Two Perry men, including a town selectman, arrested on arson charges

Submitted by Around Town Web... on Saturday, October 10th, 11:31 am

PERRY, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - Two men, including a town selectmen, were arrested Friday on arson charges.

The Maine State Fire Marshal's Office arrested Town of Perry Selectmen Scott A. MacNichol, and Jeffrey Morrison on arson, perjury and insurance fraud charges.

The two Washington County men were charged in connection with a house fire in the town last year, said Steve McCausland, Maine Public Safety Spokesperson.

Fire Marshal investigators said the case began following a fire on April 26, 2014, that destroyed a vacant single family home belonging to Morrison on Lake Road in Perry. Officials allege the house was burned to collect insurance proceeds.

McCausland said the case was presented to Washington County District Attorney, Matt Foster, who approved the charges and the arrests of both men.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Arrest made in connection with Eastport death

Submitted by Around Town Web... on Friday, September 18th, 1:30 pm

EASTPORT, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - A man has been arrested in connection with the suspicious death of 75-year-old Maurice Harris, said Steve McCaulsland, State of Maine Public Safety Spokesperson.

Hazen McDugald of Eastport will be in court Friday afternoon facing aggravated assault and violation of bail charges.

McCausland confirmed these charges are connected to Harris' death.

According to police, the body of 75-year-old Maurice Harris by was found inside a house on Clark Street about 10 p.m. Thursday September 10th by Eastport Police, who had been called to the home to check on the person living there.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Acadia National Park car-free Saturday morning September 26

Submitted by Around Town Web... on Thursday, September 17th, 8:42 pm

MOUNT DESERT, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - If you're planning a visit to Acadia next weekend, leave your car at home!

Acadia National Park is having a car-free morning that will go into effect from midnight Saturday, September 26 until noon. At that time about 25 of the 27 miles of the park loop road will be closed to cars.

The Island Explorer along with some tour buses will still be running. Park-goers will be able to walk, bicycle and even skateboard without a lot of traffic.

The park service is in the process of conducting a transportation plan to reduce congestion while improving the visitor experience.

View Comments | Post a Comment

King wants National Park contract process reform

Submitted by Around Town Web... on Thursday, June 11th, 6:32 pm

BAR HARBOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Senators Angus King and Susan Collins are continuing to fight the National Park Service over the way it awards contracts to companies providing concession services inside national parks.

The issue became hearted last year when the park service selected a New Mexico based corporation over a Maine company to operate the Acadia National Park concessions, including three gift shops and the restaurant at Jordan Pond House.

Acadia Corporation had been operating those concessions for 80 years before losing the bid last year. Dawnland LLC, a New Mexico based company, signed a 10-year contract with the park service.

Sen. King believes the bidding process is flawed because they didn't factor in the $3 million impact to the local economy. He said they're not holding the company accountable for what it promises in the bidding process.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Anonymous donor saves Ellsworth free clinic

Submitted by Around Town Web... on Tuesday, June 2nd, 7:14 pm

ELLSWORTH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- An anonymous donor has stepped forward to help keep the Ellsworth Free Medical Clinic open.

Just a month ago, the clinic thought it might have to close in August due to lack of funds. This week, the clinic received a grant of $25,000, which is enough to keep its doors open until at least the end of the year, according to staff.

The Maine Community Foundation organized the grant, but the source of the money remains a secret, even to the clinic's staff.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Bar Harbor could break cruise ship visit record

Submitted by Around Town Web... on Friday, May 29th, 7:42 pm

BAR HARBOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- May is the unofficial start of cruise ship season.

A handful of the vessels bringing tourists from all over the world have already docked at Maine ports. Bar Harbor could even set a record for the number of cruise ship passengers expected to visit this year.

If there are few changes to the 2015 schedule, 170,000 people from the ships could visit the town.The largest of the cruise ships set to dock this year, Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas carries over 3600 passengers.

According to Cruise Maine, cruise ships brought roughly $45 million to Maine's economy in 2013.

Not every business gets an equal share of visitors when the passengers get here though.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Eastport-Deer Island Ferry won't run this summer

Submitted by Around Town Web... on Thursday, May 21st, 7:04 pm

EASTPORT, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A summer tradition in Eastport will be taking a vacation of its own this year.

The seasonal ferry between Eastport and Deer Island, New Brunswick won't be running.

According to the Eastport Port Authority, the Canadian company that runs the ferry got an offer from the province to operate another ferry route in New Brunswick.

Although the number of passengers on the ferry dropped significantly after 9/11 when passports were needed to go to Canada, it's still a local tradition.

View Comments | Post a Comment