Abigail Curtis
Belfast Bureau
National Maritime Day celebration to bring attention to Searsport’s port
SEARSPORT, Maine — The port in this seafaring town is the second-busiest one in the state of Maine, but people who live around it might not realize it is even there given Mack Point’s location. That’s why it seemed important to members of the Searsport-Bucksport chapter of the Propeller Club ...
Poetry slam’s big prize bringing poets from all over country
UNITY, Maine — Drama. Suspense. Glory. Poetry. As the hours tick down until the opening words are heard Friday night in Unity College’s first-ever earth week poetry slam, organizer and poet Michele Leavitt said participants are getting ready — and even getting a little nervous. In part, that’s because the ...
Woman accused of threatening boyfriend with knife over phone message
LIBERTY, Maine — A woman was taken to jail Sunday after she allegedly used a knife to threaten her boyfriend after she found a message on his phone she didn’t like, according to police. Shelly-Ann Salisbury, 35, of Liberty denied threatening him with the knife, according to Lt. Jason Trundy ...
Man accused of assaulting woman, friend after finding them together
NORTHPORT, Maine — Police said that a local man who went into a jealous rage over the weekend and assaulted both his girlfriend and a male friend he found with her is still in jail. Daniel Armstrong, 34, of Northport had gone to his Bog Road home Saturday and was ...
Crowbar-wielding man charged with domestic violence assault
PALERMO, Maine — A local man was taken to jail early Wednesday morning after being accused of smashing his romantic partner’s car with a crowbar and assaulting her with his fists. Justin Howard, 29, of Palermo, was arguing with the woman a little after midnight at a Branch Mills Road ...
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North Pond Hermit’s last raid yielded Sweet Tarts, bacon and marshmallows, police documents show
ROME, Maine — The evidence seized after the final nocturnal kitchen raid by the man known as the North Pond Hermit reads like a cross between a busy college student’s shopping list and a how-to guide for a rookie survivalist. Christopher Knight, 47, had stuffed a backpack and a gym ...
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Jackson man gets 16 years for killing Florida man over drug debt
BELFAST, Maine — They were described as courageous, as caring, as considerate, as good men. These were some of the words friends and family used Monday morning at Waldo County Superior Court to talk about both the Jackson man who pleaded guilty to killing a Florida man last year and ...
Major channel dredging project makes way for bigger ships, could stir up toxins in silt
SEARSPORT, Maine — A major dredging project in Searsport Harbor that has been in the works for more than a decade is slowly moving forward, though environmental activists fear that the $12 million effort could dislodge toxins in the silt and harm Penobscot Bay. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ...
Belfast man first from region selected for Rotary International peace fellowship
BELFAST, Maine — After spending three months studying peace and conflict resolution during a fellowship in Thailand later this summer, Stephen Brimley hopes to put what he learns to good use in his work at the Penobscot Nation Judicial System on Indian Island. “You know that bumper sticker that reads, ...
Middle school sports, teaching positions, extracurriculars on RSU 20 cutting block
BELFAST, Maine — RSU 20 officials trying to pare the next school year’s budget down into something that the region’s taxpayers may accept are looking at the possibility of eliminating teachers, middle school sports and extracurricular activities such as music. “Everything is on the table,” Superintendent Brian Carpenter said Thursday ...
Former Orono parks and rec director takes position in Belfast
BELFAST, Maine — Belfast’s new director of the Parks and Recreation Department comes with experience — 24 years of experience, to be exact. That’s how long Norm Poirier, 54, of Winterport worked as the director of parks, recreation and facilities for Orono, where he helped generations of children play sports ...
Fire officials warn Mainers to get burn permits after Frankfort grass fire caught ‘just in time’
FRANKFORT, Maine — Frankfort’s two fire departments caught a grass fire Wednesday afternoon “just in time,” according to one chief, and were able to extinguish it before it caused much damage. “It was not even half an acre,” Chief Jeff Anderson of the Frankfort Village Fire Department said, adding that ...
‘Overwhelming’ school budget news for Belfast taxpayers
BELFAST, Maine — City councilors learned more details Tuesday night about the tough financial situation that Belfast taxpayers will be facing as the RSU 20 school district grapples with increased costs and sharply decreased funding sources. “I do not bring good news,” RSU 20 Superintendent Brian Carpenter told the three ...
Midcoast ‘Death Cafes’ create safe space to talk about death
SEARSPORT, Maine — As the saying goes, the only sure things in life are death and taxes. But while there’s no lack of conversation about taxes, often the only time people talk or think about death is when there is a crisis at hand. And that is something that Nancy ...
Frankfort residents vote against settling wind energy lawsuit
FRANKFORT, Maine — The town will not settle a lawsuit filed by three Mount Waldo property owners that challenges Frankfort’s recently adopted wind energy ordinance after residents voted against a consent order to resolve the suit late last month at the annual town meeting. Mark Franco of Portland, the town’s attorney ...
‘North Pond Hermit’ faces two new charges, higher bail
AUGUSTA, Maine — Potential victims of the “North Pond Hermit” will be given a chance to view the items he allegedly stole in more than 1,000 burglaries once police have had a chance to inventory the contents of the encampment he reportedly called home for 27 years. Christopher Knight, 47, ...
‘North Pond Hermit’ a ‘model prisoner,’ bail set at $5,000
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta has had a busy few days, with media helicopters buzzing overhead, TV vans outside, phone calls from The New York Times and one of their newest inmates — the so-called “North Pond Hermit” making headlines worldwide. But all the attention ...
Thorndike forum on suicide prevention offers timely advice, emotional support
THORNDIKE, Maine — Cheryl and Vic Morin of Abbot had a special message Thursday night for parents, community members and others who attended a public forum on suicide prevention at Mount View High School in Thorndike. The rural RSU 3 school district was rocked in late March when 13-year-old Kitty ...
‘North Pond Hermit’ — a son, a brother, and a classmate, but few knew him well
ALBION, Maine — Christopher Knight was hermit-like — going through high school virtually unnoticed — even before he removed himself from civilization more than a quarter of a century ago. “As odd as it seems, it’s not unusual for him,” said Albion resident Sandra Young. She has lived in the ...
Belfast fish company to double production, add 40-50 workers
BELFAST, Maine — At Ducktrap River of Maine, the smokers — and employees — are working six days a week to meet the ever-increasing demand for products such as smoked Atlantic salmon, trout and mackerel, but still can’t keep up. That’s why the company, located within the Belfast Airport Business ...
Call put out for ground search volunteers in effort to find missing Glenburn teen
More than 500 help with ground search for missing Glenburn teen
Three indicted in Houlton meth bust, endangering welfare of child
One winning ticket sold in Florida in historic $590.5 million Powerball drawing
Funding isn’t everything: Education reform takes innovation, cooperation
Maine protects a woman’s right to choose
Strengthening the schools Maine already has
Jeffrey Nugent says his brother Ted Nugent is wrong on background checks
Emma Libby, 15, overcomes ruling to win Sport-4 race at Speedway 95
Marcus Davis wins mixed martial arts main event at NEF VII
For those who are too fat for Abercrombie and Fitch
Market Basket in Biddeford starts hiring 300 workers
Promise of land brought Theriault family to ‘Acadie’ in 1630s
How do I teach my kids it’s not OK to be bullied, even by family?