Crime/Public Safety

Southwest Harbor Deaths

(SW Harbor)  Authorities believe the deaths of two men whose bodies were found in Southwest Harbor Friday night were accidental, although they’re releasing few other details.  Members of the SW Harbor Police Department were called to the Linwood Inn on Clark Point Road May 1st, where they found the bodies of two 69 yo men, identified as the Inn’s owner, James H. King, and Randy Murray of Holden. The bodies have been taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to try and determine an exact cause of death.

Single Vehicle Crash Damages House

(St. George)  Talk about a wake up call – the Knox County Sheriff’s Office reports shortly after midnight Saturday a vehicle carrying at least eight young people crashed into a house at the intersection of Spruce Head and Village Roads in St. George.  First responders arrived to find multiple victims with varying degrees of injury.  A preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the vehicle, 20 yo Eliza Luce of Union, failed to negotiate a sharp curve, forcing the car to leave the roadway and strike the house.  Luce sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.  A 16 yo passenger sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a trauma center.  Five other passengers, all teens ages 15 to 18, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; and another passenger had minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital. Authorities say they believe vehicle speed, alcohol, and drug consumption contributed to the crash.  

Castine Select Board Approves Castine Fire Grant Application Request

(Castine)  The Castine Select Board has okayed the Castine Fire and Rescue Department to apply for a grant of up to $10K for equipment.  The River Observer reports bids for contracts for the new fire station are due May 13th. They also announced they’ll be seeking RFP’s for a child care concern to occupy the “round school” on State Street, with bids due by May 18th. A committee is being formed to review bids to lease the building, with hopes of including representatives from the Adams School, the Witherle Library, and parents.  Finally, a gazebo was being assembled to be installed on the town dock. The board meets again tonight for a public information session to preview warrant articles to be voted on at Saturday’s annual Town Meeting.

Maine Warden Service Leads Search for Missing Franklin Man

(Franklin)  Members of the Maine Warden Service were in the Hancock County Town of Franklin on Saturday to lead a search for a man last seen at his Eastbrook Road residence in February 2017.  The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department was the agency initially notified 47 yo Russell Burnett was missing and was believed to have left his residence on foot with his dog.  Because of the complexity of the disappearance, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit became involved in August of that year, but without success.  Saturday’s search was classified as routine, with no known risk to the public.

Judge Rules Teen Who Murdered Paddleboarder Competent to Stand Trial

(Union)  A Maine District Court judge last week ruled 18-year-old Deven Young is competent to stand trial for the murder of 48 yo paddleboarder Sunshine Stewart, which happened last July in Union.  Young, who was 17 at the time of the murder, is accused of killing Stewart as she paddle boarded alone on Crawford Pond near a campground where she was staying.  The quiet town of Union and surrounding area remained on edge for days while authorities searched for Stewart’s killer, and even as Young offered to participate in the search.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports the judge has ordered a scheduling conference for May 7th in Knox County Court to decide the next steps, including plans for a hearing to decide whether Young’s case will be transferred to adult court.

Plane Goes Off Runway at BIA

(Bangor)  Bangor International Airport was shut down for about an hour Friday afternoon after a small plane skidded off the runway into the grass.  The FAA reports the plane was registered to Maine Instrument Flight, a flight school operating out of various cities in Maine, including Bangor.  No injuries were reported.  Four domestic flights were delayed, and four other flights headed to Bangor were rerouted to other locations.  Authorities are still investigating the incident.

Economy

Children’s Maker’s Market Approved for Castine

(Castine)  A while back, we shared with you the story of Kate Kana, whose son and daughter decided to make some money by selling homemade crafts and edible goods.  That little entrepreneurial venture turned into something big, with at least 50 other kids wanting to get involved and do the same.  The River Observer reports last month, the Castine select board approved the kids’ Makers Market for the Town Common on August 4th – the second year the children will be selling their wares and services.  Most of the kids donate a portion of their profits to nonprofits – mark your calendars now, and follow them at Kids Farmers and Makers Market on FB to see where they’ve lined up at least four other markets this summer, as well.

Better Milbridge Receives Casual for a Cause Funding

(Milbridge)  Bar Harbor Bank and Trust has awarded funding to Better Milbridge through their Casual for a Cause program.  Bank employees nominate nonprofits to receive funding that comes from donations for being able to dress casually on Fridays.  Better Milbridge will receive close to $1800 to continue its mission of creating meaningful, accessible, and engaging experiences for families and children in the Milbridge area, helping to break down economic barriers in order to provide all-inclusive activities at no charge.

Town of Blue Hill Co-Sponsors Resilience Grant to Serve Nine Peninsula Towns

(Blue Hill)  Nine towns on the Blue Hill Peninsula could, if approved, benefit from a $175K resilience grant, co-sponsored by the town of Blue Hill.  Island AdVantages reports the grant would fund a new full-time Community Resilience Project Director.  The town of Brooksville would act as the primary applicant, fiscal agent, and funds administrator if the grant is awarded.  The Director would help towns apply recommendations from a recent social vulnerability assessment conducted in Blue Hill, Castine, Penobscot, and Surry that identified people in areas who may be disproportionately affected by climate-related impacts.  Other participating towns include Brooklin, Deer Isle, Sedgwick, and Stonington.

Environment

Invasive Plant Identified in Blue Hill

(Blue Hill)  An invasive plant known as Japanese stiltgrass has been identified in Blue Hill. Invasive Plant Biologist Chad Hammer said distribution of the plant throughout the Northeast has been accelerated by contaminated nursery stock.  The Weekly Packet reports the annual grass can grow up to three feet tall and is marked by alternating light green leaves and a distinctive silvery midrib down its center.  Such plants either kill or damage the plants around them.  Experts say dealing with stiltgrass requires a multi-year, persistent approach in order to stop seed production.  Effective methods include early-summer hand-pulling, late-summer mowing before the plant flowers, and applying 4-6 inches of heavy mulch to suppress seeds or using black plastic sheeting to cover patches, killing the plants and seeds with heat.

Infrastructure

City-State Partnership to Promote Reconstruction of Bayside Road

(Ellsworth)  A partnership between the city of Ellsworth and the state of Maine will initiate reconstruction of Bayside Road in Ellsworth.  According to The Ellsworth American, the project will improve the roadway, address drainage deficiencies, and increase safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.  MDOT offers a 50% match for the $1.5M Phase One to improve the critical corridor that connects Main Street to Beechland Road.  The City anticipates engineering and generating cost estimates will take between 12 and 18 months, meaning construction could begin as early as Fall 2027.  

Trail Openings and Closures

(Maine)  The carriage road trails at Acadia National Park  have reopened to all users, as has the Cadillac Summit Road, which will require reservations beginning May 20th at recreation dot gov.  Remember on the carriage roads, pedestrians must yield to horses, and cyclists must yield to horses and pedestrians.  Only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed.  Construction on the first phase of the Cadillac East-West Connector Trail continues, so the Blueberry Hill Overlook parking lot remains closed through May 19th.  The Sunrise Trail remains closed, especially to ATV and UTV users, as rain prolongs this year’s mud season.  

Human Interest

Volunteers Needed at Ellsworth Tree Nursery

(Ellsworth)  Ellsworth is recruiting community members for a spring volunteer workday at the City’s community tree nursery.  The Nursery Spring Cleanup will take place Saturday, May 23rd, from 10 until Noon at the Jordan Homestead preserve on Bayside Road.  Led by the Ellsworth Arbor Commission, the event offers residents a chance to support the care and growth of young trees that will one day help shape the City’s landscape.  Visit the City of Ellsworth FB page to learn more.

National News 05/04/26

Cargo Ship Attacked

(AP)  A cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz said it was attacked Sunday by multiple small craft, marking at least two dozen attacks in and around the strait since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28th.  Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports Tehran said it was reviewing the U.S. response to its latest proposal on ending the war, but made clear those were not nuclear negotiations.

OPEC Countries Agree to Rise in Production

(AP)  Saudi Arabia and Russia say they’ve decided on a modest increase in oil production beginning in June, as part of a commitment to “market stability”.  The Associated Press reports the commitment from seven OPEC-plus countries to raise production by 188K barrels per day comes after a virtual meeting held on Sunday. But don’t look for gas prices to fall anytime soon.  The move is mostly symbolic, because it comes as Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz through which much of the region’s oil must pass in order to be traded or sold.

© 2026 Downeast Digest News.  All rights reserved.