Emergency Service Challenge

CAMDEN – Being a first responder is hard, physically as well as emotionally. And finding qualified applicants is always a challenge that is only compounded as many responders reach retirement age. To combat this, members of the Camden Fire Department, the Hope Fire Department and the Camden First Aid Association hope to increase recruitment as participants and spectators have a chance to meet first responders in various fields, including fire, EMS and law enforcement. Chris McCabe from “Northwoods Law” has already registered as a member.

Burglaries spur police to seek assistance

BREWER – Authorities are investigating recent burglaries of vacant and abandoned properties for the purposes of copper theft. To help stem further incidents, police are asking for the public’s help in reporting suspicious activity in and around vacant and abandoned homes and businesses.

Copper thieves often target abandoned properties to remove copper piping and wires and sell the material to metal recyclers and scrap yards. Once the copper has been removed from the property, it is very difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the material in question has been stolen, which makes prosecuting copper thieves very difficult.
Police are urging witnesses to call 911 to report suspicious activity in and around vacant and abandoned properties. Some things to watch out for include:

Winterport’s ‘Smooth Criminals’ place drama Destination ImagiNation, head to nationals

WINTERPORT – The Smooth Criminals recently placed second in the State Championship of Destination ImagiNation, a multi-school competition that challenges students in various categories of learning, from science and engineering to writing and drama.

The Smooth Criminals, who are made up of Carly, Johannah, Gracie, Megan, Renee and Kelsea,  took second place for the drama category after they conceived a plot, assigned roles and acted out (with no dialogue) a short play for judges. Certain criteria had to be met, including the theme, which was disguise, and had to include a fancy mask and a mask that morphs (changes shape) – all without input from the adults.

Mark Ricketts releases ‘A Flatlander’s Guide to Maine,’ release party on May 14

BANGOR – Mark Ricketts of Moose Mountain and Earl Hornswaggle fame has a new book coming out, “A Flatlander’s Guide to Maine,” which features not only some of the greatest hits from the aforementioned cartoons and writings, but new content as well. 

There’s many people who would never guess that Mark Ricketts was from “away.” He’s captured a lot of the spirit of Maine in his cartoons, illustrations and writings. Originally from Arkansas, Ricketts and his wife moved to Maine from Chicago, trading in the big city for a more small town feel seven years ago.

Domestic violence homicide

BANGOR – Bangor Police arrested David Coon, 50, of Bangor, for domestic violence homicide after the results of an autopsy. The cause of death is being withheld at this time.

Coon is charged with murdering the 49-year-old woman he was living with. Police were called to their Jefferson Street apartment on May 3, where a caller reported the woman had difficulties breathing. When police and rescue arrived they found the woman dead.

Anyone who has had kids knows you are basically trading in late mornings for the proper care and raising of the future of humanity. It’s not a bad trade-off in the long run, but it may seem like a steep price, especially at 6 a.m. on a Saturday after you stayed up a little too late watching “The Hobbit” the night before (yes, I’m still catching up on movies that debuted in 2012).

Maine State Police seek Jamie Cox

ELLSWORTH – Maine State Police are seeking the public’s help in locating Jamie L. Cox, 36, of Stonington, who is wanted for sexual contact with a teenage girl. Cox was indicted earlier this month by the Hancock County Grand Jury. He faces three felony counts of unlawful sexual contact. 

Cox is 5-foot 10-inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds and has blue eyes and light brown hair. Police think he is still in greater Hancock County area, likely staying with friends. 

HOPE Festival celebrates Earth, honors Neptune’s memory

BANGOR – The last 17 HOPE Festivals were opened by Arnie Neptune, an elder of the Penobscot Nation, but Neptune passed away this last year and the festival will be opened by honoring his memory.
The opening ceremony will be from members of the Penobscot Nation honoring the memory of Neptune. 

The HOPE (Help Organize Peace, Earthwide) Festival is centered around Earth Day and is put on by the Peace and Justice Center. This year’s festival is on April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at the University of Maine at Orono. This year rather than have one keynote speaker, they invited people from the community to talk about ways they could “Do One Thing” to help the community and the environment. 

Orono Bogwalk Benefit Gallery Show Opening

BANGOR/ORONO – The Sohns’ Gallery located in the the Bangor Rock and Art Shop, 36 Central Street,  is hosting a gallery and silent auction to benefit the Orono Bog Walk.

Artists will be on hand to discuss their work on April 25, at 6:30 p.m. Pieces will be on display until May 20, and there is an incredible range for people to bid on with starting at $5 for greeting cards with art prints on them, up to $9,000 for the stunning oil painting that is hanging in the gallery.