Traffic alert in Ellsworth
The city of Ellsworth has announced the Maine DOT says the south bound lane of 172 at the Bridge Hill Intersection project will be closed this morning and all day Thursday, Oct. 30.
Officials do not anticipate the need for a lane closure on Halloween but we will continue to update you if that changes.
Water rates set to increase in 2026
Water bills issued after March 1 of next year in Ellsworth will increase by 1.5%, according to the Ellsworth American.
The paper says the Maine Public Utilities commission cites in the Code of Maine Rules, the city must allocate a portion of total water utility revenue to public fire protection.
The Ellsworth American says the motion passed in a 5-1 vote at the Oct. 20 City Council meeting and currently the city allocates 25% which the Maine PUC requires to be corrected for the next rate case.
Public Works officials tell the publication this two-step approach will give the city time to budget for the larger change.
Loaves and Fishes introduces nutrition education program amid federal cuts
The board of trustees for Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry out of Ellsworth have voted to fund and continue offering their nutrition education program.
In the wake of federal funding being cut to the SNAP program, the food pantry’s ‘Cooking Matters’ program will help Hancock county neighbors understand how to manage food skills on a low-income, focus on healthy eating on a budget and provide an open space for participants to share ideas.
They tell Star 97.7 the pantry-sponsored classes will be held on six Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 at 137 Downeast Highway starting November 6.
https://www.loavesandfishesellsworth.org/
Update on ballots delivered to Newburgh residence
A UPS warehouse employee told WABI news an “honest mistake” led to 250 ballots for the November 4 election being delivered to a home in Newburgh instead of their intended destination.
The anonymous employee told WABI that at any given time of day in the facility, there is a high volume of packages arriving from other warehouses, that the contents of some boxes can be exposed, and the contents can also get put into the wrong boxes by mistake.
They claim that’s what happened with the ballots that wound up in Newburgh.
Earlier this month, a woman claimed she found 250 ballots in an Amazon box delivered to her home.
Newburgh town officials said the woman brought the ballots to them for safekeeping.
https://www.wabi.tv/2025/10/28/brewer-ups-employee-says-missing-ballot-incident-was-honest-mistake/
Postcard scam targeting Maine veterans
The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services is warning veterans and their families to be on the lookout for a new postcard scam that has now made its way to Maine according to WAGM.
The postcard claims to be from a 2025 ”Veteran Giveback Program” and says recipients may be eligible to receive extra money added to their Social Security checks and lists a phone number to call, but officials say this is a scam.
According to the FCC, (Federal Communications Commission) these types of scams often attempt to trick veterans and their spouses into calling fake phone numbers where personal information is collected or financial data is stolen.
Officials remind folks to never share personal information like your Social Security number, bank details, or VA claim number, with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Maine ranking #3 in places you’ll likely see a ghost
Just a few days away from Halloween and the spookiness is already ramping up.
According to the Action Network which analyzes ghost sightings, haunted locations and more across the nation, Mainers have 4.15% odds of seeing a ghost.
Some notable spooky spots on the survey are the Kennebec Arsenal in Augusta, Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor and the Boothbay Opera House to name a few.
If you’d like to spook yourself further with some ghostly stats follow the link below.
https://www.actionnetwork.com/entertainment/ghost-sightings-most-likely
