Crime/Public Safety/Drugs

Improper Disposal Deemed Likely Cause of Pittston Fire

(Pittston)  A house fire in Pittston this week displaced a family of six. Safety officials are calling it a sober reminder about the proper disposal of smoking materials.  Authorities say the fire broke out shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday on the home’s exterior, quickly spread to a small mudroom, and then engulfed the rest of the house.  An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s office responded and determined the fire began on an outside deck and was most likely caused by a carelessly tossed cigarette or other smoking materials.  They remind folks such materials should always be fully extinguished and discarded in a sturdy, noncombustible container – never in flower pots, mulch, or other areas where they could ignite nearby materials. Officials say even a small, smoldering cigarette can result in a devastating fire.

Former Ellsworth School Group Treasurer Arrested

(Ellsworth)  A former treasurer of the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School Parent, Teacher and Friends was arrested this week after he missed a court date.  The court issued an arrest warrant for 46-year-old Joshua Dudeck after he failed to appear Monday to enter a plea agreement.  According to the Bangor Daily News, Dudeck is accused of stealing more than $37K from the organization between October 2022 and April 2025 when he served as treasurer.  Dudeck’s attorney said he missed court due to a family emergency.  Dudeck was taken to the Hancock County Jail.  It wasn’t immediately clear whether the plea agreement still stands.

Homecoming for Woman Injured in Searsmont Blast

(Searsmont)  A member of the Robbins family who was injured in a blast at her family’s lumber company on May 15th will be returning home today, more than five months after she suffered critical burns during an explosion at a silo at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont.  The Bangor Daily News reports Lily Robbins has been recovering at Massachusetts General Hospital’s burn unit since May.  The silo exploded without warning, killing one, and injuring multiple firefighters, employees and EMS providers who were standing nearby.  A second firefighter succumbed to his injuries in June, and another member of the Robbins family died in July of injuries suffered in the blast.  A large group from the community is expected to turnout to welcome Lily home.

Arrest Made in Death of Infant

(Milford)  Authorities have arrested a Milford man in connection with the December 2025 death of his 13-month-old daughter.  According to officials with the Department of Public Safety, a ten-month investigation led to the arrest of 37-year-old Shane McLaughlin on a charge of Manslaughter, along with three counts of Child Endangerment.  Police say Eleanora Ray McLaughlin was found unresponsive at her home on December 28th.  An autopsy determined the toddler’s death was the result of hypothermia.  Shane McLaughlin was booked at the Penobscot County Jail and is expected to make an initial court appearance in Bangor in the near future.

Local Politics

Washington County Pays Off TAN Early

(Machias)  There’s really good news in Washington County this morning, and it’s largely thanks to towns that rallied in the midst of a financial crisis.  When the crisis was first discovered in July 2024 (the County was literally broke), voters were presented with a referendum asking them to approve borrowing $11M.  After voters said no to that, staff took to the phones and called for special town meetings, asking them to voluntarily pay their taxes early.  Only nine towns and the Unorganized Territories failed to pay early;  but with those monies now in, County officials today will pay off the remaining $1.2M of approximately $4M borrowed in order to keep the county afloat.  The early payment will save the County thousands of dollars in interest.  News of the early payment was received with happy surprise at Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting, with County Manager Renee Gray and Commissioners David Burns and Courtney Hammond  again thanking the towns that came to the rescue by paying early – leading to a well-deserved round of applause.

Small Public Libraries Urge MLC to Allow Volunteer Staffing

(Maine)  Across Maine, you’ll find 257 public libraries.  Like much of the Pine Tree State, relatively few sit in densely populated urban and suburban areas.  By far, most can be found in smaller communities in one of the country’s most rural states.  During the past year, members of the Maine Library Commission were tasked with writing new rules that must be followed by libraries large and small – including a requirement that every library must employ a paid director and retain key state services, such as internet access and tech support.  The Maine Monitor reports smaller libraries are pushing back, saying there is no connection between sustainability and a paid director, a requirement that would present an economic hardship for many of them. Anyone wishing to submit public comments on the matter may do so by 5 p.m. on November 20th at state.library@maine.gov.

Economy

Green Ellsworth Announces Final Public Harvest of Season

(Ellsworth)  Put on your gloves and head for one last gleaning of freshly-picked vegetables.  The “Everybody Harvests” Community Garden in Ellsworth welcomes the public to the last harvest of the season tomorrow from 10 until Noon.  They say costumes are not required, but they’ll definitely be passing out treats to the little ghosts and goblins who come to collect radishes, lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, herbs, hot peppers and more. Bring your own containers. They’ll also welcome volunteers from 10 until Noon to help them prepare the garden for winter.

AIO Closes on Purchase of New Building

(Rockland)  Rockland-based AIO, the Knox County resource for food and energy assistance, this week closed on a new building.  Area Interfaith Outreach purchased the Rock Harbor Brewery building on Route One, just six years after the purchase of their current facility, which Director Alan Kearl says they’ve outgrown.  Kearl says the new building affords space and layout for a kitchen, a very large garden, and meeting and space for consultation with members who are facing challenging times.  In FY 2024-25, AIO food pantry, known for its annual Fill the Strand fundraiser, saw more than 24K visits, delivered more than 100K weekend meals, distributed 55K diapers to families in need, and provided $239K in energy assistance to residents of Knox County.

Coffee News Gets New Owners

(Bangor)  Coffee News, the one-sheet quick read found everywhere from coffee shops to doctors’ offices, is under new ownership in Bangor.  The Bangor Daily News reports Ben and Malorie Sprague purchased the franchise from Bill Buckley.  The Spragues say the print publication is a refreshing change in an age where people are overwhelmed by digital media.  The weekly paper was founded in Canada 40 years ago and now boasts more than 300 franchises, all of which feature local ads, trivia questions, and more, to help those wanting a quick read while eating, waiting in line, or just needing a break from digital docs.

Education

Ellsworth School Department Applies for Funding for New HCTC Facility

(Ellsworth)  The Ellsworth School Department is applying for funding through a state pilot program with a goal of building a brand new facility for the Hancock County Technical Center.  According to The Ellsworth American, the project proposes moving HCTC from Boggy Brook Road into a new regional hub, co-locating the high school, adult education, and higher education partners like UMaine Augusta and Eastern Maine Community College.  The district is reportedly finalizing the second part of its funding application. They previously sought an exception to program rules regarding high school consolidation because of Hancock County’s expansive geography

Human Interest

Collaborative Masterwork Features Local Nonprofit Director

(Ellsworth)  In March 2025, eighty-eight participants collaborated on a work of art at the Maine Discovery Museum.  Ellsworth residents who view the artwork will see at least one very familiar face – Sarah Bowden, who directs Community Closet 207 on Water Street.  Steven and William Ladd launched the National Scrollathon in Maine to mark the state’s contribution to America’s Cultural Project and the national goal of Uniting America.  Participants used fiber, rubber bands, pins, ink, glue, wood and paint to create individual artworks expressing their personal stories and had their photographic portraits created as part of the initiative. The piece, entitled More Than Everything, culminated with a display this summer of 56 large-scale artworks and photo murals representing all 50 states and territories.  The fabric scrolls were showcased at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, commemorating the country’s 250th Anniversary.  It’s now on permanent display at the Maine Discovery Museum.

Infrastructure

Oak Street Improvement

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth will be working next week to patch things up on Oak Street.  On Monday, crews will patch holes between Church Street at Birch Avenue, working from about 8 a.m. to around 3 p.m.  They ask that motorists slow down and allow for a little extra time if traveling through the area.

Waldo CAP Recipient of MDOT Transit Grant

(Swansville)  Waldo Community Action Partners is one of multiple recipients that will be sharing $1M in grant funding from the Maine Department of Transportation.  Waldo CAP is one of ten agencies who submitted requests for 25 projects totalling $3.8M, far over this year’s budget.  Funds may be used to increase access to transit service, improve public information about such services, remove barriers for new riders, or address the needs of under-served populations.  According to the Pen Bay Pilot, Waldo CAP will use its $100K share for hybrid or electric vehicle and charging infrastructure.

National News 10/30/26

British Man to Arrive Home After 28-Year Trek

(NYTimes)  A British man is about to arrive home after spending 28 years walking 31,000 miles across some of the world’s harshest landscapes, including crossing a frozen Bering Strait and swimming across the English Channel.  The NY Times reports Karl Bushby, a former paratrooper, was obsessed with endurance tests. He began his journey in the Patagonia region of Chile in November 1998 at the age of 29.  In a journey interrupted by wars, economic collapse, and a pandemic, Bushby said he has been arrested, deported, broke, lost and even written off.  Through it all, he told the Times, he’s been guided by wanderlust and two self-imposed rules:  he would not use modes of travel, and he wouldn’t set foot in Britain again until the end of his journey.  He hopes to arrive at his mother’s home this week and says he’s not sure what he’ll do next.  He adds he may do some public speaking, saying he gets a great deal of joy from standing in front of a group of school children and sharing that the world is a big place full of wonder and discoveries.

In National News headlines:

• President Trump ensured Flavio Bolsonaro could enter the United States after losing the presidential election in Brazil.  That’s according to U.S. officials.  The New York Times reports  Bolsonaro faces multiple criminal charges in Brazil.
• And Door Dash is buying Instacart for a reported $17B.  The merger unites the two delivery giants with the largest online grocery platform.

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