Plan to replace aging postal truck fleet delayed by lawsuit
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Postal Service’s aging fleet of trucks is soldiering on even as a contract for greener replacement vehicles is being challenged. The primary fleet of vehicles that were delivered starting in 1987 is due to be replaced under a new contract, but the winning bid is being challenged. That means the delivery of new trucks set for late 2023 could be further delayed. Workers don’t really care which model they get. They just want something that’s safe. The current vehicles are catching fire at an alarming rate, they lack adequate heating and cooling, they deliver poor fuel economy and they’re becoming difficult to maintain.
Another Maine hospital to limit visitation as COVID-19 grows
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Another Maine hospital has decided to limit visitations as cases of COVID-19 continue to grow in the state. Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland said it will limit visitations for adult inpatients to one visitor daily between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The changes were set to go into effect on Wednesday. The hospital said in a statement that there is no limit to the length of the visits, and the rest of the visitation policy remains the same. Maine Medical Center in Portland announced a few days previously that it would limit visitation to one visitor daily starting on Monday.
HERMIT EVICTED
‘River Dave’ doesn’t think he can go back to being a hermit
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — An off-the-grid New Hampshire hermit known as “River Dave” says he doesn’t think he can return to his lifestyle. His cabin in the woods burned down last week after nearly three decades on property that he was ordered to leave. Eighty-one-year-old David Lidstone told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he doesn’t think he can go back to being a hermit because society is not going to allow it. Lidstone said even if he could rebuild his cabin, he’d be getting visitors every weekend. He says he’s hidden too many years and built relationships that continue to expand.
TRIBAL LAND
Maine plans to transfer parcel of land back to Passamaquoddy
MEDDYBEMPS, Maine (AP) — The state of Maine plans to transfer ownership of a culturally significant parcel of land back to the Passamaquoddy tribe. The land is a 3.2-acre waterfront parcel located in the Washington County town of Meddybemps. Members of the tribe refer to the land as N’tolonapemk, which means “our relatives’ place.” Rena Newell of Sipayik, the state representative for the Passamaquoddy tribe, led a ceremony commemorating the return of the land to the tribe earlier this month.
UNION WORKERS AGREEMENT
Union reaches agreement with Consolidated Communications
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A day after 1,000 union workers for Consolidated Communications workers threatened to strike, the company, its workers and members of union members has announced an early agreement. The News Center Maine reports the current contract was set to expire on Saturday, but it had been extended as negotiations continued into the next day. The union says that it reached an improved preliminary contract. According to the news station, 450 workers are in Maine and the rest are in New Hampshire and Vermont.
COLD CASE-MURDER
Police in Maine serve warrant in 10-year-old killing
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Police in Maine say a man has been arrested in a decade-old killing in Portland. The warrant stemmed from the 2011 death of 41-year-old Allen MacLean, of South Portland, who was shot and killed in the city. Police said Monday they recently presented evidence in the case to the Maine attorney general’s office and a grand jury. Police served the arrest warrant Friday to Abdi Awad, who is in custody at Maine State Prison in Warren. They said he will remain in custody until he is arraigned.
FATAL FIRE-MAINE
Accidental house fire kills Maine man, 57
LISBON, Maine (AP) — Police in Maine say an accidental house fire in Lisbon killed a 57-year-old man over the weekend. The Maine Department of Public Safety says Michael Dagneau, who lived at the residence, died in the fire. The department says the blaze happened in the early morning hours of Saturday and drew responders from three fire departments. Firefighters found Dagneau’s body after extinguishing the fire. The department said Dagneau was transported to a local funeral home to be examined by the state medical examiner’s office. Police have described the fire as accidental but have not provided other details.