Alex Barber
Somerset Bureau
- 207.990.8275
- abarber@bangordailynews.com
Police: Westbrook man arrested after allegedly assaulting Stormtrooper, Ghostbuster during Free Comic Book Day
PORTLAND, Maine — A Westbrook man was Tasered by police on Saturday after allegedly assaulting a man dressed as a Stormtrooper and another man dressed as a Ghostbuster. Adam Barnes, 31, was arrested on State Street after assaulting two people in costume and threatening police, said Portland police Lt. Gary ...
Victims reclaim items allegedly stolen by North Pond Hermit
SKOWHEGAN, Maine — About 40 camp owners from the Little North Pond area discussed how the North Pond Hermit affected their lives for the past 27 years during a meeting with the district attorney on Saturday. Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney met with the victims at Maine ...
Public invited to reclaim items recovered from ‘North Pond Hermit’
SKOWHEGAN, Maine — Members of the public who believe their belongings may have been taken by Christopher Knight, the man known as the North Pond Hermit, will have the opportunity Saturday to claim items police recovered from his campsite. Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney and Maine State ...
VIDEO
Multiple police agencies called to Orono apartment complex The Grove 3 times in past week, neighbor says area ‘a zoo’
ORONO, Maine — Kathy Pollard remembers when her neighborhood along Park Street near the University of Maine campus was a relatively peaceful place to live. That was before a large apartment complex populated primarily by students opened near her house eight months ago. “The whole ambience of this area has ...
5 positions cut, 4 others to be left vacant to keep Dexter-area school budget ‘pretty darn close’ to flat-funded
SAD 46 board of directors approved a $12,953,088 budget for next school year. It’s an increase of $42,817 or 0.332 percent over the current year’s budget.
For fourth time, town of Atkinson questions its existence with push to deorganize
ATKINSON, Maine — Located between Dover-Foxcroft and Milo, the town of Atkinson doesn’t have a fire department, police department or school. One general store serves the community of 326, which this year is trying — for the fourth time in 15 years — to cease being a town. Jim Brawn ...
Sangerville teen accused of stealing three vehicles and a gun arrested after manhunt in Dexter
DEXTER, Maine — A Sangerville teen faces multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing three vehicles and a gun, spurring a brief manhunt early Thursday. The juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, was taken into custody Thursday morning. Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Guy Dow said he ...
Appeal denied for Brownville woman convicted of giving alcohol, marijuana at daughter’s birthday party
PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has upheld the conviction of a Brownville woman found guilty of supplying drugs and alcohol to minors. Tanya Donnelly, 38, was convicted by a jury in March 2012 on several charges that stemmed from a birthday party she held for her daughter ...
Skowhegan woman accused of helping brother in murder held without bail
SKOWHEGAN, Maine — A Skowhegan woman accused of helping her brother kill his ex-wife made her initial court appearance on Friday afternoon. Michelle D. Corson, 43, was shown on a television screen linked to Somerset County Jail in Madison, where she has remained since being arrested on Wednesday evening. She ...
St. Albans man and his dog killed in single-car crash
ST. ALBANS, Maine — A local man was killed early Friday morning after the car he was driving struck a tree, according to police. Austin E. Day, 18, of St. Albans died at the scene on Mountain Road near the intersection with Pond Road, said Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Detective ...
Newport to demolish vacant building before it falls onto neighboring home
NEWPORT, Maine — A crumbling, vacant house on Adams Street will be torn down before it has a chance to fall onto a neighboring house, according to town officials. The Board of Selectmen convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon and voted 3-0 to demolish the house at 9 Adams ...
Marijuana activist protests state’s pot laws for 23rd year in a row
SKOWHEGAN, Maine — For 23 years, Donald Christen has stood outside Somerset County Superior Court on Patriots Day to protest marijuana laws in the state. He hopes this year is the last time he has to protest. Late last month, 35 legislators co-sponsored a bill that would legalize recreational use ...
Etna man asks for reduced fine after misuse of 911 system
NEWPORT, Maine — An Etna man who was summoned by police after calling 911 to report the poor condition of his road has been ordered to pay a $350 fine. Michael Smen, 52, appeared in Newport District Court on April 10 for the misuse of the E-911 system, a Class ...
Maine Whoopie Pie Festival returning to Dover-Foxcroft in June
DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — The festival voted best in New England in an online poll is returning in June. The fourth annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will be held on Saturday, June 22, and will again include many vendors and attractions, but its focus will be on the official state treat ...
Head of Sebasticook Valley Health resigns
PITTSFIELD, Maine — The president and CEO of Sebasticook Valley Health, which includes the 25-bed hospital in Pittsfield, has resigned. Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems and Sebasticook Valley Health CEO Victoria Alexander-Lane “have reached a mutually agreed upon separation,” according to a press release issued Friday by EMHS. Sebasticook Valley Health ...
Man convicted of Vassalboro topless coffee shop arson denied appeal
PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday denied the appeal of an Augusta man convicted of burning down a topless coffee shop in Vassalboro in 2009. Raymond Bellavance Jr., 51, of Augusta is serving a 30-year sentence after being convicted in December 2011 of the Class A ...
VIDEO
Donn Fendler film getting closer to becoming a reality
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — Just like the lost boy atop Mount Katahdin in 1939, two filmmakers are in the midst of a long journey with an uncertain outcome. Waterville native Ryan Cook hopes his project turns out with a happy ending, just like the person whose story he’s telling — ...
Solon man charged for allegedly stealing and abandoning car and sign
JACKMAN, Maine — A man suspected of stealing a disabled car and a sign from two different Somerset County towns was charged with two counts of criminal mischief on Wednesday, according to police. Michael Bishop, 31, of Solon was charged with the two Class D crimes, but was not arrested, ...
Parents want answers after 3 bomb threats in recent weeks at Guilford schools
GUILFORD, Maine — About 50 concerned parents attended Tuesday evening’s SAD 4 board meeting to discuss recent bomb scares at the schools. Piscataquis Community Secondary School was closed Tuesday after a bomb threat was discovered by a custodian about 7 a.m. It was the third such threat in the school ...
Police charge 17 at underage drinking party in North Anson
NORTH ANSON, Maine — The Somerset County Sheriff’s Department has arrested or summoned 17 people in connection with an underage drinking party last Friday night. The Sheriff’s Department received a noise complaint at 11:05 p.m. Friday on River Road, according to Detective Lt. Carl Gottardi II. When Deputy Joseph Jackson ...
Police find remains believed to be Nichole Cable, 15, in Old Town woods
Orono man facing murder charge in connection with death of missing Glenburn teen
Items found, authorities pursuing leads in search for Glenburn teen
LePage hopes to eliminate income tax by end of second term
Central High principal placed on administrative leave with pay after police charges
Obama’s boyfriend line
Ignore LePage politics, get to root of DHHS funding needs
Nichole Cable: In our minds, hearts
Basketball season never ends for Worcesters of Washburn, a family of 1,000-point scorers
UMaine narrows candidate list, hopes to name men’s hockey coach next week
Eastport teen notches first ‘Bandolero’ racing victory
Former Dexter, Nokomis coach Pratt takes Mount View football post
Fun, informative or just plain strange: 8 museums in Maine worth a road trip
Not even chemotherapy could quell Maine woman’s longing to be in the kitchen
Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of The Doors dies at age 74
Microsoft unveils new Xbox One game console