Articles by Sharon Kiley Mack
Machias business to rev up airport services
MACHIAS, Maine — A local pilot has established a new business, Take Flight, that will be providing gasoline service, transportation for pilots, contract maintenance and general aircraft assistance at the Machias Valley Airport — services that have been nonexistent here for more than a decade. Michael St. Louis, former chief ...
First Bay of Fundy International Marathon on June 23 gains Boston qualifier status
LUBEC, Maine — The first Bay of Fundy International Marathon, set for Lubec and Campobello Island on June 23, has been granted status as a qualifying race for the 2014 Boston Marathon. Hotel, inn and restaurant owners on the island of Campobello in New Brunswick and in the small town ...
Fired Washington County jail clerk awarded unemployment benefits because purchases followed ‘prevailing practice’
MACHIAS, Maine — The former clerk of the Washington County jail who was fired for misuse of jail inmate funds was merely following “prevailing practice,” according to a Maine Department of Labor hearing officer. The officer also ruled last week, after an all-day unemployment compensation hearing, that Karina Richardson, 50, ...
Former University of Maine at Machias student sues police, town officials, says officer broke her nose and groped friend
MACHIAS, Maine — A long saga of turmoil, termination and lawsuits involving former Machias police Officer Richard Strout, who worked for the town for nearly eight years, continues this week. A former University of Maine at Machias student has filed a federal civil lawsuit accusing Strout of breaking her nose ...
Washington County woman creates user-friendly computer program for farmers, fishermen
MACHIAS, Maine — Susan Corbett of Axiom Technologies, referred to as the “Internet goddess” of Washington County, is hosting a party this week to celebrate reaching one major milestone and the launch of another. The event will mark the end of a grant that allowed her company to develop a ...
Cherryfield voters overwhelmingly approve withdrawal from RSU 37
CHERRYFIELD, Maine — Voters in Cherryfield overwhelmingly approved their town’s withdrawal from RSU 37 on Tuesday. Town Clerk Mona West explained Thursday that the withdrawal needed to be approved by a two-thirds margin but was actually approved by 88 percent of those voting. The final tally was 259 for withdrawal ...
Machias judge to retire after 21 years
MACHIAS, Maine — “It has been a privilege to be a judge,” Machias District Court Judge John V. Romei said recently, looking ahead to his retirement from the bench. “Just the thought that people would have enough trust in me to make such important decisions is truly humbling.” Romei will ...
East Machias man indicted for manslaughter in 2012 fatal crash
MACHIAS, Maine — An East Machias man who was the driver in a fatal crash that killed Francis Finn, 16, of Whiting in February 2012 was indicted this week on charges of manslaughter, reckless conduct and driving to endanger. Finn was a passenger in a pickup truck driven by Aaron ...
In midnight e-mail, Washington County sheriff lambastes officials on courthouse plan
MACHIAS, Maine — Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith, livid that he had not been informed or invited to attend an emergency meeting of the county commissioners on Monday, fired off a midnight email to the Washington County board of visitors, some members of the county legislative delegation, the chairman of ...
Washington County commissioners sign land lease to allow courthouse expansion
MACHIAS, Maine — After a two and a half hour executive session Monday, The Washington County commissioners signed a 99-year lease with the state of Maine that will allow an $8.5 million courthouse expansion and renovation to proceed. Last week, the commissioners expressed concern over just who would control the ...
Cherryfield woman sentenced to nine months in prison on tax fraud scheme
MACHIAS, Maine — A Cherryfield woman has been sentenced to serve nine months and a day in prison and ordered to pay $28,318 in restitution after pleading guilty earlier this month to filing fraudulent state and federal tax forms. Amy Metcalf-Perry, 41, pleaded guilty to an eight count indictment that ...
Signing of Washington County courthouse lease delayed over state funding concerns
MACHIAS, Maine — The Washington County commissioners opted Thursday to have an emergency meeting with their attorney next week rather than sign a lease with the state that is part of proposed county courthouse renovations. “We are wary now,” Chairman Chris Gardner told Ted Glessner and Jeff Henthorn of the ...
Rain relieves danger as Maine Forest Service investigates suspicious fires
JONESBORO, Maine — Heavy overnight fog and a solid rain Thursday relieved an extremely high fire danger in Washington County, giving forest rangers a break after two weeks of wildfires, grass fires and out-of-control burns. District Ranger Courtney Hammond said multiple fires have been fought over the last two weeks ...
Longtime Calais librarian to retire
CALAIS, Maine — When Marilyn Sotirelis retires at the end of June — after 34 years as the Calais city librarian — she plans on doing two things: heading off to volunteer at the Calais Elementary School library, and sitting down to read a good book. As she reminisced this ...
Structure fire claims Lubec home
LUBEC, Maine — A quickly moving fire Wednesday morning claimed the Straight Bay Road home of Robert and Janet Blake. The fire was first reported about 9 a.m. and firefighters were still at the smouldering ruins of the two-story wooden home at 2 p.m. There were no reported injuries. Garry ...
Gay former prison guard files discrimination lawsuit against state
MACHIAS, Maine — A gay former prison guard has filed a civil rights discrimination suit against the Maine Department of Corrections after she was fired from her position at Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport, where both she and her attorney say “an old boy culture of disrespect for women” is ...
Group seeks to develop homeless shelter in Washington County
MACHIAS, Maine — Nearly two years after homelessness was first identified as a priority, an offshoot of the Washington County Food and Fuel Alliance has found a possible location for a homeless shelter, the first to serve non-tribal members in the county. Homelessness may not be in-your-face visible in Washington ...
Farmers, producers in Washington County join statewide push to promote, produce more local food
MACHIAS, Maine — Building on an effort throughout New England to increase local food production and promote healthier eating, farmers, producers, nutritionists and consumers gathered here Thursday to set goals and develop a strategy for Washington County. The regional effort has a goal of having the six New England states ...
Without state figures, Machias town meeting postponed
MACHIAS, Maine — Trying to create a municipal budget without knowing what state revenue sharing funds will be has the Machias selectmen rolling their eyes in frustration. Six weeks into the budget process — with nearly all the municipal expenditures reviewed and set — the board hasn’t a clue what ...
Washington County administrators, parents dispute state school grades
MACHIAS, Maine — Parents and school administrators in Washington County were reeling Thursday after a new statewide school ranking system gave 19 percent of their schools a failing grade — the highest number of schools receiving an “F” grade of all counties in the state. They called it unfair and ...
LePage tells legislative leaders he’s moving out of State House because of ‘censorship’
Maine Sports Hall of Fame member, DJ Dana Wilson convicted of child pornography possession
Community members rally in memory of Nichole Cable; events, fundraisers planned
After 27 years, a father continues to search for his daughter, presumed dead
The scramble to fill the 2nd District seat if Mike Michaud runs for governor
Rep. Diane Russell’s fool’s errand
How the omnibus energy bill will benefit Maine
Goodwin steps down as Brewer High School boys basketball coach
UMaine trails Binghamton 8-2 in suspended game at America East baseball tourney
Live Updates: UMaine baseball vs. Binghamton in America East tourney; to resume at 2 p.m.
Brewer softball players brighten games with orange sunglasses
Decorated Howland war hero Samuel Deeds finalist for NASCAR honor
‘All That’ actress Amanda Bynes arrested after allegedly tossing bong out apartment window on 36th floor
Maine School of Science and Mathematics alumni drawn to give back to magnet school
New York City rumble showcases Maine’s lobster roll dominance
Get all dressed up for the season’s salad days
Music video about “untold stories of Lewiston” features local fire scenes