Maine State Police investigate submerged vehicle
Maine State Police are investigating after a Mount Desert grandmother and her two young grandchildren were found dead inside a submerged vehicle Sunday morning in Roque Bluffs.
Authorities say family members raised concerns about the whereabouts of 61-year-old Sharon Bukulmez, five-year-old Kinsley Grubb, and three-year-old Sawyer Grubb on Saturday night.
WABI news reports authorities say they were driving from Jonesboro toward Machias.
Investigators tracked Bukulmez’s cellphone data to a boat ramp at Pond Cove, where divers discovered the vehicle and recovered all three victims.
Autopsies are underway at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta to determine the cause and manner of death.
Body found on Katahdin
State authorities are investigating after a body was discovered on Katahdin last week.
The victim’s identity and cause of death have not yet been released.
WABI news reports the body has been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta for an autopsy
The incident follows a tragedy in June 2025, when a New York father and daughter died while hiking the mountain.
Eliot Cutler Resentencing
Former Maine gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler is heading back to jail following multiple probation violations.
An Ellsworth judge found the 80-year-old guilty of possessing pornographic DVDs, using an internet-connected phone, and accessing prohibited online content.
WABI news reports Cutler was sentenced to six months with credit for time served, meaning he will spend 73 days behind bars starting in mid-October. WABI-TV
Maine Heating Oil Price Surge
Maine households face severe heating costs as statewide heating oil prices surged 74% compared to this time last year, averaging $5.77 a gallon.
The spike—driven by rising global crude prices—has triggered record early demand for heating assistance across regional community action agencies.
WABI news reports with federal relief funds not expected until mid-to-late October, agencies like Penquis and Community Action in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties report appointment waitlists already stretching into January.
Maine Organics Composting Lawsuit & Odor Complaints
The City of Ellsworth continues to field dozens of neighborhood complaints regarding foul odors coming from the Maine Organics composting facility on Industrial Road.
The city filed a complaint in district court for violating its municipal odor ordinance during Summer 2025.
The Bangor Daily News reports settlement talks recently stalled.
The Ellsworth City Council plans to hold an executive session and a public hearing Monday to determine whether to pursue further legal action.
Acadia National Park Staffing & Vandalism Concerns
Recent incidents of vandalism, trail litter, and unauthorized activity are raising alarms among visitors and advocates at Acadia National Park.
Over the summer, volunteers dismantled roughly 150 illegal rock cairns in a single day, while graffiti and speeding e-bikes on historic carriage paths have created growing safety hazards.
The Bangor Daily News reports park advocates warn that federal staffing cuts and tight budgets are straining rangers’ ability to monitor crowds and protect sensitive resources following near-record visitation.
Ellsworth High PE Teacher Award
A big congratulations to Ellsworth High School educator Julie Hammer!
She has been named the 2026 Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.
The Ellsworth American reports district leaders commended Hammer’s 25-year career and her ongoing work expanding adaptive, accessible fitness programs for students of all abilities.
The honor marks the second straight year an Ellsworth educator has earned top state physical education honors, and Hammer will be formally recognized at a conference in Rockland this November.
