s Hockey team.   Let the Games begin!

National News

Detention Centers Raise Alarm Bells

(Undated)  Historians and others continue to raise alarm bells about large detention centers run by the Trump Administration, even as DHS continues to buy up large industrial warehouses in multiple states.  Heather Cox Richardson, known for her normally measured and cautious approach, says in this case –  the neon lights are flashing.  She recalls when the New York Times first wrote about Hitler’s concentration camps, they were touted as “clean, with no complaints”, then wondered at Americans’ naivete.  It’s well documented there is no medical care in the current detention facilities, people have died, and  the Department of Homeland Security has refused any type of Congressional oversight – which is required by law.  And concerns continue to grow about people disappearing after being moved from facility to facility until they can literally not be found.  

Minneapolis Remains Under Siege by ICE

(MN)  Despite a shuffling of leadership and a promise of change, Minneapolis remains under siege by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents.  At least three thousand agents remain in Minnesota, despite the mostly cosmetic removal of Greg Bovino, who was replaced by border czar Tom Homan following the murder of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti.  Sources say a parallel operation has targeted close to 6K refugees in the state, who were previously granted legal status by the federal government, for potential “fraud”.  A federal judge last week issued an injunction to block the refugee arrests in Minnesota, but the current government is developing a history of ignoring such rulings, along with the Constitutional rights of legal immigrants and even American citizens.  

Trump Calls for “Nationalizing Voting”

(Washington, DC)  President Trump is calling on Republican lawmakers to nationalize voting –  hijacking a power explicitly granted to states in the U.S. Constitution.  The President continues to falsely allege the 2020 election was stolen, in spite of myriad investigations that have turned up no evidence to support such claims.  The Washington Post reports the demand follows the confiscation of federally protected ballots and other materials from a Georgia warehouse, with Trump indicating “some interesting things” would come out of the seizure.  On January 2nd, 2021 Trump infamously pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,781 votes” in order to overturn the election results, a move Raffensperger refused.  Trump later denied making the call, which was recorded and was used as evidence in a trial in which he was indicted in Fulton County on charges that included racketeering and fraud. Senate Republican leader John Thune says he does not favor federalizing elections.  

Clintons Agree to Testivy

(Washington, DC)  In a reverse course, Former President Bill Clinton and Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House in the Epstein investigation.  The Clintons previously denied having any cause to testify, but were facing a vote of contempt of Congress after failing to appear for previously scheduled depositions.

House Passes Spending Bill, Avoiding Long Shut-Down

(Washington, DC)  In National News, the House on Tuesday passed a significant spending package, aimed at ending a partial government shutdown.  The legislation sets a new deadline for funding the Department of Homeland Security in just two weeks, raising concerns about future fiscal stability.  Experts say the temporary nature of the funding and omission of certain GOP priorities reflect ongoing tensions within the party.

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