Calais Cold-Case Murder Trial Opens in Machias<\/b><\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The state alleges Brown suffocated Maxwell and left her body in the St. Croix River in Robbinston after she threatened to report a rape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dexter House Fire Ruled Accidental<\/b><\/p>\n The State Fire Marshal says improperly disposed smoking materials caused a Saturday afternoon house fire on Line Road in Dexter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Crews quickly knocked down flames in a second-floor bedroom, but the rest of the home suffered smoke damage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WABI news reports the 40-year-old homeowner escaped and was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and a dog died in the fire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WABI-TV<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Gas Prices Dip Slightly in Maine<\/b><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That’s four cents above the $4.36 national average.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Diesel also fell more than a nickel to $6.45, still well above the $6.32 national average.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WABI-TV<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Collins Backs Push for More Heating Aid<\/b><\/p>\n Senator Susan Collins says she supports Governor Janet Mills’ call for Congress to boost LIHEAP heating assistance as oil prices surge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WABI-TV<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Maine State Archives Launches Digital Portal<\/b><\/p>\n The Maine State Archives launched Open Access October 1st, a new online platform for digitized public records at digitalarchives.maine.gov.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Pen Bay Pilot reports Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says the site will expand continuously to improve transparency for students and researchers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0PenBay Pilot<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Castine Historical Society ‘Morbid’ Cemetery Tours<\/b><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The walks explore Castine residents lost to drowning and their place in town history, including discussion of shipwrecks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Ellsworth American reports space is limited and RSVP is required at castinehistoricalsociety.org.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n