Firearms Sentence
(Ellsworth) – A 22-year old Blue Hill man will spend a year and a day in prison for lying on an application to purchase a gun. The Bangor Daily News reports Caleb Rhine received the sentence yesterday in Federal Court. He filled out the form in May 2024 while he was under indictment for alleged drug trafficking and was able to buy the gun, but checked the “no” box when asked if he was under indictment for a felony.
Trash Price Increase Ellsworth
(Ellsworth) – Trash disposal costs will increase in Ellsworth starting March 2nd. City officials report to Star 97.7 trash bag stickers will increase by 33%, or a dollar per bag sticker and scale prices will go up to $160-dollars a ton. Old $3-dollar stickers will still be honored after March 2nd. Disposal costs from Casella have gone up and the sticker price increase is designed to cover those costs.
Housing Project-Deer Isle
(Deer Isle) – A non-profit organization group addressing affordable housing on Deer Isle will have completed construction on 22 units by this coming spring. The Bangor Daily News reports Island Workforce Housing will have units available after five years of work. Housing has been in very short supply for lower income workers due in part to available rental units being used for short term rentals in the summer but sitting vacant in the winter.
Ellsworth School Cell Phone Ban
(Ellsworth) – Students in the Ellsworth School System may soon lose cell phone privileges during the school day. The Ellsworth American reports the School Board reviewed a new policy to ban cell phone use, joining many other school departments across the state. Governor Janet Mills signed a bill last year requiring schools to have a policy regulating personal electronic devices by August 1st. The new policy, when approved, will go into effect next fall.
Lamoine Fire Chief Passes
(Lamoine) – The Town of Lamoine is expected to appoint a new fire chief tomorrow evening following the passing of long time chief Skip Smith last Friday. Smith’s funeral is set for the Lamoine School Gym on February 28th. He joined the fire department when he was a teenager and served for 49-years as the fire chief, one of the longest continuing fire chiefs in Maine. People wishing to make donations in his honor are asked to send funds to the Hancock County Firefighters’ Association to help purchase every department in the county a suction device to provide aid in choking emergencies.
Second Mill Death
(Baileyville) – A second person has died following an incident at the Woodland Pulp Mill in Baileyville in late January. The mill confirmed to WABI-TV the victim was an employee, but they did not release a name. Investigators said the incident likely involved mixing concentrated sulfuric acid with sulfuorouscomplounds in an enclosed sewer, resulting in highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. The other victim, 20-year old Kasie Malcolm, was a chemical engineering student from the University of Maine who was working as an intern.
Tax Evasion
(Rockland) – A Knox County man who works as a sternman on a lobster boat has continued to fail to pay income taxes for 22-years, and will be held in jail unless he comes up with $10-thousand dollars in cash for bail. The Midcoast Villager reports 52-year old Christopher Widdecomb owes $36-thousand dollars in back taxes. The Attorney General’s office says it has tried to contact Widdecomb 137-times after he agreed to pay $100-dollars a month but has failed to pay up. Widdecomb’s attorney says he is now working and can start paying next month.
