Crime/Public Safety

Bucksport Man Dies in Rollover Crash

(Penobscot)  A Bucksport man died Saturday after he was ejected from his vehicle during a rollover crash in Penobscot.  According to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, the incident happened about 7:45 p.m. on Front Ridge Road.  They say 35 yo Zachary McKechnie was traveling toward Orland when his Volkswagen Jetta left the road, came back onto the roadway, then rolled before coming to a stop.  McKechnie was ejected from the vehicle and died as a result.  Authorities believe speed and alcohol contributed to the crash, which remains under investigation.

Body of Woman Missing for Two Months Found

(Brunswick)  Authorities Saturday found the body of 56 yo Rebecca Dorr after closing off two trails in Brunswick to aid in the search.  They say Dorr went missing almost two months ago when she left her house on foot during a snowstorm.  Investigators say Dorr may have been suffering from mental health challenges.  

Busy Month for Ellsworth PD

(Ellsworth)  The Ellsworth Police Department is hiring – and if you are interested in joining them, expect to stay busy.  The EPD on Sunday posted stats for February, which included dealing with more than 50 motor vehicle accidents, 23 thefts, 60-plus trespassing and disorderly complaints, and 13 assaults.  Add in overdose cases, traffic stops, well-being checks and other issues, and you get 736 offenses to which officers responded last month.  Ellsworth Dispatch dealt with 1400 calls, and the AMHC crisis response team helped with 14 calls.  Good work, all.

New Hampshire Facility Floor Collapse Sends Wedding Guests to Hospital

(Nashua)  Dozens of people were injured when a floor collapsed at a wedding event in New Hampshire Saturday.  Authorities say at least a hundred people were at the Sap House in Tamworth shortly before 5 p.m. when the floor collapsed, trapping people under beams in the basement below and leading to a “mass casualty” call.  Several ambulances were called, and Lifeflight was dispatched to transport one person who was seriously injured, but authorities say no one was killed.  The investigation is ongoing, but it’s believed the venue was over capacity when the floor collapsed.  

Local Politics

Bucksport Considers Tough Budget Constraints

(Bucksport)  Tight budgets are a concern everywhere; the town of Bucksport is no exception.  At Thursday’s meeting, Town Manager Jacob Gran presented a first draft of a proposed FY 2027 budget, but acknowledged it could look very different when adopted in June.  Among reductions proposed … the option to not provide any funding for community and social agencies.  The largest amount in that category was $30K for the Buck Memorial Library.  Councilors discussed a possible moratorium and asked that the matter be further discussed before April 2nd, when agencies are scheduled to present their funding requests to the council.

Northern Light Nurses Reach Contract Agreement

(Bangor)  Nurses at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center had planned to go on a one-day strike today.  Instead, the Maine State Nurses Association says they’ve reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract and have officially withdrawn their strike notice.  The union had been working to reach an agreement since last July.  Their concerns centered on patient safety among other issues.

Lobsterman Continues Fight Against GPS Tracking

(Vinalhaven)  The Department of Marine Resources says it’s to help gather scientific data that could benefit the lobster industry.  But many in the industry say a GPS tracking mandate enacted in 2023 is intrusive and violates their Fourth Amendment rights.  Frank Thompson, a Vinalhaven fisherman, and others sued DMR in 2024, but a federal judge upheld the department’s right to track fishing vessels.  This month,  Thompson is taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The Bangor Daily News reports Thompson has the backing of the Pacific Legal Foundation, which claims the tracking subjects fishermen to unending surveillance that threatens their licenses and livelihoods in order to force compliance to stringent and costly rules and regulations.  

BIW Workers Plan Strike

(Bath)  The workers’ union at Bath Iron Works plans to go on strike today, following rejection of a proposed offer from General Dynamics-BIW.  In a press release, union members cited increased insurance premiums and stagnant wages as the main reasons for voting against the proposed offer.  One union worker said about ¾ of the 650 union members voted to strike down the current version of the contract, accusing General Dynamics in a written statement of  continuing to make record profits off their labor and giving away billions each year through stock buybacks and dividends, while many employees work paycheck to paycheck.  The strike is scheduled to begin at midnight Monday.

Economy

Store Changes Draw Crowds to Bangor Saturday

(Bangor)  Two store changes snarled traffic and reportedly had lines wrapped around blocks in Bangor Saturday.  The first was the opening of the new Marden’s location on Springer Drive.  The move to the former Burlington Coat Factory facility replaces Marden’s Brewer location..  The second was the sale of Furniture Mattresses and More near the Bangor Mall.  Owner Kathy Harvey told the media an out-of-state buyer made an offer she couldn’t turn down.  Harvey said that while she had mixed feelings about selling the store, the timing seemed right as she nears retirement age. A liquidation sale at the furniture store continues this weekend, with the Easter Bunny making an appearance again for pictures with the kids.

Blue Hill Blaze Liquor License Concerns

(Blue Hill)  Blaze Restaurant has the Blue Hill Select Board fired up about concerns the eatery has not met conditions tied to its liquor license approval.  The Weekly Packet reports that concern is growing as a March 31st deadline approaches and as the business seeks permission for a one-day event this summer.  The Board originally approved the liquor license last October, with conditions Blaze would bring its site into compliance with town ordinances.  At issue is a condition requiring the restaurant to submit permit applications addressing unpermitted construction, including recent site work and outdoor improvements.  Council members say while the deadline has not yet passed, progress at the restaurant appears limited.

Infrastructure

Lubec Breakwater Project to Go Out to Bid

(Lubec) After a nine year wait, the Lubec Safe Harbor breakwater project is expected to go back out to bid next month.  The Bangor Daily News reports initial bids were too high, but the wait has raised questions about how long the project has taken and how much the anticipated cost has now risen.  The project was initially put forward almost a decade ago, with estimated costs more than doubling in the past seven years.  Funding now available for the project reportedly  totals nearly $47M, according to the Maine DOT.  The 650-foot breakwater extending into Johnson’s Bay will be constructed of rock riprap and will provide a sheltered area where mariners can launch and moor boats.

Human Interest

Ellsworth Library Event Draws Packed House

(Ellsworth)  More than sixty people packed the Riverview Room at the Ellsworth Public Library Saturday for the first event of the Indielens series.  The League of Women Voters screened “The Inquisitor”, a documentary on Barbara Jordan, the Texas congresswoman who made history as a black person and as a woman during the Nixon and Carter administrations.  An engaging discussion followed, with comments by everyone from a 13 year old to those over 70 who were in attendance.  The next event in the series is “The Librarians” an in depth look at book banning and how it has affected libraries, schools, and others.  That’s coming up in April. Learn about all the upcoming events at ellsworth library dot net.

Pat’s Pizza Fundraiser for SPCA of Hancock County

(Ellsworth)  Eat pizza. Do good.  This Sunday from 4 to 6, join Pat’s Pizza in Ellsworth for a spring get-together and fundraiser for the SPCA of Hancock County.  Order a large pizza and $2 goes to the SPCA.  Every small pie turns into a dollar donation.  And do check out the SPCA’s website for some pretty special cats and pups that are waiting to add plenty of love to the perfect home that could just be yours.

National News 03/23/26

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller Dies

(Washington, DC)  Robert Mueller has died.  The 81 yo former head of the FBI brought politically explosive indictments as a special counsel examining Russia’s attack on the 2016 presidential election, then concluded he could neither absolve nor accuse Trump of a crime.  Mueller was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in  2021.  The NY Times reports Trump remained unforgiving of Mueller’s investigation, posting Saturday on Truth Social, “Good, I’m glad he’s dead.  He can no longer hurt innocent people.”  Mueller was a liberal Republican who became FBI Director just a week before the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Strait of Hormuz Standoff

(Iran)  President Trump yesterday warned that the U.S. would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless it fully opened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.  Tehran responded with a threat of its own, saying it would answer any such strike with attacks on US and Israeli energy and infrastructure in the region. Global pressure is mounting to open the Strait through which 20% of the world’s oil supply is transported.   In other major developments, the Associated Press reports Iran targeted the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, suggesting Tehran’s missile capability has a farther reach than previously thought.  The death toll from the war is now at more than 1500 dead in Iran and more than a thousand in Lebanon.  Thirteen US military members have died, as well as a number of civilians, while millions have been displaced in Iran and Lebanon.  The State Department on Sunday warned of airspace closures that could disrupt travel and that the war is continuing to cause safety concerns for Americans across the globe.  

ICE Agents Assigned to Airports to Aid TSA Workers

(The Hill)  In national news, begin looking for ICE agents at airports starting today.  Border czar Tom Homan on Sunday said officers won’t be directly involved in security measures, but that there are certain parts of security TSA is doing that they can be moved from and put in the more specialized jobs, such as looking at X-ray machines. TSA agents are working without pay as the partial government shutdown drags on, leading to many staying home, and resulting in long lines and  backups at airports across the country. 

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