Crime/Public Safety

Surry Fatal

(Surry)  A Brooksville man died Friday following a three-vehicle collision on the Blue Hill Road in Surry.  Public Information Officer Shannon Moss reports to Downeast Digest, the crash happened about 2:45 p.m. and resulted in the road being closed for several hours.  An initial investigation indicates 47 yo Mark Nevells was northbound when his Subaru Forester crossed the center line and struck two southbound vehicles, a Honda Fit, and a Ram 2500.  Nevells was pronounced dead at the scene.  The drivers of the other two vehicles were taken to a local hospital, where they were treated and later released.  Maine State Police continue to investigate the crash – it’s unclear why Nevell’s veered into the oncoming lane.

Economy

Maine Wild Blueberry Conference

(Ellsworth)  Longtime growers and first time landowners gathered at the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth Saturday for the Annual Wild Blueberry Conference.  NewsCenter Maine reports the conference was organized by UMaine’s Dr. Lily Calderwood, herself a wild blueberry specialist. Sessions throughout the day focused on summer’s devastating drought, pest management, organic production, and more.  People outside the blueberry industry gained insight as well – attendees included members of the Maine State Beekeepers Association, whose “employees” are necessary to pollinate the anti-oxidant rich fruit that grows wild on the barrens, most of which are concentrated in Hancock and Washington Counties.

WERU General Manager to Retire

(Orland)  Matt Murphy has been at the helm of local radio station WERU for a quarter of a century, but says it’s now time to retire.  The Board of Directors will launch a search process early next month, and Murphy says he plans to stay until a successor is found.  WERU is a non-commercial community station based in Orland.  Staffed largely by volunteers, they receive support from the Maine Community Foundation, MaineShare, and an annual fundraising campaign and provide an eclectic mix of music, talk, and other programming.  Good luck to Matt in his retirement!

Education

MSM Receives $50K Grant for Youth Programming

(Cherryfield)  Maine Seacoast Mission has been awarded a $50K grant to support two youth education programs operating in Maine’s rural communities.  Journey serves Washington County teens, while the Teaching and Learning Collaborative works with children ages five to thirteen who live on outer, unbridged islands.  The grant comes from The Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation, which works with organizations that seek to improve children’s health, safety and education and create opportunities to enrich and add to fulfilling lives

Environment

Rock Salt Alternatives

(Undated)  Winter is here to stay for a while – at least according to Punxsutawney Phil.  And while none of us relishes slipping on ice, experts say there are some good alternatives to sodium chloride, or rock salt.  The Associated Press reports that while such products are often the cheapest, they’re not great for the environment or the pets.  They’re also not the most effective option.  They say natural products like gravel and sand can help, but can cause runoff into bodies of fresh water and kill natural growth. Weather experts advise the best bet is to watch the forecast and start shoveling when you get 1 to 2 inches – don’t wait until it piles up.  And whatever product you use, they say apply it properly, being careful to scatter it widely without using too much.  

Stonington Aims to Reduce Waste

(Stonington)  The town of Stonington says trash is just a big waste, and they want to reduce the amount of garbage trucked out to an Orrington waste-to-energy facility.  Island AdVantages reports Stonington ships almost 13 tons of garbage on an almost daily basis to the facility, with which there’s reportedly been ongoing litigation. Town Manager Kathleen Billings says every time the truck leaves town, it’s $1,600 plus tipping fees.  In order to reduce such waste, the town is implementing a food waste diversion program.  The pilot program encourages residents to use free green bags for weekly food scraps, which will be processed into biofuel and soil amendments.  Residents are also encouraged to use recycling services and to compost yard waste whenever possible.

Health

First Case of Measles Reported in Maine

(Bangor)  The Maine CDC has documented its first case of measles in the state since 2019.  The infected person is said to be an adult from Penobscot County who recently traveled to a state with measles cases.  Officials say you may have been exposed if you were at the following locations – the Saint Joseph Hospital Emergency Room in Bangor Tuesday morning or Hill View Mini Barns in Etna on January 28th or 29th.  Anyone at those locations at those times is cautioned to watch for symptoms – runny nose, fever, a rash – within 21 days of potential exposure.  

Human Interest

Castine Historical Society Makes Major Purchase

(Castine)  The Castine Historical Society has purchased an 1802 document naming Captain Josiah Hooke as the Revenue Inspector for the Port of Penobscot, which included Castine and the surrounding areas.  The River Observer reports the record is signed by then-President Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madison.  The purchase ensures the document, once part of a private estate in the Castine, will stay in the town for future generations.  Visitors can view the document at the Grindle House. CHS says it will be an important part of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Penobscot Expedition battle, which is set for 2028-29.

EHS Cheerleaders Make It Four in a Row

(Ellsworth)  The Ellsworth High School Cheerleaders achieved the impossible Saturday – winning their fourth consecutive Class B State Championship!  The Eagles beat out Hermon and Gardiner in Augusta, with this year’s seniors walking away with quite the legacy.  A crowd was on hand to welcome them back into Ellsworth following their win.  We’ve shared the school’s homecoming video on our social media pages.  

Maine’s Population Hits New High

(Maine)  Maine’s population hit a record high last year, with a growth rate of point five percent, which matched the U.S. level.  MaineBiz reports among New England states, Maine’s population growth was second only to New Hampshire.  The state now boasts 1,414,874 residents.  You’re probably not feeling too crowded just yet, though.  Maine has lots of room and still relatively few people by comparison. The most populous state, California, has us by about 37 million residents, in spite of recent population declines there.

Frances Perkins – Maine Hall of Fame

(Newcastle)  If you’re one of the 25% of Maine residents who receives Social Security, you have Frances Perkins to thank.  Perkins is best known for her policy work at the national level as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and as architect of the New Deal programs that still benefit so many today. But she made her home here … in Newcastle, Maine, where her homestead was recently designated a National Monument. On March 21st, Perkins will posthumously be inducted into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame at the University of Augusta.  Learn more about their mission and how you can support them at frances perkins center dot org.

Olympics Update

(Milan, Italy)  A weekend Winter Olympics update now from Milan, Italy.  American Skier Breezy Johnson secured the gold medal in the women’s downhill, edging out Germany.  Not so fortunate for 41 yo skiing legend Lindsey Vonn.  Attempting a return just days after an ACL rupture, Vonn suffered a major crash during the women’s downhill.  Today’s medal events include the women’s 1,000M speed skating, finals for the Luge, Women’s Singles, and Women’s Freestyle skiing.  In Curling Mixed Doubles, round robin matches continue with USA taking on Italy.

National News

Backlash for Obama Post

(Washington, DC)  The Trump Administration was quick with excuses and explanations after the President appeared to have posted a racist video about the Obamas on his Truth Social account.  GOP Representative Mike Lawler of New York was one of the first to criticize Trump over the post, which the White House at first said was “taken out of context”, then claimed was posted by a “staffer”.  Meanwhile, just two countries were “booed” at the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Milan – the Israeli Olympic delegation and U.S. Vice President, JD Vance, although the American delegation brought cheers.  Several U.S. athletes spoke out, saying they felt the need to put distance between the country they represent and the ongoing atrocities in Minneapolis, the growing number of unregulated detention centers, and threats to other countries by the current administration.

Epstein Files Conflict

(AP)  The FBI under Trump appointee Kash Patel claims its search of the Epstein files found little evidence Epstein led a sex trafficking ring serving powerful men.  According to the Associated Press, U.S. authorities claim that’s why they ultimately decided to close the investigation without additional charges.  However, Mark Stephens, a specialist in international and human rights law at Howard Kennedy in London, says, “Epstein collected powerful people the way others collect frequent flyer points.”  Independent media outlets and now other countries continue to review the files that contain millions of pages, many redacted by the DOJ before being released, citing victims’ privacy. Attorneys for the victims called the redactions, “the single most egregious violation of victim privacy in one day in U.S. history.” 

Minneapolis Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

(MN)  The rumors are true.  The city of Minneapolis was officially nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, likely a first for an entire city.  The city was nominated by the editors of The Nation, a progressive magazine.  In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, The Nation cited calls by elected officials, clergy, and labor leaders to respond to “these horrific developments” – referring to the murder of American citizens and the terrorizing of protestors and immigrants who are here legally by masked, armed federal agents – with nonviolent protests, as a guaranteed First Amendment right.  They also noted the mutual care and support shown by residents to neighbors who have been targeted because of their language or skin color.  The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced in early October in Oslo, Norway and presented December 10th on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

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