Calais Cold-Case Murder Trial Opens in Machias
Prosecutors opened their case Monday against 67-year-old Raymond Brown of Bangor, accused of killing 18-year-old Linda Maxwell of Calais in August 1984.
The state alleges Brown suffocated Maxwell and left her body in the St. Croix River in Robbinston after she threatened to report a rape.
WABI news reports Brown’s defense says the state still doesn’t know what happened, noting the medical examiner ruled the death a drowning. If convicted, Brown faces 25 years to life.
Dexter House Fire Ruled Accidental
The State Fire Marshal says improperly disposed smoking materials caused a Saturday afternoon house fire on Line Road in Dexter.
Crews quickly knocked down flames in a second-floor bedroom, but the rest of the home suffered smoke damage.
WABI news reports the 40-year-old homeowner escaped and was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and a dog died in the fire.
Gas Prices Dip Slightly in Maine
Drivers are seeing slight relief at the pump, with Maine’s average for regular unleaded down three cents to $4.40 a gallon, according to AAA.
That’s four cents above the $4.36 national average.
Diesel also fell more than a nickel to $6.45, still well above the $6.32 national average.
Collins Backs Push for More Heating Aid
Senator Susan Collins says she supports Governor Janet Mills’ call for Congress to boost LIHEAP heating assistance as oil prices surge.
Mills warned current funding hasn’t kept up with costs driven in part by the war in Iran, noting half of Maine homes rely on oil.
WABI news reports Collins has asked for maximum release of funds and touted natural gas as a cleaner supplement, as applications remain open until money runs out.
Maine State Archives Launches Digital Portal
The Maine State Archives launched Open Access October 1st, a new online platform for digitized public records at digitalarchives.maine.gov.
The collection spans five centuries, from a 1639 royal land grant to papers from the 2024 Lewiston Tragedy Commission, with just over 100,000 records imaged so far.
The Pen Bay Pilot reports Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says the site will expand continuously to improve transparency for students and researchers.
Castine Historical Society ‘Morbid’ Cemetery Tours
The Castine Historical Society will host themed cemetery tours titled “Death by drowning” on Thursday, October 15 and Saturday, October 24 from 10 to 11 a.m.
The walks explore Castine residents lost to drowning and their place in town history, including discussion of shipwrecks.
The Ellsworth American reports space is limited and RSVP is required at castinehistoricalsociety.org.
1998 Ellsworth Painting Donated to City Hall
A 1998 oil painting of downtown Ellsworth has come home to City Hall after being donated by the widow of artist George Stave.
Titled “Ellsworth, Maine,” the work shows City Hall and the Congregational Church as seen during the artist’s trip to Acadia, and was hand-delivered by his son-in-law.
City Manager Charlie Pearce has already hung it inside City Hall, where staff gathered to spot familiar — and changed — details from nearly 30 years ago.
