DOVER-FOXCROFT — The director of the Baxter State Park Authority is floating the idea dropping the “Mount” from Maine’s “Mount Katahdin.”  Eben Sypitkowski told Piscataquis County Commissioners in an email that Katahdin was named by the Penobscot Indians and means “greatest mountain.” Therefore, he said there’s no need for the word “Mount.” That’s redundant, akin to […]

The owner and operator of a Rockland herring boat, one of his crew and a local wholesale seafood dealer are facing charges of exceeding their quota for the popular lobster bait at a time when fishing regulators are trying to rebuild the stock.  Glenn Robbins, a 72-year-old third-generation fisherman from Eliot, is charged with exceeding the […]

FARMINGTON — A second firefighter injured in Monday’s explosion at the LEAP building on Farmington Falls Road was released from a Portland hospital Thursday, and another’s condition was upgraded.  Other injured firefighters were said to be improving.  Capt. Timothy “TD” Hardy, 40, was to be escorted home in a procession of emergency vehicles from Augusta […]

PORTLAND — A new Maine law that prohibits the use of hand-held phones and other devices while driving is now in effect, and police will be keeping an eye out for violations starting Thursday.  The new law adds restrictions to the state’s rules against distracted driving. It states that no one can operate a vehicle […]

HARPSWELL — Merriconeag Grange #425 in Harpswell received a $10,415 grant through the Belvedere Fund of the Maine Community Foundation for structural repairs.  The grant will be used to re-coat the roof, repair damaged interior flooring and sills, fix the balustrades and trim, and repair sections of siding on the building located on Harpswell Neck […]

TOPSHAM — Two businesses were evacuated at the Topsham Fair Mall Wednesday night after someone reported the odor of gas. Topsham Fire Department got the call about the odor just after 8 p.m. from 105 Topsham Fair Mall Road, the location of the new Topsham Care Center medical facility and a Buffalo Wild Wings.  Fire Chief Christopher […]

TOPSHAM — A group of 10 residents and business owners want Topsham to buy into solar power to offset the town’s energy costs, but selectmen aren’t biting, according to the town manager.  Nick Whatley of Topsham Solar Advocates hopes to convince Topsham officials tonight to let them seek pricing for purchasing solar power, a step some other municipalities have taken.  […]

BRUNSWICK— In the eight years since the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority took over the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, activity above Brunswick Executive Airport continues to take off, and most days the skies are peppered with planes.  The airport is predicting 26,000 takeoffs and landings for 2019, according to Executive Director Steve Levesque, a 20% […]