Crime/Public Safety/Drugs

Motorcyclist Killed in Friday Night Crash

(Hancock)  A 29-year-old Hancock man died Friday night in a crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV.  Police responded to Route One in Hancock near Shirley’s Yarns and Crafts about 9:40 that evening.  The driver of the motorcycle, Richard Ryan, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The driver of the SUV was not injured. Authorities are still trying to piece together what happened and ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the Bangor RCC.  Ryan was a longtime employee of Tracey’s Seafood in Sullivan and leaves behind a wife and children, with another child on the way.  A Go Fund Me has been set up – you’ll find the link on our FB page, as well as on Tracey’s Seafood’s page.  

Massive Fire at Old Moosehead Mill

(Greenville)  A massive fire was reported at the abandoned Old Moosehead Mill in Monson Saturday evening.  Sources say the owners had an outdoor permit to burn debris, but the fire grew out of control, sparking a wildland fire and spreading to other structures.  No injuries were reported, but at least three buildings were lost.  The fire first became a concern around 5:30 p.m., according to Monson Deputy Fire Chief Terry Gaudet, who said in his decades-long career, it was the largest mill fire to which he’s responded.  More than 25 trucks and 18 tankers from multiple departments across Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties worked to contain the blaze, along with members of the Maine Forest Service.  

Searsmont Fire Report Released

(Searsmont)  On Friday, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released its report on the tragic fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont.  Media outlets were quick to headline reports that emphasized blame on the part of firefighters and first responders, suggesting their actions made the situation worse or caused the explosion.  It gave us pause to think how that must have come across to the brave volunteers who headed into the danger and felt the tragedy most deeply.  Liberty Fire & Rescue had the best and most sensitive coverage, which we’ve shared on our FB page.  We encourage everyone to read and consider Liberty’s thoughtful perspective on the investigation.

Hancock Volunteer Fire Department Open House

(Hancock)  Mark your calendars!  The Hancock Volunteer Fire Department invites you to an Open House at their new station, 13 Cemetery Road in Hancock.  The Department has now settled into its $2.2M, 6500 square foot facility, which replaces its previous site just across the road.  The old station was built in 1957 and had not kept up with the area’s growth and the need for more trucks and more space.  The new station features administrative offices, a meeting room, kitchen, locker rooms and decontamination showers.  The Open House is set for 11 a.m. on August 22nd.  

Nurse Kidnapped by ICE Freed Following Protest

(Portland)  A first-year nurse at Maine Medical Center sources say was kidnapped by ICE at Boston’s Logan International Airport on July 30th has been freed, following a rally by 100 nurses and supporters demanding her release.  Twenty-eight-year-old Debora Kapisha, an asylum seeker from Zambia, is legally authorized to live and work in the U.S. while her asylum case is processed, though ICE tried to label her an “illegal alien” who had overstayed her visa.   ICE agents were reportedly preparing to move Kapisha to a detention facility in Louisiana until the Maine State Nurses’ Association put together a press conference and rally, resulting in her release.

Economy

Ellsworth Candlepin Alley on CBS Sunday Morning

(Ellsworth)  Ellsworth’s Candlepin Bowling Alley is famous for housing what are widely considered the world’s oldest original, operating candlepin pinsetter machines, dating back to 1949.  Originally known as D’Amanda’s, Autumn Mowery was just 18 when she was faced with the possible demolition of her family’s beloved business.  Mowery wasn’t about to let that happen. Through fundraising, long nights, equipment that regularly needed repair, and the teen’s dogged determination in overcoming other obstacles, the business survived and thrives today, along with a video arcade, full bar and grill, and virtual indoor golf simulators.  CBS Sunday Morning picked up Autumn’s story and aired it yesterday morning.  If you missed it, you can likely catch it shortly on YouTube. We’ve shared an ongoing GoFundMe page started by the community to help with upkeep on our FB page.

Stanley Subaru Supports Ellsworth Public Library

(Ellsworth)  This month’s Round Up for Change at Stanley Subaru is raising funds for the Ellsworth Public Library!  All this month when you visit the dealership for service, parts, or a vehicle, you can round up your purchase or even donate a few dollars more. Every contribution will help support the library and the valuable programs and services they provide.  Stanley says, “From children’s story times and summer reading programs to resources for students, job seekers, and lifelong learners, the library plays an important role in helping our community grow and thrive.”  We couldn’t have said it better.

Extended Deadline Approved for Kingfish

(Jonesport)  Kingfish Maine last week earned a long-sought-after extension needed to prove a “substantial start” on its proposed $100M land-based aquaculture project in Jonesport.  The project faced pushback from lobster fishermen, environmentalists, and others, causing delays in beginning construction.  According to the Maine Monitor, about 50 residents formed the voting audience that was noticeably thin on fishermen and Planning Board members.  The vote allows the company an additional 6 months without penalty from the standard requirement that 30 percent of a project be completed within the first year.  A second ordinance was amended to authorize the Planning Board to approve permit revisions without requiring a full site plan review.

Gelato Shop At Home in Ellsworth

(Ellsworth)  This summer, Ellsworth has its own gelato stand.  The Bangor Daily News reports that while the city has local ice cream shops, Maple & Cream is the only such shop that specializes in the Italian form of ice cream, which uses more milk and less cream than its American counterpart.  Maple & Cream can be found in the parking lot of Fika Boutique, located at High Street and Beechland.  Proprietor Melissa Bradford also owns Fika, as well as the Alchemist Salon in Downtown Ellsworth.  Maple & Cream’s menu also offers a variety of unique drinks, and waffles topped with various flavors of gelato.  They’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 6.  

Stonington Hopes to Help Find Buyer for Long-Vacant Building

(Stonington)  The Stonington select board is hoping to work with the executor of an estate that owns a prominent but long-vacant building at 40 Main Street.  Penobscot Bay Press reports the board voted unanimously to send a letter to Doreen Noll-Kommor, offering to help find a buyer who is willing to restore the property into “an iconic building at the center of downtown Stonington”.  The outreach is part of the fishing community’s broader goal of revitalizing the local area, as vacant downtown structures continue to be a challenge for housing and community development.

Infrastructure

Overnight Road Work in Ellsworth

(Ellsworth)  Ellsworth Highway and Water crews will be on the job overnight tonight, beginning at 10 p.m. on High Street near Pizza Hut.  Traffic headed toward Bar Harbor will be reduced to one lane during the work, while both lanes toward Bangor will remain open.  The City says working overnight will help minimize traffic impacts for residents, visitors, and businesses during the day.

Human Interest

Concert to Benefit Dolly Fisher Emergency Fund

(Blue Hill)  Tickets are now on sale for a September 20th concert featuring Caroline Cotter at the First Congregational Church of Blue Hill.  Proceeds from the concert benefit the Dolly Fisher Emergency Fund, which provides food, heating, and utility bill assistance for folks on the Blue Hill Peninsula.  Cotter, a touring artist, has played more than a thousand shows in 46 states and 19 countries, sharing songs that honor the countless ways we celebrate our humanity – through connection, nostalgia, gratitude, loss, and wanderlust.  Get tickets at carolinecotter.com/shows.

National News 08/10/26

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks This Week

(Undated)  Provided we have clear skies here in Maine, astronomers say conditions should be good for viewing of the Perseid meteor shower later this week.  The shimmering show peaks Wednesday night into the early morning Thursday.  Because it coincides with a new moon, completely dark skies will allow viewers to spot 60 to 100 meteors per hour, making it one of the best displays of the year, according to EarthSky.  If you do head for a dark spot, make sure to keep those headlights off in consideration of others who hope to take in the show.

Iran Has Upper Hand on Strait of Hormuz

(AP)  It’s a gamble, but Iran may have the upper hand when it comes to an agreement surrounding  reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has diminishing stockpiles of key weapons, the war is deeply unpopular here at home, and as long as the Strait is closed, the price of gas and other goods will remain high ahead of the midterm elections.  The Associated Press reports Iran’s holdout could also carry risks. Iran’s economy, too, has been battered by a U.S. blockade.  Issues surrounding traffic moving through the strait began February 28th when the U.S. and Israel invaded Iran without a clear exit strategy.

Senate Fails to Pass SAVE America Act

(AP)  U.S. Senators narrowly confirmed Trump’s choice for Attorney General Todd Blanche in the early morning hours Saturday before heading into recess.  While other key priorities were wrapped in those overnight votes, the Associated Press reports advancing the President’s SAVE America Act was not among them.  The act is another effort by the Trump Administration to restrict voting, especially by people of color and those in economically challenged households who tend to vote Democrat, by passing strict proof-of-citizenship rules, even though there is little-to-no evidence of fraud in such cases.  

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