Crime/Public Safety

NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Crash that Killed Warden

(Avon)  The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released a preliminary report on the Franklin County plane crash that claimed the life of Maine Game Warden Joshua Tibbetts.  Tibbetts was on a mission to restock lakes in the Rangeley area. The report says the plane held about 42 pounds of fish and 12 gallons of water in its right pod, one of two mounted on the seaplane’s floats.  The plane was making a turn about 400 yards SW of Schoolhouse Pond when it crashed into trees, coming to rest nose down, and damaging the pods and the aircraft, including the wings, pilot, and copilot seats.  The report also says the engine was partially separated from the firewall and the propeller was separated from the engine.  The Portland Press Herald reports Tibbetts was remembered by friends and colleagues as “cool headed in a crisis and always smiling”, with hundreds gathering to celebrate and honor him at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor following his death.

Local Politics

Platner Will Face Collins in November

(Undated)  Democrat Graham Platner will face longtime incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in a race to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate come November.  Despite controversial revelations picked up by media across the country, Platner easily won the Democratic Primary, handily picking up more than 70% of the vote.  Collins ran unopposed in Tuesday’s Republican Primary.

Primary Races for Govern Head to Ranked Choice Runoff

(Undated)  The race to represent the Democratic Party as Maine’s next Governor headed to a ranked choice runoff this week.  Troy Jackson and Nirav Shah traded early leads, but The Portland Press Herald noted others, including former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, could factor in a final decision.  On the Republican side, the race for Governor was also likely headed for a runoff, with Bobby Charles holding a strong lead but not securing the 50% needed to win outright.

Economy

Bangor Savings Announces 2026 Community Matters More Recipients

(Bangor)  Bangor Savings Bank has announced the 2026 Recipients of their Community Matters More Grants.  The grants are awarded based on community votes.  Eleven nonprofits will receive $5K each. Among them, The Messenger Animal Rescue in Harrington, Belfast’s Maine Farmland Trust, and The Maine Veterans Project in Bangor.  Local organizations among the 22 that will receive $3,500 grants include AIO Food and Energy Assistance and New Hope Midcoast in Rockland, Camp CaPella in Dedham, Empty Arms of Greater Bangor, The Grand in Ellsworth, and Bangor’s Penobscot Theatre Company.  Eleven other Maine and New Hampshire based recipients were awarded $2,500 grants.  Thanks to Bangor Savings Bank and those who voiced support through your votes.

Chipotle Celebrates Start of World Cup with BOGO

(Bangor)  Chipotle is celebrating the start of the 2026 World Cup with a Buy One, Get One entree promotion.  But you’d better get there quickly – the promotion is today only, and you have to be wearing a soccer jersey when you order at participating restaurants.  The deal’s almost as hot as temps athletes are expected to face in the 104 matches taking place across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with rising temperatures expected to greet players and fans, especially in southern locations.

Education

Mountain View School Campaigns

for New Playground

(Sullivan)  The Mountain View School PTO in Sullivan is working to create something they say every child deserves – a safe, engaging, and inclusive playground where kids can play, grow, and connect.  The goal is to raise $100K; and to date, they’re halfway TO that goal – one they’d like to reach yet this summer.  Students are actively engaged in the process … creating wish lists, sharing ideas, and writing letters to community members.  Major donors will be recognized on a permanent sign on the playground; but as we all know, every donation counts, no matter how small.  Checks can be mailed to the PTO at the school, 542 Bert Gray Road in Sullivan.  They say, please make them payable to RSU 24, with “MVS Playground” written on the memo line.  

HCTC Director Honored by Ellsworth Rotary

(Ellsworth)  The Ellsworth Rotary Club this week honored Hancock County Technical Center Director Paul Tracy with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award – one of the club’s highest recognitions.  HCTC tells Downeast Digest the award celebrates Tracy’s deep commitment to students, staff, and the greater Ellsworth and Hancock County community.  They say his leadership, service, and heart for education make a real difference every single day, making them proud to see him recognized for the impact he makes.

Maine Seacoast Vegetables Visits EEMC

(Ellsworth)  Students at Ellsworth Elementary Middle School last week got a taste of the sea – literally.  The school hosted their final Tasting Table of the year by celebrating June’s Maine Harvest of the Month – seaweed!  Maine Coast Sea Vegetables set up a station during lunch and shared their time, knowledge and tasty treats, including real sugar kelp, dulse, and delicious “Kelp Krunch” seaweed bites.   The school sends a giant shoutout to all the adventurous students who taste tested many unique treats this year as part of the program.

Environment

Blue Hill Heritage Trust Plants 2,000 Trees at Surry Forest Property

(Blue Hill)  Blue Hill Heritage Trust has been up to something pretty shady.  During April and May, they completed a large-scale tree planting restoration project at their Surry Forest property.  According to the Weekly Packet, the nonprofit planted a total of 2K trees on the nine-acre parcel.  Before BHHT took ownership, Surry Forest was heavily harvested for timber, leading to degraded forest conditions. They say what growth did occur suffered from poor natural regeneration, decreased climate resilience, and a high vulnerability to pests. Over time, the hundreds of diverse saplings planted per acre will boost the forest’s biological diversity and stabilize the soil, improve local stream water quality, and provide richer wildlife habitats.

Peony Society to Host Tours

(Winterport)  There’s nothing like the smell of lilacs in bloom – unless it’s the smell of peonies.  Just as the lilacs are fading, the glorious, fragrant, colorful peonies are bursting into bloom.  No better way to experience them than the annual Peony Garden Tour, hosted by The Peony Society of Maine.  The tour starts this Saturday, June 13th at 10 a.m., beginning at either of two of the Society’s largest gardens – 1348 Ohio Street in Bangor or 9 Clark Road in Winterport.  If you can’t make it this Saturday, the tours resume on Saturday the 20th.  You’ll receive a map and garden bio for all five gardens on this year’s tour.  A $5 donation is requested of each visitor.

Infrastructure

Deer Isle Causeway Update

(Deer Isle)  An update now on the Deer Isle Causeway project.  The state this week released details on its plans to raise the Causeway by 4.3 feet in order for it to better withstand sea level rise and damage from strong coastal storms.  The Causeway sees an average of more than 3200 vehicles per day. The $22M project is expected to begin in 2027, with completion planned for Fall 2029.  Sources say $12M of the cost is federally funded. During construction, portions of the road will be reduced to single-lane traffic, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.  Construction will include improvements on the main causeway, as well as on a smaller one near the base of the Deer-Isle/Sedgwick Bridge.   

Human Interest

EPL Kicks Off Summer Reading on June 27th

(Ellsworth)  Read into this what you will – the Ellsworth Public Library kicks off its Summer Reading Bash just two weeks from now on Saturday, June 27th.  From 10 a.m. until Noon, sign up for the Summer Reading challenge, play games, get your face painted, and make your own plant buddy.  Read for 20 minutes, five days a week this summer, and earn free ice cream from Morton’s Moo.  Additional summer programming includes activities for kids five days a week during July and August.  And don’t miss the Library’s Thursday Night Events – eight weeks of author visits, a murder mystery, concerts and trivia, beginning July 2nd.  Visit ellsworthlibrary.net so YOU don’t miss out! 

Cooper Flagg named to TIME100 Sports List

(Undated)  Newport native Cooper Flagg is going to need an assist –  at least when it comes to keeping  track of all the honors earned by the 19 yo phenom.  Most recently, TIME Magazine named Flagg to its inaugural “100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026” list.  Flagg was the Number One overall draft pick for the NBA, won its Rookie of the Year Award this year, and is the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game.  Flagg, of course, is a forward for the Dallas Mavericks.

National News 06/11/26

Trump’s Threats to Iran Threaten Truce Deal

(AP)  The United States on Wednesday launched airstrikes against Iran, with President Donald Trump declaring more strikes to come, as Tehran fired back at countries in the region.  The Associated Press reports the escalating attacks threaten to derail efforts to end the war, with Trump warning Iran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations in the war that began February 28th when the U.S. and Israel attacked the Middle Eastern country, leading to closure of the Strait of Hormuz, skyrocketing oil prices, and a cost to American taxpayers of a billion dollars a day.

Trump Signs Bill to Fund Immigration Enforcement Agenda

(AP)  President Trump on Wednesday signed a bill into law that gives his immigration and deportation agenda a nearly $70B boost for the remainder of his time in office.  The Associated Press reports the bill provides $38B for ICE, $26B for Border Patrol, and an additional $5B to cover unforeseen costs.  The President’s policy has resulted in the murders of at least three American citizens, and the opening of multiple for-profit detention centers that many are calling concentration camps because of substantiated reports of families being separated, spoiled food, a lack of medical care, and unsanitary conditions.  Records show by far the majority of persons detained have no history of criminal activity.

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