Stephen Betts
Rockland Bureau
- 207.691.6564
- sbetts@bangordailynews.com
Rockland looks to bring back skateboard park
ROCKLAND, Maine — A more than $200,000 skateboard park that was built through the effort of a group of youths 11 years ago has fallen into disrepair and the city said it wants to reach out to people in the community to keep it going. “It’s a complete and utter ...
Attorney general reaches deal with Rockport dentist’s assistant for hydrocodone possession
ROCKPORT, Maine — A former receptionist for a Rockport dentist pleaded guilty Wednesday to a drug charge and will see a reduced sentence if she assists in any state investigation of the doctor. The dentist himself reached a consent decree last fall with the Maine Board of Dental Examiners concerning ...
Union man faces multiple charges after alleged assault
WARREN, Maine — A 37-year-old Union man was arrested Thursday night after being accused of assaulting his girlfriend, abandoning her car after she fled and then stealing another vehicle. An affidavit filed by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office said James Clark was arrested at his mother’s home in Wiscasset. He ...
South Thomaston meth lab suspect challenges police search
ROCKLAND, Maine — The attorney for a 35-year-old man accused of operating a methamphetamine lab at his father’s property in South Thomaston has asked the court to throw out the evidence seized in the February search that led to his arrest. And the attorney for Paul Mahonen Jr., 35, of ...
Car hauled out of water-filled Rockport quarry
ROCKPORT, Maine — The removal of a 2002 Chevy Malibu from a more than 100-foot-deep water-filled quarry in Rockport was a success Thursday morning. The car had gone into the quarry on April 13 as a result of an accident, according to police. The section of Main Street where the ...
Twin coke deal in midcoast area nets Brewer man 10 months in prison
ROCKLAND, Maine — A 24-year-old Brewer man will be spending several more months in jail after being sentenced Wednesday for two cocaine offenses and for running over the foot of someone with a car. Isiah Roscoe was sentenced by Justice Jeffrey Hjelm to four years in prison with all but ...
Appleton woman faces charges after escaping car that sank in water-filled Rockport quarry
ROCKPORT, Maine — A 22-year-old woman who escaped from a car as it sank in a water-filled quarry earlier this month is facing two charges related to the incident. Christan Marston of Appleton was issued a pair of summons the next day for failing to report the accident when it ...
Knox County detective injured in car crash
ROCKLAND, Maine — A Knox County Sheriff’s Office detective was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning after a two-car crash that totaled his vehicle. Detective Justin Twitchell, 37, was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center with rib pain, Sheriff Donna Dennison said. He was treated and then released later in ...
Judge orders state to turn over evidence in alleged theft from South Thomaston lobster cooperative
ROCKLAND, Maine — The district attorney’s office must turn over evidence it has in its case against the former manager of the Spruce Head Fishermen’s Cooperative or drop the charge, a judge ruled Wednesday. Justice Jeffrey Hjelm directed the district attorney’s office to provide the evidence to the defense by ...
Rockland area school budget sees little change heading to final board vote
ROCKLAND, Maine — The Regional School Unit 13 Board will take a final vote on the proposed 2013-2014 budget at its May 2 meeting with little changes made since the superintendent released his proposed package three weeks ago. The proposal to eliminate or reduce 14 positions remains intact as does ...
Legislator criticizes Warren’s rejection of traffic light
WARREN, Maine — The state legislator who represents Warren said he is very disappointed that a majority of its selectmen refused to accept the installation of a traffic light at a busy accident-prone intersection. Rep. Jeff Evangelos, I-Friendship, said those selectmen offered no reason for the rejection of a flashing ...
Four firms bid to offer emergency medical care to midcoast towns
ROCKPORT, Maine — Four companies have submitted proposals to provide emergency medical care to Camden, Rockport, Hope and Lincolnville. The deadline for submission of bids was noon Tuesday. The current longtime provider of emergency medical care — Camden First Aid Association of Camden — was one of the three companies ...
Missing Friendship man found safe
FRIENDSHIP, Maine — An 83-year-old Friendship man was found safe early Tuesday morning after he went out for a walk the previous evening and became disoriented. The sheriff’s office received a report at 8:45 p.m. Monday that Donald Simmons Sr. was missing and had last been seen at 6:30 p.m. ...
Thomaston man accused of felony assault
ROCKLAND, Maine — A 56-year-old Thomaston man remains at Knox County Jail Tuesday after being accused of a felony domestic violence assault. Steven A. Woodbury was arrested Friday and charged with the offense at a Thomaston residence. The charge is classified as a felony because he had two assault convictions ...
Cushing sex offender ordered held without bail on new charges
ROCKLAND, Maine — A 47-year-old Cushing man who prompted the town to enact a local law restricting where future sex offenders could live has been ordered held without bail after being accused of new offenses. Judge Susan Sparaco ordered Robert S. Young held without bail at the end of a ...
Waldoboro planner hired by Rockport
ROCKPORT, Maine — Rockport has hired Waldoboro’s planning and development director to take the similar position for its town. Waldoboro Planning and Development Director Bill Najpauer submitted his resignation Monday to the town manager. His resignation is effective May 14. Najpauer has worked in Waldoboro for about a year and ...
Rockland forum draws volunteers
ROCKLAND, Maine — An effort by city leaders to find volunteers to serve on a variety of Rockland boards and commissions went exceptionally well, according to the mayor. Mayor William Clayton said 17 people signed up to partially fill nearly 50 vacancies during a forum held April 16. “The forum ...
Rockland area panel calls for major Old County Road changes
ROCKLAND, Maine — The heavily traveled, quarry-lined Old County Road needs major improvements to handle the added volume of traffic that is likely to result from construction of a Walmart supercenter on Route 1 in Thomaston. A panel of municipal officials from Rockland, Thomaston and Rockport has come up with ...
South Thomaston man gets five months for setting home on fire to collect insurance
ROCKLAND, Maine — A 52-year-old South Thomaston man was sentenced Monday to five months in jail after admitting he set fire to his home in an effort to collect insurance. Dana R. Benner was sentenced Monday morning in Knox County Superior Court to six years in jail with all but ...
Sober house for women opens in Rockland
ROCKLAND, Maine — Rob Patterson and Carolyn Ahlstrand said they knew there was a great unmet need for support of women who are trying to stay sober. The couple decided to do something to bridge that gap and purchased a house in Rockland that now is being rented out to ...
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