Stephen Betts
Rockland Bureau
- 207.691.6564
- sbetts@bangordailynews.com
Rockland-area school district reschedules middle school merger meetings
ROCKLAND, Maine — Regional School Unit 13 has changed the schedule of three meetings at which officials will provide the public with information and accept comments concerning the proposed merger of its two middle schools. The winter storm that struck Wednesday night forced the postponement of the previously scheduled Rockland …
UMaine student held on murder charge in connection with stabbing in Florida
A University of Maine student is being held on a murder charge in connection with a double stabbing in Florida that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old man. Zedric Joseph, 23, of West Palm Beach was being held at the Richmond County Jail in Augusta, Ga., according to a …
Jury convicts Owls Head man of trying to get witness to change testimony
ROCKLAND, Maine — A Knox County jury convicted a 49-year-old Owls Head man Wednesday of trying to influence a witness to change his testimony. Steven E. Clarke was convicted by the jury of tampering with a witness. Justice Jeffrey Hjelm also found Clarke guilty in a non-jury trial of violating …
Fire damages Rockland home, dog dies of smoke inhalation
ROCKLAND, Maine — A fire caused extensive damage Tuesday afternoon to a Pleasant Street home. A family dog died from smoke inhalation despite efforts by firefighters to revive the pet after it was found in the house. The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. and when the first officer …
Joseph Ponte, Maine’s corrections chief, leaving for similar job in New York City
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Corrections Commissioner Joseph Ponte, who has been credited with initiating improvements in Maine’s prison system, has been hired to run the jails of New York City. A press spokeswoman for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed the appointment early Tuesday afternoon. Ponte will succeed …
Midcoast couple sentenced for leaving child home alone
ROCKLAND, Maine — A Warren man will go to jail while his girlfriend can avoid incarceration after they pleaded guilty Tuesday to leaving a child home alone. Robert D. Doak, 33, of Warren, was sentenced to 180 days in jail with all but 72 hours suspended for domestic violence assault …
Rockland council renews call for state to complete $3 million fix of Old County Road
ROCKLAND, Maine — The deterioration of one of the busiest roads in Rockland is frustrating city officials. City Manager Tom Luttrell told councilors at their Monday night meeting that he met last week with a Maine Department of Transportation representative and raised the issue of the poor condition of Old …
Rockland planners approve fitness, day care centers at former restaurant site
ROCKLAND, Maine — The Rockland Planning Board last week approved applications for a fitness center and day care program to be located in the former Amalfi Restaurant space. The businesses are proposed by Rockland Harbor Park LLC. They will be located next to where Rockland Harbor Park plans to build …
Neighbor challenges special zoning exception for Camden Harbour Inn expansion
CAMDEN, Maine — A lawyer who lives next to the Camden Harbour Inn has gone to court to block a special exception that could allow the inn to expand. Susan Bryant filed her court appeal Friday in Knox County Superior Court. She is challenging the special exception granted by the …
Retired Rockland officer reflects on 32-year career with police department
ROCKLAND, Maine — Drunk fishermen, burglars and criminals armed with shotguns were no match for Lloyd Daniels during his nearly 32 years as a police officer in Rockland. But blocked veins put an end to his career with the Rockland department. Daniels retired from the Rockland department on Feb. 28 …
Rockland-area school district schedules merger meetings
ROCKLAND, Maine — Regional School Unit 13 has scheduled three meetings at which officials will provide the public with information and accept comments concerning the proposed merger of its two middle schools. The issue has been controversial within the district, with former Superintendent Lew Collins saying earlier this year that …
Longtime Waldo County healthcare CEO to also serve as interim Pen Bay leader
ROCKPORT, Maine — The long-time executive director of Waldo County’s health care facilities will add the job of interim chief executive officer for Pen Bay Healthcare. The announcement was made Friday afternoon in a news release issued by Pen Bay. Mark Biscone, executive director of Waldo County Healthcare, will serve …
Less-feisty Rockland-area school board regroups with new chairman, interim superintendent
ROCKLAND, Maine — The Thursday night meeting of the Regional School Unit 13 board lacked the acrimony of the past year as the board members dealt with matters such as searching for a new superintendent and whether to merge the district’s two middle schools. The meeting was the first with …
Thomaston woman gets 60 days in jail for food stamp fraud, ordered to repay $4,000
ROCKLAND, Maine — A 42-year-old Thomaston woman was sentenced Thursday to 60 days in jail for receiving food stamps for three years by lying to the state. Brittany Seavey was sentenced in Knox County Superior Court by Justice Andrew Horton to two years in jail with all but 60 days …
Midcoast school district hires Portland principal as its next superintendent
WARREN, Maine — A veteran Portland school administrator will be the new superintendent of Regional School Unit 40. The RSU 40 Board voted Thursday night to hire Stephen Nolan, said Board Chairman Danny Jackson. The board approved a two-year contract that begins July 1. His starting annual pay will be …
Maine prison murder suspect makes initial court appearance by video
ROCKLAND, Maine — A Maine State Prison inmate accused of killing a fellow prisoner by brutally beating and stabbing him made his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon. Richard Stahursky entered no plea, and no action was taken on bail at the request of the defense. The hearing lasted about three …
Camden attorney agrees that scaled-down alcohol treatment center can open without zoning vote
CAMDEN, Maine — A controversial high-end alcohol treatment center proposed for a Camden neighborhood is an allowed residential use under federal laws, the town attorney has concluded. Town attorney William Kelly issued his opinion in a Feb. 28 letter to Town Manager Patricia Finnigan. Fox Hill Real Estate and McLean …
Camden nursing home employee charged after allegedly stealing from residents
CAMDEN, Maine — A Washington woman who worked as a certified nursing assistant and hairdresser at Quarry Hill, a Camden retirement village, has been accused of stealing from two residents. Linda Perkins, 58, was issued a summons for two counts of theft, according to Camden police Detective Curt Andrick. Perkins …
Former Maine DHHS worker gets 9 months in jail for stealing benefits
ROCKLAND, Maine — A former Maine Department of Health and Human Services worker was sentenced Thursday to nine months in jail after admitting to stealing nearly $50,000 in benefits over nearly a five-year period. Ashley S. Carleton, 29, of Rockport was sentenced by Justice Andrew Horton for felony theft and …
Police: Owls Head woman crashes after allegedly stealing liquor from supermarket
ROCKLAND, Maine — A 32-year-old Owls Head woman was apprehended Wednesday after she crashed her car into another vehicle after allegedly fleeing a supermarket with stolen liquor, police said. Amy Grant was charged with theft, violating a condition of release, operating after suspension, leaving the scene of an accident and …
UMaine student held on murder charge in connection with stabbing in Florida
Police investigating body found near Walmart in Bangor
Men charged in Bangor triple slaying expected to be tried together in April before one jury
Scarborough native to pitch his ‘bed head’ remover on ABC reality show ‘Shark Tank’
Ellsworth police seek man who led officers on 8-mile foot chase through woods after alleged burglary
Maine’s Medicaid program is in perpetual crisis. Don’t let expansion make it worse.
There’s a little more hope for Maine’s struggling homeowners
Protesting doesn’t reduce abortion. Effective birth control does.
Everything, including ‘right to work,’ should be on the table in a conversation about Maine jobs
Ex-UMaine football player accused of stabbing same woman he attacked in Orono in 2012
Former WABI-TV sports co-anchor Nick Coit lands TV job in Providence
Inexperience, porous defense plagued UMaine men’s basketball team in dismal season
Couple gives former Blue Hill school to Bagaduce Music Lending Library
Kidney donor from Veazie, recipient from Caribou form special bond