Crime/Public Safety

Second Baileyville Victim Dies

(Baileyville)  The second victim of that chemical incident at Woodland Pulp in Baileyville has died.  Authorities were called to the mill on January 27th on a report of two people who had passed out inside the facility’s bleach plant area.  Both victims were taken to a local hospital in critical condition.  Kasie Malcolm, a University of Maine chemical engineering student, died the day after the incident.  More information on the second victim was not immediately released.

Chairlift Incident at Sunday River

(Newry)  Officials aren’t releasing much information, but NewsCenter Maine reports a guest was taken for evaluation following a chairlift incident at Sunday River on Tuesday.  Resort workers say their team responded to the Jordan Mountain Double chairlift yesterday and took the guest for a medical evaluation.  They say the chairlift later returned to operations.

Bath Iron Works Employee Identified as Rhode Island Shooter

(Bath)  Bath Iron Works Tuesday said the gunman who killed three people and left several others wounded at a high school hockey game in Rhode Island was an active employee at the plant in Bath.  Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito, was identified as the person who shot and killed his ex-wife and adult son before turning the gun on himself.  The Pawtucket Police Chief said the wounded were Esposito’s ex-wife’s parents and a family friend, all of whom remain hospitalized in critical condition.  The shooter was reportedly stopped when a spectator stepped in to end the attack.  

Winterport Crash Leaves One Dead, Two Injured

(Winterport)  One person is dead and two others were injured in a Monday afternoon crash in Winterport.  According to the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, the two-vehicle crash happened about 1:45 at the intersection of North and Monroe Roads.  An initial investigation indicates a northbound SUV on North Road, driven by 50 yo Heather Browning, failed to yield to an eastbound truck on Monroe.  Browning was pronounced dead at the scene.  A juvenile passenger in her car was Lifeflighted to a local hospital.  The 66 yo man driving the other vehicle was also taken to a hospital.  An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Economy

City of Ellsworth Trash Sticker Increase

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth is talking trash – a price hike on trash stickers, that is.  Beginning March 2nd, the price of City trash bag stickers will increase from $3 to $4 per bag.  Three-dollar stickers purchased before that date will still be honored.  The scale price is going up as well, to $160 per ton. Officials say the changes are necessary to cover significant increases in disposal and processing costs and ongoing increases in the City’s contract with Casella.  They say trash sticker and scale pricing have not increased in more than a decade, and the price adjustment helps reduce the need for Ellsworth taxpayers to subsidize disposal costs.

Three Courses for Community

(Ellsworth)  It’s hard to know where to begin when championing the way Heart of Ellsworth has promoted, preserved, and pushed forward the arts, history, and culture of downtown.  On March 1st, residents and others have a chance to give back to the nonprofit at Three Courses for Community.  Heart of Ellsworth is partnering with Provender Kitchen and Bar for an evening of food and fundraising.  Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour, an exquisite three-course meal prepared by award-winning chef Daron Goldstein, and a finale with dessert and coffee service.  Proceeds will directly support Heart of Ellsworth’s year-round efforts to build a vibrant, resilient downtown district.  Tickets must be purchased in advance, and seating is limited – we’ve shared details on our social media pages.

Verona Island Tax Relief

(Verona Island)  Verona Island residents could be seeing some tax relief.  The River Observer reports the $50K needed to pay for a town-wide property revaluation will be taken from surplus, drastically reducing the budget increase voters will face at the March 28th town meeting.  By using surplus funds for the revaluation, the proposed 2026-27 municipal budget raised by property taxes drops by $50K, representing a modest increase of 3.2 percent over the prior fiscal year’s budget.. Officials say the increase is driven mostly by costs associated with the town’s fire and ambulance contract with Bucksport, snow removal, and town hall expenses.

Education

Ellsworth Schools May Institute Cell Phone Ban

(Ellsworth)  The Ellsworth School Department may soon join other districts across Maine in banning the use of cell phones while at school.  The Ellsworth American reports the School Board last week reviewed a proposed policy that would apply to all students from pre-K through grade 12 and reads, “students are not permitted to carry/wear or access personal cell phones, smart watches, or other personal electronic devices during the school day.”  Educators across the globe have found such devices distracting and detrimental to students’ social and emotional well-being.  Last year, Governor Janet Mills approved a bill that requires school boards to implement a policy regulating the use of personal electronic devices no later than August 1st of this year.  The Ellsworth School Department will consider further input during the next month, with a second read of the policy to follow.

Health

Maine Hit with More Measles Cases

(Penobscot County)  The Maine CDC has confirmed four additional cases of measles in Maine, all in Penobscot County.  Earlier this month, the CDC revealed the discovery of the first case of measles in the state since 2019.  In a press release, the CDC cautioned there is no “outbreak” in the state, saying an outbreak is defined as “three or more cases in unrelated households that share an epidemiological link”.

California Nonprofit Acquires Central Maine Healthcare

(Lewiston)  A California nonprofit has acquired Central Maine Healthcare. NewsCenter Maine reports Prime Healthcare Foundation is now the parent organization of Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and several other facilities, along with more than 40 physician practices.  The acquisition expands PHF’s reach to 21 hospitals across eight states.  Prime Healthcare Foundation says it plans to invest $150M over the next five years to improve facilities, services, and infrastructure.

Infrastructure

Bucksport Potholes

(Bucksport)  It’s a tough time of year for drivers, who find themselves navigating frost heaves, snowbanks, and potholes.  The River Observer reports the Maine Department of Transportation has secured $7.2M in federal funds to help rebuild a pothole-pocked Main Street in Bucksport, although construction is said to likely be 2-3 years in the future.  In the meantime, State Representative Steven Bishop of Bucksport said he hopes to speak with MDOT about a temporary solution to the road’s pothole issue.  Town officials say they hope to avoid a situation such as what happened with the Route One reconstruction in Searsport that ended up being a multi-year project, with traffic detoured several miles around the downtown area, negatively impacting business there.

Human Interest

Declaration of Independence to Tour Maine

(Maine)  Vacationland hosts a lot of visitors during the summer; this year, the state will be visited by a very special 250-year-old.  The Maine Historical Society is planning a statewide tour of its rare copy of the Declaration of Independence.  The document is one of just 26 surviving copies of the Dunlap Broadside, which was printed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 and sent to the colonies to announce the country’s independence.  The rare document will visit all 16 counties.  Locally, it will be at the Camden Public Library August 7th and 8th, the Belfast Free Library August 14th and 15th, the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor August 21st and 22nd, at the Tides Institute and Museum in Eastport August 28th and 29th, and at the Bangor Public Library September 18th and 19th.

National News

Search for Guthrie Enters Third Week

(Tucson)  The search for the mother of NBC Today co-host Savannah Guthrie is now in its third week.  84 yo Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in Tucson. Arizona on January 31st.  She was reported missing the following day.  The FBI has released surveillance videos of a masked person wearing a handgun holster outside her front door the night she vanished.  A porch camera captured video of the person, who was carrying a backpack and wearing a jacket, long pants, and gloves.  Investigators say several ransom notes have been received, along with more than 13,000 tips.  DNA from a glove found near Guthrie’s home failed to match anyone in a federal database.

In National News Headlines:

• Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked an interview with Texas Democrats over FCC concerns.  The Washington Post reports the condemnation comes before Colbert’s “Late  Show” goes off the air in May, a decision the network previously called a “purely financial decision”.
• And defense secretary Pete Hegseth has forced the ouster of a senior Army spokesman.  It’s the latest in a series of internal clashes in which Hegseth has moved to push out officers who worked for retired General Mark A. Milley, a target of President  Trump.

• Release of the latest Epstein files have brought a wave of resignations and investigations; if not in the U.S., at least overseas.  The Washington Post reports the massive trove – totaling more than 3 million documents, has led to resignations and criminal inquiries throughout the world, particularly across Europe.
• And President Trump is reportedly recruiting thousands of local officers to aid in its immigration efforts. But some states are saying “no”, in light of the deadly tactics used by ICE and CBP agents.  In Maryland, the Associated Press reports, Democratic Governor Wes Moore signed a bill into law Tuesday that prohibits immigration enforcement agreements with the federal government.
• You’ll find more details on these and other National News stories on our National News page at Downeast Digest dot news.

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