Down East

 
Richard Ramsdell

Cutler man gets 3 years, ordered to pay nearly $143,000 for theft of veterans disability benefits

By Ryan McLaughlin on June 18, 2013, at 2:25 p.m.
BANGOR, Maine — A Cutler man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison on a charge of theft of disability benefits. Richard Ramsdell, 38, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor, U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty II said in a news release. Ramsdell was also ordered to pay $142,668 ...

Machias sewage plant mishap shuts down clam flats

By Bill Trotter on June 17, 2013, at 7:32 p.m.
MACHIAS, Maine — A rainstorm and a power failure at the local wastewater treatment plant have shut down shellfish harvesting in the Machias River, according to officials. An overflow of sewage into the Machias River happened Wednesday, June 12, when heavy rains fell across much of Maine. Both officials with ...
The Little River Light and the former lightkeeper's house on Little River Island in Cutler.  The structures have been restored by the volunteers from the American Lighthouse Foundation and the Friends of Little River Lighthouse.

‘Working vacation’: Florida couple volunteer to be lighthouse keepers in Cutler

By Kari C. Barlow, Northwest Florida Daily News on June 16, 2013, at 5:45 a.m.
NICEVILLE, Fla. — Marilyn Turk has never packed for a summer vacation quite like the one she will take in July. Turk and her husband, Chuck, have volunteered to be lighthouse keepers for 11 days in Cutler, Maine. “It’s a vacation, but it’s a working vacation,” she said. “We don’t ...
Emergency personnel raise a blue tarp to shield the public from the scene where a pedestrian was struck and killed early Thursday afternoon near the entrance of Marden's in downtown Calais.

Pedestrian killed near Marden’s entrance in Calais

By Mario Moretto on June 14, 2013, at 11:16 a.m.
CALAIS, Maine — An investigation is ongoing Friday after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car outside the Marden’s entrance in Calais, a stone’s throw away from the U.S.-Canada border. Sgt. Chris Donahue of the Calais Police Department said Zina Eller, 49, of East Machias died after she ...

Jonesport supermarket closing after state forces upgrade to meat cutting room; owner hopes to reopen

By Bill Trotter on June 12, 2013, at 1:47 p.m.
JONESPORT, Maine — For the time being, at least, this seaside fishing village is going to revert to being a one-supermarket town after state officials required the store to upgrade its meat cutting room. The local IGA Supermarket, which for decades was the only supermarket-style grocery store between Machias and ...

1,200 without power in East Machias; restoration expected by 10:30 a.m.

Bangor Daily News on June 12, 2013, at 7:06 a.m.
MACHIAS — Nearly 1,200 have lost power in the Machias area, according to Bangor Hydro. The utility company says the outage was caused by weather conditions and is working to reconnect power to customers in Machias and East Machias. They expect to have most customers reconnected by 10:30 a.m. The ...

Field trip to new paintball course

By Linda Coan O'Kresik on June 09, 2013, at 6:25 a.m.
The eighth-grade class from Bay Ridge Elementary School in Cutler enjoyed their end-of-year outting at the new paintball course at Maine Military Supply on Route 1A in Holden.
Students from Bay Ridge Elementary School in Cutler head out into the new paintball course that opened last week at Maine Military Supply on Route 1A in Holden.

New Holden paintball facility attracts Cutler eighth-graders, among others

By Nok-Noi Ricker on June 09, 2013, at 6:20 a.m.
HOLDEN, Maine — Eighth-graders at Bay Ridge Elementary in Cutler raised money for their annual class trip and chose to visit a new paintball course in Holden. “They did a narrative essay on what they wanted to do on the class trip and this was number one,” Darlene Wheeler, Bay ...
VIDEO
Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith talks to BDN reporter Mario Moretto and photographer Kevin Bennett during a video interview on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

A look at Donnie Smith, the most polarizing sheriff in Maine

By Mario Moretto on June 07, 2013, at 5:41 p.m.
MACHIAS, Maine — Donnie Smith is the most controversial law enforcement figure in Maine. During his seven years as Washington County’s sheriff, Smith has been at the center of public fights with other officials, sent countless angry late-night press releases and threatened or filed numerous lawsuits against other state agencies. ...

Donnie Smith talks about being sheriff

By Kevin Bennett on June 07, 2013, at 5:37 p.m.
Listen as Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith talks about how he has handled being sheriff of one of Maine’s largest counties.

Births for Machias, Calais and Ellsworth April 28-June 4

By Julie Harris on June 07, 2013, at 1:33 p.m.
Down East Community Hospital, Machias To Ellen and Jason Sanchez, Bass Harbor, a son, Micah Roland Cole, on April 28, 2013. To Mitchell and Tamie White, Beals, a son, Silas Charles White, on June 4, 2013. Calais Regional Hospital May births To Lindsay Royer and Joseph Hanson, Calais, a son, ...
David Mitchell (left) of Calais is congratulated by Sen. David Burns, R-Whiting, on Wednesday after the Judiciary Committee unanimously endorsed Mitchell's nomination to be a District Court judge.

Committee unanimously endorses Calais lawyer to District Court bench

By Judy Harrison on June 05, 2013, at 12:24 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a 44-year-old Calais lawyer’s nomination to serve as a District Court judge in Washington County. David J. Mitchell is expected to begin work next month if confirmed by the state Senate. He would replace retiring District Court Judge John ...
Janet Rier of Lubec talks to game wardens after she was found safely in Ellsworth Wednesday morning.

Missing Lubec woman found safe in Ellsworth

By Ryan McLaughlin on June 05, 2013, at 9:54 a.m.
ELLSWORTH, Maine — A missing Lubec woman was found early Wednesday morning in Ellsworth. Janet Rier, 56, who was reported missing Tuesday afternoon, was located near Route 179 at 7 a.m., according to Cpl. John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service. Rier was in good condition when game wardens found ...
From the community

International marathon built on local support

By Katherine Cassidy on June 04, 2013, at 10:47 a.m.
The inaugural Bay of Fundy International Marathon, set for Lubec and Campobello on June 23, has attracted more than $20,000 in local sponsorship arrangements. “We are an international marathon, and also a very local marathon,” John Hough, race director, said last week. “We could not have put together this first ...
Cpt. Robert Gross, (foreground) Washington County jail administrator, and Sgt. Karina Richardson, the jail’s clerk, listen to testimony in January during a hearing before the Washington County commissioners. Sheriff Donnie Smith accused his two jail employees of mismanaging funds from an inmate benefits fund and asked that they be fired.

Washington County sheriff appeals unemployment benefits awarded to former jail employees

By Mario Moretto on May 31, 2013, at 7:05 p.m.
MACHIAS, Maine — Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith on Friday appealed unemployment benefits awarded to two former jail employees who were subject to an investigation about the misappropriation of jail funds earlier this year. But there are questions about whether Smith, acting on behalf of the county, has standing to ...
Michael Berrios-Ortiz

Conn. man arrested in Harrington eight months after MDEA heroin sting

By Mario Moretto on May 31, 2013, at 4:14 p.m.
HARRINGTON, Maine — A Connecticut man was arrested this week by Maine Drug Enforcement agents and sheriff’s deputies on charges stemming from an alleged heroin sale in 2012. Michael Berrios-Ortiz, 33, of Hartford, Conn., was charged with unlawful trafficking in heroin, a Class B crime. MDEA claims the suspect sold ...

Births for Machias, Bar Harbor May 13-April 28

By Julie Harris on May 31, 2013, at 3:24 p.m.
Down East Community Hospital, Machias Births May 13-29 To Cherish Mitchell and Isaac Jillson Sr., Perry, a son, Isaac Jillson Jr., on May 13, 2013. To Christopher and Monica Chipman, Milbridge, a daughter, Elena Rose Chipman, on May 14, 2013. To Victoria Cassella and Eric Lyons, Lubec, a son, Acheron ...
POLL QUESTION

Machias passes $4.47 million school budget in 12 minutes

By Sharon Kiley Mack on May 29, 2013, at 1 p.m.
MACHIAS, Maine — In 12 minutes, without a single word of discussion or even one question, a tiny group of Machias residents passed the 2013-2014 proposed $4.47 million AOS 96 budget Tuesday night. Although three selectmen, the superintendent of schools and the adult education director were on hand to answer ...
Richard Strout of the Machias Police

Second coed sues Machias police, town over officer’s ‘malicious, reckless’ conduct

By Sharon Kiley Mack on May 28, 2013, at 11:19 a.m.
MACHIAS, Maine — For the second time in less than two weeks, a former University of Maine coed has filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Machias, its police chief and former police officer Richard Strout. Sarah Cotton, 24, of Columbia Falls alleges Strout violated her rights in May ...
Carole Grant of Harrington is one of 50 year-round employees at Kelco Industries in Milbridge, where she was busy last week welding metal wire rings used in manufacturing balsam Christmas wreaths. Although Christmas is months away, three companies in Washington County that cater to holiday shoppers are already ramping up for the season.

Christmas is already in sight for three Down East holiday manufacturers

By Tom Walsh on May 27, 2013, at 1:39 p.m.
MILBRIDGE, Maine — Heads up! There are only 200 shopping days left until Christmas. While that insight may not having you rushing to the mall, it’s a big-deal reality for three Washington County businesses that rely on the buying frenzy that surrounds Christmas each year to either make or break ...
 
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