Classic Hits Radio - Calais, Maine/St. Stephen, New Brunswick/Machias, Maine

Monday, March 08, 2010

Here are some of the incidents handled by state police Troop J over the past week:

February 21:

Trooper Greg Mitchell received a suspicious complaint from a man in Sedgwick. The caller reported that his 15-year-old daughter had had been messaging a guy she thought was 17-year-old but he since learned from other people on the internet that the guy was actually 39. The daughter had since stopped messaging the guy. It did not appear that a crime had been committed.

February 26:

Trooper Greg Mitchell responded to an address in Tremont for an aggravated criminal mischief complaint. The caller was the caretaker for a seasonal residence. She discovered that seven windows on the back of the building had been broken with rocks. The investigation continues.

February 27:

Trooper Greg Mitchell received a vandalism complaint from Brooksville. The investigation revealed that a vehicle intentionally driven on the Brooksville Grange lawn causing damage.

March 1:

Trooper Greg Roy received a burglary complaint from Penobscot. Several power tools were stolen in the night from the caller's garage.

Troopers Greg Roy and Cliff Peterson responded to Deer Isle for a family fight. The argument was over child custody issues. DHHS was notified and they stated it is an ongoing issue.

Troopers Greg Roy, Cliff Peterson and Sgt. Alden Bustard arrested a 29-year-old man on an outstanding warrant for aggravated trafficking on the Bucksport Rd in Ellsworth.

Trooper Jessica Shorey handled a DHHS referral of an assault which occurred in Sullivan on February 20th where it was reported that 17-year-old was assaulted by his father. The investigation revealed that there was no criminal intent and the family refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Trooper Andy Foss and Sgt. Jeff Ingemi responded to Jonesboro for a report that a man was intoxicated and suicidal. The man was located at a junkyard and was determined not to be suicidal at that time.

March 2:

Sgt. Tim Varney summonsed a 25-year-old Ellsworth man for speeding 30 MPH over on Rt. 179 in Ellsworth, (87 mph in a 45 zone).

Trooper Dan Ryan handled a criminal mischief complaint in Stonington where a woman had her tires slashed on her vehicle. Investigation continues.

Trooper Miles Carpenter received an identity theft complaint in Edmunds where a woman was advised by the IRS that someone was using her Social Security information.

Trooper Greg Mitchell received a complaint from Trenton. The caller reported that his ex-wife attempted to hit him with her car. The results of the investigation were inconclusive. Due to the domestic nature of the incident, Trooper Mitchell's report has been forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review and recommendations.

Trooper Kimberly Sawyer served a trespass notice to a Calais man at a request from his landlord, of Kennebunkport. The property is located on Rte 1 in Robbinston.

March 3:

Trooper Kimberly Sawyer responded to a home alarm at a residence in Robbinston. The owner believed he must have accidentally set off the alarm.

Trooper Greg Mitchell and Sgt. Timothy Varney responded to the Cross Road in Orland for a reported burglary. The investigation revealed that the property had been foreclosed on no crime had been committed.

Trooper Kimberly Sawyer responded to the Princeton Irving after a woman called stating that she had left her purse in a car while she went inside and the car had taken off before she came back out. She believes it was a silver car, but doesn't know who was driving. She stated they were from Indian Twp. Indian Township police was unable to locate the vehicle before the trooper's arriveal. Trooper Sawyer made a request to the manager of the Princeton Irving Manager to check the video to see if a plate could be seen on the silver vehicle.

Trooper Christopher Smith investigated a criminal trespass incident at a residence in Franklin. Further investigation continues.

Trooper Christopher Smith responded to a residence in Tremont for a suspicious incident. The caller arrived home to find an interior door had separated off of one of the two hinges. After further examination and a search of the residence, Trooper
Smith and the homeowner determined that the antique door's hinge pin had worked its way loose over time.

Sgt. Bustard was working on an aircraft speed enforcement detail on I-95 in Carmel when he received a report of a vehicle operating erratically from a passing motorist. Sgt. Bustard caught up to the vehicle as it turned into the Hampden rest area. Pilot Wayne Ireland also monitored the vehicle from the aircraft. The 69-year-old driver from Augusta was placed under arrest for OUI. Trooper Darren Vittum transported the man to the Penobscot County jail where an intoxilyzer test was administered.

Sgt. Alden Bustard summonsed a 38-year-old Newburgh man for criminal speeding on I-95 in Carmel. The man was traveling 110 MPH in a 65 MPH zone.

Trooper Cliff Peterson received a theft complaint from Sullivan. The caller reported that her 17-year-old son has been staying with his father. Her son's wallet had been taken from his room. The investigation continues.

March 4:

Trooper Barry Curtis handled a family fight in Steuben and the female was removed from the residence.

Trooper Jessica Shorey assisted Ellsworth PD with attempting to locate a subject with warrants for his arrest.

Missing person Charles Fagonde, 73, of Jonesboro was found deceased on a woods road in Jonesboro. He was reported missing by his family on February 28th and had been missing since February 26th. It had been reported that he was last seen in Columbia Falls and was headed to Brewer. He was located by a man cutting trees in a wooded area. Fagonde's body was found next to his vehicle and appeared to have died from natural causes. Several area Troopers, Detectives, Deputies, Wardens, Marine Patrol Officers, Forest Rangers and Border Patrol Agents assisted with the search efforts.

March 5:

Trooper Cliff Peterson and Sgt. Alden Bustard responded to a domestic dispute at a residence in Dedham. The male caller reported that he and his girlfriend had been arguing as they were driving home from the Brewer area. The caller alleged that his girlfriend smashed the windows out of his vehicle before leaving in his grandfather's pickup. The investigation continues pending further contact with the girlfriend.

March 6:

Trooper Greg Roy received an assault complaint from a supervisor of the US Census Bureau. She stated that one of her census workers was assaulted during a home visit. The worker reported a male on the Bagaduce Road in Brooksville grabbed her wrist and pushed her when she attempted to leave a bag of information on his door. A 53-year-old man was summonsed for assault.

Trooper Greg Roy stopped a 17-year-old for speeding on Route 1 in Orland. The trooper detected the odor of intoxicants and the driver was taken to the Bucksport police department for an intoxilyzer test. The girl was summonsed for operating without a license and released into the custody of her grandmother.

Sgt. Jeff Ingemi arrested a 25-year-old man in Marshfield for violation of conditional release after finding him walking down the Marshfield Flats Road intoxicated.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Sunday, March 07, 2010

The Coast Guard is seeking the public's assistance with a search and rescue case that occurred Saturday in East Penobscot Bay between Vinalhaven and Deer Isle, Maine.

The Coast Guard is asking the public for help identifying the fishing vessel Steven Bowden, the vessel's homeport or its reported owner, Elwood Patton.

Coast Guard Sector Northern New England received a Mayday call from the vessel shortly before noon from an adult male stating his name was Elwood Patton and his vessel was sinking between Vinalhaven and Deer Isle.

The man subsequently reported that his vessel had completely sunk and he was in the water. Although communications were intermittent for more than 50 minutes, sector watchstanders were unable to acquire a vessel description.

The sector dispatched a 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Rockland as well as two HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and a Falcon jet from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. A Maine Marine Patrol boat, a Knox County Sheriff's aircraft and Good Samaritans on two vessels also joined the search.

During the search crews saturated the area but did not see any signs of anyone in the water, a sunken vessel, debris or any oil or fuel sheens indicating the last position of a sunken vessel.

Due to the numerous search assets involved during the six-hour search, the Coast Guard expended more than 120 personnel hours and $176,000 on this mission.

Sector Northern New England command center staff searched all Coast Guard information systems for records pertaining to the subject vessel and its owner, but was unable to find any record relating to either the vessel or its owner. The state and local agencies involved also searched their information systems including the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, but also came up empty-handed.

"We received a Mayday call in which a mariner reported that his boat was sinking and he was in immediate distress," said Lt. Bryan Hollis, the command duty officer at the sector command center in Portland, Maine.

"It is Coast Guard policy to respond immediately to this type of distress call. We ran more than 670 search and rescue cases last year, but this one seems different and has us concerned. We either have a vessel that sank resulting in the loss of its owner, neither of which we were able to find, or we have a hoax case. Neither of these situations is acceptable to the Coast Guard."

Hoax distress calls placed to the Coast Guard are classified as a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

"In addition to the prison time and fine, false distress calls made to the Coast Guard needlessly place the lives of our crews and the lives of the boating public in danger and waste hundreds of thousands in tax dollars,� said Capt. James McPherson, the commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.

Anyone with information regarding this Search and Rescue case is encouraged to call USCG Sector Northern New England at (207) 741-5465.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Friday, March 05, 2010

The Washington County Community College annual Polar Bear Dip raised over $10,155. The event benefits the Ronald McDonald House in Bangor.

[Sunny skies and a bone-chilling wind made for whitecaps on Passamaquoddy Bay off Split Rock at Pleasant Point --WQDY NEWS PHOTO].

Seventy-four dippers participated in Friday's event and dozens more were in attendance. The air and water temperatures were in the 30s with brutal wind gusts of almost 30 m.p.h. were bone-chilling.

The 2010 Polar Bear Dip was dedicated to Wayne and Lorraine Rice of Pembroke who were long time supporters of WCCC, the Polar Bear Dip and the Ronald McDonald House.

Wayne and Lorraine passed away this January as a result of a car accident on Route 9. Wayne and Lorraine�s daughter, Janice Rice, accepted a plaque dedicating the dip to her parents and thanked all the dippers for their support of the Ronald McDonald House.

Rice was one of the founders of the Polar Bear Dip as a student at WCCC in 2000.

Wayne and Lorraine had stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Bangor while Wayne was receiving medical treatment at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Pledges in memory of Wayne and Lorraine totaled $3,875.

Sherry Cox and Sherry Pulk of Eastport were two of the highest paid dippers raising $835 as first time dippers. "We are dipping in memory of my Aunt Lorraine and my Uncle Wayne. This is a great cause and benefits a lot of people in our area," Cox explained. The crew from Down East Credit Union dipped for their 6th year, raising $1,477. They knew of many people who have used the services of the Ronald McDonald House in Bangor and dip year after year because of their strong support for the cause. Students from Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle came in full-force with 16 dippers and pledges exceeding $2000.

WCCC culinary students, under the leadership of Chef Marie Emerson, warmed dippers and spectators up with a buffet of healthy calcium-rich foods made from original recipes. "This is a competition, explained Emerson, the chef of the dish that is voted most popular will represent WCCC at the Blaine House Cook-Off for Governor Baldacci that will be held later this month."

[CHARGE! In they go ----- WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

[And out they come! -- WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

Charlie Collins, Interim President of WCCC, thanked the crowd for their participation and recognized the Passamaquoddy Tribal Government and Public Works, Passamaquoddy Fire and Rescue, William Tracy, Richard Ramsey and the WCCC Building Construction Program, WCCC Student Senate and the entire WCCC campus for their support.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

They couldn't take an official vote but a consensus of the Calais City Council during a Tuesday evening budget workshop showed five out of the six councilors favor eliminating the local police dispatch. The dissenting opinion came from Councilor Michael Milburn, the city's former police chief.

There had been some concern over other issues that revolve around the dispatch such as keeping the jail at the police station somewhat operational.

City Manager Diane Barnes found it could be done if some changes were made according to a Department of Corrections Inspector Ralph Nichols.

[City Manager Diane Barnes --WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

As for county issues to be considered if Calais dispatch is eliminated, Barnes asked Washington County Manager Betsy Fitzgerald whether the RCC was ready to handle the calls. "She said outside of staffing and equipment issues, yes."

"[Fitzgerald] says that the RCC anticipates an additional 4000 calls if Calais comes on," Barnes said.

She added that Fitzgerald said the county would be looking for additional help.

"She said they're working at 90-percent right now and they anticipate an additional 30-percent volume of calls if Calais went on," Barnes said.

The city manager said Fitzgerald told her the total number of calls handled by the RCC in 2009 was "about 11,600 calls."

Other considerations if dispatch were eliminated included possible installation of an exterior box linked to the RCC to handle after hour walk-ins in the event an officer isn't at the PD and the city may have to bargain the impacts of doing away with dispatch during the middle of a contract year.

The logistics of what will need to happen if it's eliminated are many and it would need to be in place by July 1. Mayor Vinton Cassidy asked the council for a consensus on the future of dispatch.

Councilor Chris Bernardini: "I hate to say it but dispatch is a duplication of service. We have the county that will do the dispatch for us. People are just going to have to learn different ways to get to the people they need to get to. If there's an emergency, they can't call 454-2751 -- they have to call 911, that's all there is to it. That's what E-911 was set up for. I hate to see dispatch go but I hate to pay the county the money that we're paying and also have the same service here, so I guess that I have finally made my mind up that I think that we need to do away with dispatch."

Councilor Bill Condon: "I've been hashing it over and I'm sitting on the fence. I agree with Chris." Moving on to the fire department, Condon said he was "crunching some numbers the other day, the number of hours people are there versus the number of employees we have there I still think that there's room to do away with a full-time firefighter there and operate with volunteers."

Councilor Joyce Maker said she agreed with Councilor Bernardini: "To have one less officer in town really scares me. I think that the only approach that's before us is what you [Bernardini] said and that's what the citizens that called my house also said."

Councilor Marianne Moore: All along I've said that I thought that the dispatch was a duplication of something that we're already paying for and I had different questions and different concerns and I felt much better after hearing back from Betsy Fitzgerald to know that they were ready to handle the calls. That was my concern --would they be able to handle the volume --- were they even anticipating it? So I was very pleased to see that they are already anticipating the 4000 additional calls and that they were going to hire additional people. I think they will probably use us as an excuse to say that they required additional people. They're going to say we're already at 90-percent capacity now we're taking on Calais' calls when in fact it would blend right in to what they're currently doing."

Councilor Michael Milburn and the city's former police chief: "Having worked there I think you're making a mistake, I really do. They do a lot more than just answer the phone and dispatch an officer. I think we're going to lose a lot of information, the effectiveness of the police department is going to go down and we depend upon them a lot along with the citizens. I think it would be a mistake to get rid of it."

Councilor Joseph Cassidy: "I'm less concerned about things like having a presence all the time. I think we can do things like call boxes or a buzzer into the folks that are down there full time. It's the gaps in service that concern me. I'm a little bit more comfortable if this jail can stay open in some fashion but I still think that there's times that it's problematic for us. I think I'm falling in line with what I'm hearing from many of you. I've also received the calls this week running more in favor of closing dispatch."

After all the councilors had spoken, Councilor Condon decided he was wasn't on the fence anymore. He also favored closing the local dispatch.

Now that it's really out in the open what the city council thinks, the city manager and police chief now have a direction in which to proceed.

Following the workshop, a couple of Calais residents who spoke in favor of keeping the dispatch during the Feb. 25 city council meeting were not happy at the turn of events, albeit a consensus, not a vote.

Joan Demmons told WQDY NEWS, "I know their decision isn't actually made yet however I don't think that they truly understand the extent that the dispatch does for us. I think that at this point the only way they will understand is if sometime they need that assistance that they're not going to get and heaven forbid something happens that they do."

Brenda Dempsey told WQDY NEWS she thought the public would have been allowed to speak. As far as the consensus, Dempsey said, "Big mistake, great big one."

Reached for comment after the city council's consensus, Chris Gardner, chairman of the Washington County Commissioners told WQDY NEWS in a telephone interview, "I know there was some discussion as to what the county's position was and our ability to take it. We certainly would avail ourselves to do what we could in the circumstance as we must but I really am hoping that the people of Calais and the city councilors have considered their options fully because this will have a very noticeable impact on services both at the Calais level and the county level and we, as the commissioners will have to be discussing this at great length at our next meeting which is coming up next week. We certainly believe there are going to be ramifications that need to be figured out here."

The next regularly scheduled Calais City Council meeting is March 11.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Monday, March 01, 2010

Local dispatch in Calais hangs in the balance as city officials grapple with that issue and others in the face of a budget shortfall next year.

No dispatch decision was made at last Thursday night's regular city council meeting and no vote can legally be made Tuesday night in the budget workshop.

There are a number of ramifications the city will still need to figure out if they eliminate local dispatch.

At Thursday night's meeting, police chief David Randall told the city council, "the biggest issue that I see for security is the times when we can't use the jail -- which it appears we're not going to be able to use it at all because we're going to have to have somebody on call and if an officer arrests somebody -- he's done. He's tied up, he can't go to any other calls," Randall explained.

The city police department has already lost their K-9 program, eliminating dispatch is on the table and there may be even more cuts waiting in the wings.

"I could probably cut back a patrolman. I wouldn't be happy about it," Randall said.

Councilor Joe Cassidy asked Randall if a patrolman was laid off what ramifications would there be for public safety.

"We can still cover the shifts. It's going to happen. It wouldn't be good -- it would be hard, it would be more work on everybody and that's what happens when you start laying people off --- morale goes --- and once morale goes, standby. I think morale is pretty, well, pretty good at the moment."

[Poster marking National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in April hangs on the wall by Calais police dispatch. It's not known whether dispatchers at Calais PD will still be around to mark the occasion -- WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

City Councilor Michael Milburn was the city's police chief for fifteen years and he told fellow councilors last Thursday night, "You've got to understand what you're going to lose if you're going to do away with dispatch. You're going to lose the effectiveness of your police department, you're going to lose familiarity of the surroundings, the streets, the people, that the dispatchers are quite familiar with. Many grants that are written depend upon the dispatchers to give statistical information to write the grants."

In the event that dispatch is done away with, various scenarios have been outlined by city officials [in previous budget workshops and also in a recent on-air interview on WQDY's public affairs program "Streetbeat"] that in lieu of a police dispatcher, calls could simply be directed to the fire department.

But during the Feb. 26 budget workshop, Milburn asked fire chief Dan Carlow if there was always somebody in the fire department 24-7?

"Not any more," Carlow said.

"Before we took over the ambulance there was. But since we've taken over the ambulance the fire drivers who used to give the station 24-7 now respond at night with the ambulance. They're part of the ambulance crew. So now we depend quite often on the dispatchers as being the only person in the station at night," Carlow said.

Some councilors have stated that having a local police dispatcher is a "duplication" of services that is already provided by the Washington County Regional Communications Center [RCC] in Machias. If Calais decides to dump its dispatch, the RCC will be doing the job instead.

Following last Thursday night's council meeting, council members had a lot of new information to chew on. If dispatch has to go there is much to be done and the process will need to be started soon.

The Calais city council has scheduled another budget workshop for Tuesday March 2 at 6 PM.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Monday, March 01, 2010

Family fights, 114 in a 45, running from police and then running in front of a cruiser and using a back-hoe on a residence following an assault are but some of the incidents handled over the past week by Troop J. Here are some:

February 22:

Trooper Jason Fowler summonsed a 39-year-old woman for harassment by telephone for harassing a woman in Baileyville via telephone.

Trooper Cliff Peterson received a complaint alleging harassment from an Otis woman. The caller stated that her elderly mother had been receiving harassing calls from someone. The trooper located the responsible party at a residence in Surry and warned her for telephone harassment.

Trooper Cliff Peterson arrested a 25-year-old Surry man on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Hancock County on forgery and theft charges.

Trooper Staci Carpenter responded to a burglary complaint in Columbia. The female caller reported that she had been in Florida for the last two months. When she returned to the area, she discovered that her neighbor's residence had been broken into. The investigation continues pending contact with the homeowner.

February 23:

Trooper Dan Ryan responded to a family fight complaint in Sedgwick involving a 30-year-old man who was subsequently arrested for obstructing the report of a crime or injury for hanging up the phone when the other party tried to call the police for help. Trooper Shorey, Trooper Smith and Marine Patrol Officer Rustin Ames also responded.

Trooper Jessica Shorey responded to a burglary complaint in Otis where 2 flat screen TV's and videos were stolen. A suspect is known.

Trooper Miles Carpenter and Trooper Andy Foss responded to a family fight complaint in Jonesport involving 15-year-old who was reported to be out of control. Once the Troopers arrived, the juvenile was no longer out of control. The troopers spoke with the juvenile about his behavior and then left the scene when the boy went to sleep for the night. The family decided to handle things as a family issue rather than a criminal matter.

Trooper Jason Fowler and Trooper Andy Foss responded to Princeton for a report of a domestic assault. A female reported that a 33-year-old man had assaulted her. The man was arrested for domestic assault and domestic aggravated criminal mischief for using a back-hoe to tear apart some of the residence. He was also charged with possession of a usable amount of marijuana.

Sgt. Alden Bustard, Trooper Greg Roy and Trooper Cliff Peterson responded to a domestic dispute at a residence on the Front Ridge Road in Penobscot. The caller's son and his wife had been arguing. Two other men became involved in the argument which escalated into a pushing and shoving match. The parties were separated and one of the males was given a ride to a friend's residence in Bucksport.

Trooper Cliff Peterson investigated a theft complaint in Dedham. The caller reported that a number of power tools had been taken from a residence under construction next to the golf course. The theft had occurred sometime between the evening of 02-22-10 and the morning of 02-23-10. The investigation continues.

February 24:

Trooper David Barnard responded to the Mitchell Road in Tremont for a family fight between two females. One of the women was warned not to have contact with the other.

Trooper Dan Ryan warned a man for trespassing in Stonington at the request of his mother. The man was intoxicated and having family issues.

Trooper Dan Ryan handled a harassment complaint in Brooklin where a woman reported that she received a letter in the mail from a man who currently has a protection order against her. The man was warned for harassment by Trooper Ryan.

Trooper Andy Foss handled a report of a theft in Marshfield where a passport and concealed weapons permit were reported stolen from a vehicle. It is unknown where the theft occurred and may have occurred in New York during the past two weeks.

February 25:

Trooper Barry Curtis worked a case in the town of Addison. A woman reported that she was receiving harassing phone calls.

February 26:

Sgt. Alden Bustard arrested a 19-year-old Steuben men for operating under the influence as the result of a traffic stop in Steuben. The man was also summonsed for illegal transportation of liquor by a minor. A 19-year-old passenger in the vehicle was also summonsed for illegal possession of liquor by a minor. The driver was transported to the Washington County jail where an intoxylizer test was administered.

Trooper Michael Southard was involved in a high speed pursuit which began on Route 1 in Harrington and continued through Addison village and onto Route 187 in Addison. Trooper Southard lost sight of the vehicle as it made a right turn onto a side road off Route 187. The vehicle was located next to a residence on Merchant Lane a short time later. The operator had fled on foot. Sgt. Bustard and canine "Zack" responded to the scene and began a track from the vehicle. The track led through a wooded area and back towards Route 187. The operator ran across Route 187 in front of Trooper Barry Curtis who was also patrolling the area in search of the operator. The operator gave up after running into a driveway and was taken into custody without further incident. The 24-year-old operator from Beals was charged with operating under the influence, eluding, criminal speeding and driving to endanger. Washington County Sheriff's Office also assisted at the scene.

Trooper David Barnard and Sgt. Tim Varney responded to a family fight in Hancock. A man and his girlfriend were arguing about money and the girlfriend's 17-year-old sister living with them.

February 27:

Trooper Greg Roy arrested a 30-year-old Franklin man for criminal speeding and driving to endanger in Franklin. The man was traveling 114 mph in a posted 45 mph zone and was transported to the Hancock County jail without incident.

Trooper Greg Roy was patrolling the Hancock area when he observed a male subject on the roof of Tideway Market at approximately 2300 hrs. It was determined that the subject was repairing shingles on the roof.

Trooper Barry Curtis and Sgt. Alden Bustard worked a case in the town of Jonesport. A man was asked to leave a residence after an argument.

Trooper Greg Mitchell received an assault complaint from an Ellsworth man. The incident revealed that the man and a co-worker went to an Orland residence to repossess a pick-up truck. The incident escalated until the resident pushed the man and was issued a summons for assault by Tpr. Greg Mitchell.

February 28:

Trooper Michael Southard and Trooper Greg Burns assisted Washington County Sgt. Randy Perry with a domestic dispute at a residence on the Kansas Road in Milbridge.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Friday, February 26, 2010

CAMPOBELLO - Island residents are hoping for some good news from the province next month on the proposal to establish a rural community on the island.

Last December, two open houses were held on the island to discuss the establishment of a rural community on Campobello.

Information kits about the proposal and a survey were also mailed to all island residents.

Bernard Leblanc, who was Local Government Minister at the time, said if the open houses and the survey demonstrated strong support for a rural community, a yes-or-no plebiscite would be held for those qualified to vote.

A 2008 survey revealed 63.9 per cent of Campobello residents felt a form of local or community government was needed.

In the spring of 2009, 50 island residents petitioned the minister to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a rural community.

Stephen Smart, who chairs the island's governance committee, said the group is optimistic about a decision they expect to come from the province by the end of March.

"We have met our requirements as a community and it is now in the hands of the provincial government. There was a mail-out survey and the results of that carry quite a lot of weight."

"Fifty per cent of the eligible voters participated and of that 50 per cent it was 90 per cent in favour," he said this week.

Smart said the province kept them updated as the numbers came in. Although the closing date for the survey was Jan. 31 he said they were told not to expect an official decision until the spring.

"Down here on the island we were getting rather impatient. We see ourselves in rather a bad spot and incorporation was a way to advance our situation to allow us to have funding and a voice that would be recognized. We wanted something done quickly after losing our bank and facing job loses as well as a downturn in tourism. Everything has hit us really hard."

"In order to prove to the province that we were not just 12 or 15 people we proposed the survey ourselves and the province said they would do it. We were going to go to the island in October and they said if we waited for a month they would do it."

The population of the island according to the latest census data is 1,056 but Smith estimated it is currently about 1,030 and 617 of those are eligible voters.

"That means (more than) 300 people responded to the survey so it was a good level of response," he said. "The island has made its decision and now we are waiting for the province to gets all its ducks in a row."

The rural community model, which has been available since 2005, is similar to a municipality � that is, an elected council. It is designed to give people in rural areas the means to carry out local area planning and to ensure that local services match their community's needs, wants and budgets.

It is a form of local government that provides communities with more control over their development and delivery of local services.

- THE SAINT CROIX COURIER -

Thursday, February 25, 2010

"Discussion and decision on the police department dispatch service" was an item on Thursday night's Calais city council agenda but there was no decision and the item was discussed during the budget workshop which immediately followed the city council meeting.

Despite budget shortfalls the city faces -- there is a concern for public safety.

Mayor Vinton Cassidy asked Calais Police Chief David Randall for his two cents.

[Police Chief David Randall -- WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

"I could stand here and give you a thousand reasons why getting rid of dispatch is going to be a problem but the biggest issue that I see for security is the times when we can't use the jail -- which it appears we're not going to be able to use it at all because we're going to have to have somebody on call and if an officer arrests somebody -- he's done. He's tied up, he can't go to any other calls," Randall explained.

The city police department has already lost their K-9 program, eliminating dispatch is on the table and there may be even more cuts waiting in the wings.

"I could probably cut back a patrolman. I wouldn't be happy about it," Randall said.

Councilor Joe Cassidy asked the police chief if a patrolman was laid off what ramifications would there be for public safety.

"We can still cover the shifts. It's going to happen. It wouldn't be good -- it would be hard, it would be more work on everybody and that's what happens when you start laying people off --- morale goes --- and once morale goes, standby. I think morale is pretty, well, pretty good at the moment."

City Councilor Marianne Moore asked about "only "55 911 calls transferred from the RCC."

"That's all?"

"The thing you have to understand is -- Calais, Maine is Calais, Maine. We have had bank robberies called in on the 2751 line. It used to be 2161 now it's 2752. You could have somebody being beaten up call that number not 911. If you do ever decide to get rid of dispatch that's the one thing that we're going to have to push is 911," Randall said.

Calais police dispatcher Marcia Hayward said each call is not classified an emergency.

"And they're not going to want to tie up a 911 line for somebody's dog running down Barker Street," she said.

City Councilor Michael Milburn was the city's police chief for fifteen years. He minced no words as he told the council, "You've got to understand what you're going to lose if you're going to do away with dispatch. You're going to lose the effectiveness of your police department, you're going to lose familiarity of the surroundings, the streets, the people, that the dispatchers are quite familiar with. Many grants that are written depend upon the dispatchers to give statistical information to write the grants."

[Councilors Michael Milburn, Joseph Cassidy and Chris Bernardini -- WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

Milburn then asked fire chief Dan Carlow if there was always somebody in the fire department 24-7?

"Not any more," Carlow said.

"Before we took over the ambulance there was. But since we've taken over the ambulance the fire drivers who used to give the station 24-7 now respond at night with the ambulance. They're part of the ambulance crew. So now we depend quite often on the dispatchers as being the only person in the station at night," Carlow said.

There was also some public comment in favor of keeping dispatch along with others telling the council not to increase the taxes.

"You can't afford to get rid of the dispatch," said Joan Demmons. "These people are there. Like everybody has said, they know who you are, they know where you live, and they care."

There was also a comment from Patrolman Bob Fitzsimmons.

If a patrolman position is cut -- it would be his.

[Patrolman Bob Fitzsimmons -- WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

"I've been here just over a year. I'm the low guy on the totem pole. I know where my feet are in this whole fight. You can't lose dispatch," he told the council.

"If it means that the low guy on the totem pole has got to go -- it's not fair to the folks that live in this town to remove that entity from this area."

"That's my safety and I know up here when I grab that mike that I'm going to get Marcia or one of the girls up there and they have a vested interest in me. They know me, they know my kids -- the same way they know all your families. They want to take care of you -- they're here for you --- you've got to be here for them."

To the city council, Fitzsimmons said, "You guys have got some hard decisions okay? If I come out on the losing end of it I'll work, I'll find another job, but you can't lose your dispatch."

Councilors have a lot of information to digest about whether or not to eliminate dispatch. If it has to go there is much to be done and the process will need to be started soon.

The Calais city council has scheduled another budget workshop for Tuesday March 2 at 6 PM.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Calais City Council may make a decision on the future of the police department's dispatch operation at their meeting Thursday night -- or maybe not.

But an amended council agenda has an added item under new business, "Discussion & Decision on Police Dept. Dispatch Service."

[LEFT- Calais Police dispatcher Deborah Kelly -- WQDY NEWS FILE PHOTO]

A city council meeting earlier this month was followed by a budget workshop where City Manager Diane Barnes painted a dire budget picture and outlined things the city may have to cut out or cut back. One of those items considered for elimination is local police dispatch. The police department has already eliminated their K-9 unit in anticipation of a bad budget year.

City council meetings begin at 6 PM and a budget workshop will also follow the Feb. 25 meeting.

Why is the item now on the regular city council agenda?

Barnes told WQDY NEWS, "that's on there in case the council wants to make a decision because a decision on something like that needs to be made during a regular council meeting. They can't make a decision like that in a budget workshop. That's why it's there. They'll have a discussion over it and then if they decide they want to act on it -- it's there so they can do it if they want to."

Why was the item was added?

Barnes said she had inadvertently left it off and then added it later.

"What I didn't want to happen is to get there and then go into a budget discussion and then have the council suspend the rules to make a decision on it. I felt that it needed to be out in the open that they may be making a decision on it and I didn't want to have them to have to suspend the rules on something as important as that."

"Once you put it on the agenda and post it at least all the media knows that there could be a decision on something like that. That doesn't mean there's going to be -- doesn't mean they're going to act on it -- but it's there on the agenda," Barnes said.

The overall budget process for the city continues to be an arduous one and there are still unknowns out there.

[RIGHT- Every little bit helps -- sign on the front door at Calais City Hall -- WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

"A lot of it isn't going to be decided until we know what's going to happen in Augusta -- what we're going to be faced with for revenue cuts from Augusta because they're still in session down there. We know what the proposal is from the governor right now but we don't know the Legislature going to act. We've got to make some substantial cuts but we're still not going to know what that final figure is going to be," Barnes said.

"I don't see [the city council] acting on the budget until later on but the thing with dispatch is that if they decide to eliminate it we need to start that process now not later."

The dispatch decision is on the agenda -- just in case.

"It's an important decision that the council is going to have to make and it's not going to be an easy decision," Barnes said.

"One way or the other -- whichever way they go with it -- there's going to be some unhappy people but they've just got to make the decision based on as much information as I can give them and I don't envy their decision at all."

"It's going to be tough but times are tough and these are the things we have to deal with because of the budget crisis that we're facing right now," Barnes said.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Monday, February 22, 2010

It may seem spring-like of late but it's still winter and motorists need to be alert for changeable road conditions that come with winter driving.

There were a couple of personal injury motor vehicle crashes Monday morning --one in Charlotte and the other in Waite.

Deputy Thomas Chambers of the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to both crashes.

He told WQDY NEWS that slush on the road was a factor.

"The warm weather caused some slush to build up and some towns actually got out and plowed the roads and got the slush off the roads and some didn't lay any salt or sand down people got sucked over into the slush."

Once that happens drivers get scared and over-correct and in both cases Monday were a result of the slush.

One motorist hit a utility pole on Route 1 in Waite and the other went into a snow bank on the Charlotte Road.

Both were single occupant, single vehicle crashes.

"Both were wearing seat belts, fortunately. Other than minor injuries, some head injuries, it certainly could have been much worse," Chambers said.

"We just want to remind people to keep their speed down and remember that going from town to town -- different towns have different budgets in what they allow for and in this particular case, when you went from Baring into Charlotte, right when you hit the Charlotte line, the roads had deteriorated drastically."

"It's still winter and people need to be careful going from point A to point B. Speeds did not appear to be a factor in either case [Monday], it was the road conditions. Just because the speed limit [on the Charlotte Road] is 45, it's posted 45, it doesn't mean you should be doing 45. Maybe you should be doing 30 and each person needs to be aware of that too," Chambers said.

Frost heaves on secondary roads can also add another element of surprise.

[Heave ho on the Charlotte Road - WQDY NEWS PHOTO]

Chambers also had one other reminder for motorists about what they should do when they see an emergency vehicle.

"If you see emergency vehicles either coming up behind you or going towards you -- you're still required by law to yield to the right side of the roadway and wait until the emergency vehicle passes. It doesn't matter whether or not it's coming up behind you or coming towards you," Chambers said.

Be careful out there.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -

Monday, February 22, 2010

More tales of woe and intrigue from the Troop J Weekly Report. Fleeing into the woods seems to be a recurring theme along with a baseball bat-wielding boyfriend, the importance of opening the garage door before backing out, a robbery, a drug transaction gone awry and a story of a man who was found passed out behind the wheel -- his awakening -- and his fleeing into the woods.

Here are some of the incidents handled by Maine State Police Troop J over the past week:

February 13:

Trooper Andy Foss arrested a 46-year-old man in Perry for operating under the influence of alcohol. Trooper Jason Fowler assisted.

Trooper Andy Foss handled a theft complaint in Northfield where prescription medications were reported stolen. A suspect is known. Investigation continues.

February 14:

Trooper Christopher Smith investigated a trespass by motor vehicle incident at the Bayview Cemetery in Franklin. As a result of the investigation Trooper Smith found that a 43-year-old female drove into the cemetery after dark to look at deer. In doing so the woman got her van stuck and left it there. The cemetery association towed the van before the woman returned any phone calls or notified the police.

February 15:

Trooper Greg Roy and Sgt. Alden Bustard responded to a domestic dispute at a residence on the Pyle Road in Otis. The caller reported that she and a 26-year-old man had been arguing because she refused to give him a ride to Ellsworth to meet a friend. They went outside and the man picked up a baseball bat and motioned as though he was going to hit her vehicle with it. The woman went back inside to get away from him. A few minutes later, the man came back inside and told her that she may want to take a look at her vehicle. At that point, the woman checked her vehicle and discovered that the passenger's side door had been damaged. The man was arrested for criminal mischief and taken to the Hancock County jail without incident.

Trooper Greg Roy arrested a 26-year-old man from Eastbrook on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Ellsworth District Court for failure to pay fines on a charge of operating after suspension.

Trooper Kimberly Sawyer responded to an assault in Alexander. The female victim did not want to press charges and left the property.

Trooper Christopher Smith investigated a theft that occurred in Township 8 on Fletcher's Landing. As a result, a 22-year-old woman was summonsed for theft by unauthorized taking and she returned the stolen furniture items to the residence. Trooper David Barnard assisted in the incident.

February 16:

Trooper Michael Southard responded to a camp burglary on Beddington Lake. The caller reported that his camp had been broken into sometime between February 9th and February 12th. A 32" flat screen television was taken from the camp. Evidence was collected and the investigation continues.

Trooper Michael Southard received a complaint from a woman reporting that a neighbor had called and told her that two young females had taken something from her property on the Sacarap Road in Harrington. The neighbor also reported that a shed door appeared to have been pried open. The investigation disclosed that a teenage girl had been walking her dog in the area. The dog managed to escape from its owner's custody and began chasing a stray cat on the property. The girl retrieved her dog and left the area. It was undetermined whether the dog had caught up with the cat before it was taken back into custody.

Trooper Greg Roy responded to a domestic dispute at a residence in Hancock. The male caller reported that his 35-year-old girlfriend was intoxicated and had tried to leave with her children. She failed to open the garage door as she was leaving and backed her vehicle through the door. The woman then took her 3-year-old child and fled into the woods where she stayed with the child for over an hour in freezing temperatures. The woman contacted the child's biological father and arrangements were made to meet with him to turn over the child to him. She was eventually located and taken into custody without further incident. Her charges included OUI, criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child. DHS was also notified of the incident. The Hancock Sheriff's Office also assisted at the scene.

Trooper Jessica Shorey responded to Trenton assist Hancock Sheriff's Office with a family fight complaint involving a 22-year-old woman. Upon arrival it was found that the woman had fled on foot into a wooded area. Trooper Shorey and her K-9 tracked down the fleeing woman and placed her under arrest for having an active arrest warrant. Trooper Ryan also assisted.

Trooper Jessica Shorey handled a criminal mischief complaint in Hancock where windows were reported broken at a work site.

February 17:

Trooper Dan Ryan handled a theft complaint in Trenton where a lobster was reported stolen from the Trenton Marketplace. A suspect vehicle is known and the investigation continues.

Trooper Jessica Shorey attended a neighborhood watch meeting in Franklin and answered questions about neighborhood safety.

Trooper Greg Roy summonsed a 50-year-old man from Surry for improper attachment of registration plates as the result of a traffic stop in Otis.

February 18:

Trooper Dave Barnard stopped a vehicle having no trailer lights on Route 1 in Bucksport. The 20-year-old operator of Manchester Maine, was summonsed for attaching a false plate to the trailer.

Trooper Greg Mitchell received a neighbor hood dispute / ATV on a public way complaint from Verona. The callers were very concerned about a neighbor who was driving a four-wheeler recklessly on the public way near their residence. The four-wheeler had a very loud exhaust that was disruptive. After investigating, Trooper Mitchell warned a young man for operating an ATV on a public way.

Trooper Jessica Shorey received a fraud complaint in Sullivan where a woman reportedly sent money to help someone that called her asking for money. She did ask the bank to put a stop payment on her check after realizing this was a fraud. It is unknown at this time whether or not the check was stopped before being cashed. The investigation continues.

Trooper Jessica Shorey received a fraud complaint in Franklin where a woman reported that her daughter obtained credit cards in her name and ran up bills around $40,000. This case was given to Trooper Tom Pickering for follow up as the Troop Investigator.

Trooper Jessica Shorey received an assault complaint in Sullivan where a woman reported that another woman hit her in the face with a phone. The caller advised Trooper Shorey that she did not wish to pursue criminal charges and just wanted to speak with a trooper about the incident.

February 19:

Trooper Kimberly Sawyer responded to Princeton for a criminal mischief complaint. A woman reported that a 21-year-old male of Baileyville threw a beer through her second floor apartment window. She did not want to press charges.

Trooper Dave Barnard and Trooper Chris Smith assisted Gouldsboro Police on West Bay Road in Gouldsboro with a disorderly 19-year-old male. He was at his father's residence and was arrested by Gouldsboro Police.

Trooper Miles Carpenter assisted the Washington County Sheriff's Office with a family fight complaint in Jonesport.

Trooper Miles Carpenter assisted the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Harrington by transporting a prisoner to the Washington County Jail.

Trooper Jessica Shorey handled a theft complaint in Dedham where prescription medications were stolen from a mailbox. The victim was advised to report this to the US Postal Inspector. Investigation continues.

Trooper Jason Fowler summonsed a 47-year-old man from Quebec, Canada in Calais for a commercial rule violation of operating with an intoxicating beverage (Class E) and placed him out of service for 24 hours.

February 20:

Trooper Michael Southard arrested a 49-year-old Machiasport man for operating under the influence as the result of a traffic stop in Columbia. He was transported to the Washington County jail in Machias. The man was uncooperative and refused a chemical test.

Trooper Michael Southard responded to a domestic dispute at residence in Addison. The caller was intoxicated and became upset because her boyfriend would not take her to the bar. There was no evidence of a crime being committed and the man agreed to stay with a friend for the night.

Trooper Greg Roy and Sgt. Tim Varney responded to a report of a robbery that occurred near the Trenton Airport. The investigation disclosed that a man and his girlfriend had gone to the boat landing next to the airport to meet with a 25-year-old man from Bar Harbor in reference to a drug transaction. The male victim alleged that the man threw him to the ground and took several hundred of dollars from his wallet. The male victim also alleged that the 25-year-old punched his girlfriend in the nose before fleeing from the scene. Police located the man the following day and placed him under arrest for robbery, theft by unlawful taking or transfer, assault and operating after habitual offender revocation.

Trooper Michael Southard received a criminal mischief complaint from a woman who reported that a man she knew had assaulted her at the bar. When the victim returned home, she discovered two tires on her vehicle had been slashed. The investigation continues.

Trooper Cliff Peterson, Trooper Greg Roy and Sgt. Tim Varney assisted Ellsworth Police with an underage drinking party.

Trooper Cliff Peterson received a threatening complaint from a man in Franklin. The caller reported that another man had called him and stated that he had a gun and enough ammunition to take care of him. The caller did not want to pursue charges but wanted the mane warned not to have any further contact with him. Trooper Peterson warned the man the following day not to have any further contact with the caller.

Sgt. Tim Varney arrested a 45-year-old Bradford man for operating after Habitual Offender revocation, 3rd offense. A passing Calais ambulance had stopped to wake the man who was passed out behind the wheel on Route 9 in Township 31. Now awake, the man got out of his vehicle and fled into the woods. He was finally located about 8 hours later after having been tracked by Warden Carter and his K-9. Sgt. Varney was assisted by Trooper Kimberly Sawyer, Game Wardens and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Trooper Greg Mitchell responded to a family fight that had occurred at a residence in Franklin. The investigation revealed that the fight was about when to give prescribed medication. The incident did not result in criminal charges.

Trooper Christopher Smith investigated a burglary that occurred on Beals Island. The caller returned home to find $150.00 cash taken from an envelope which had been located inside of a jewelry cabinet. Of the numerous valuable items in the residence no thing else was taken. Evidence was recovered at the scene and investigation is ongoing. Trooper Chris Smith developed a possible suspect -- a 33-year-old man who lives next door. The man was located, arrested and charged with Class C burglary and class E theft. He was transported to the Washington County Jail.

Trooper Christopher Smith summonsed an 18-year-old Milbridge man for operating without a license in Gouldsboro. The man was operating a motorcycle on Route 1 and also received traffic summonses for speeding and insurance.

February 21:

Trooper Kimberly Sawyer summonsed a 28-year-old woman for operating without a license -- it expired 1/19/09 -- after a traffic stop on Route 9 in Baileyville.

- Tom McLaughlin, WQDY-WALZ News Director -