Ellsworth Hampton Inn Fire
(Ellsworth) – Guests at an Ellsworth hotel evacuated their rooms early this morning as fire alarms sounded. Fire Chief Scott Guillerault tells Star 97.7 the call to the Hampton Inn off High Street came in just before 1-o’clock this morning, and the first firefighters on scene reported there was smoke and a strong electrical smell in the lobby. Scores of guests had exited the hotel when the fire alarms blared. Help came to Ellsworth from Lamoine, Trenton, Hancock, Orland and Mariaville. There are no injuries, and Guillerault said they were still trying to find the source of the smoke.
Searsmont Assistant Fire Chief Passes
(Searsmont) – Firefighters from numerous communities will stand vigil at a Belfast funeral home following the passing of Searsmont’s assistant fire chief from his injuries in an explosion at a lumber yard a month ago. Other firefighters escorted 76-year-old Wayne Woodbury’s body from Augusta to Belfast yesterday. Riposta funeral home in Belfast has not listed a funeral schedule. Woodbury was the 2nd firefighter to perish from his injuries. Andrew Cross of the Morrill fire department died at the Robbins Lumber explosion. Ten others were badly injured in the blast.
Rockland Drowning
(Rockland) – Game Wardens have recovered the body of a 59-year-old Rockland man who drowned in Chickawaukie Lake during the weekend. A spokesman reports to Star 97.7 that 59-year-old Timothy Payson took a small inflatable boat onto the lake Sunday morning, then yelled for help. A resident heard the man and observed the boat running in circles on the water with a dog inside. Divers recovered Payson’s body shortly before 10-thirty Sunday night.
Stockton Springs Fire
(Stockton Springs) – A fire that destroyed a house in Stockton Springs Sunday was no accident. The State Fire Marshal’s Office reports to Star 97.7 they’ve determined the blaze on 23 Cross Road was incendiary in nature. Firefighters from the Waldo County town found the building fully ablaze when they arrived on the dirt road off Cape Jellison Road at about 9:30 Sunday morning. No injuries are reported, and investigators have not charged anyone with setting the fire.
Wells Beach Fire
(Wells) – A spectacular blaze at a beachside home in Wells started as the homeowner was starting a barbecue grill. Fire investigators say it was accidental. The fire marshal’s office reports to Star 97.7 the blaze on Atlantic Avenue in Wells started just before 6 o’clock Sunday evening after the homeowner had just charged a propane tank and was preparing to grill dinner. The small explosion caused minor injuries to the homeowner, and the fire destroyed that home and damaged houses on either side.
Ellsworth Planning Board Schedules Campground Hearing
(Ellsworth) – Ellsworth’s Planning Board will look over a plan to establish a Recreational Vehicle Campground on the city’s Bayside Road on July 1st. The owners of the 52-acre parcel propose a 28-unit site. The Board will hold a public hearing on the plan and determine whether the plan submitted is complete. Final approval would be scheduled for a future meeting.
Eddington School Vote
(Eddington) – Voters in Eddington and two other towns will decide whether the elementary school will close down. The RSU 63 school board voted to close the school and sent the plan to the State Department of Education which approved and sent it back to the 3-town RSU for a vote in November. Many in Eddington oppose closing the school and sending students to two schools located in Holden. The Bangor Daily News reports the population of Holden is larger than Eddington and Clifton combined. If the school stays open, the state would not fund its operations.
Milliken Suit
(Ellsworth) – A state lawmaker has filed notice that she intends to sue the Hancock County Sheriff and a detective over a dismissed criminal charge. Nina Milliken was accused of a misdemeanor polling place violation in April 2025 as she was standing outside of the town hall in Blue Hill and greeting voters during the town meeting election. She said she told voters she was a friend with one of the candidates. Prosecutors dropped the charges which followed four months after the incident. The Ellsworth American reports the county’s attorney has not commented on the notice of a pending suit.
