Boater’s body recovered; brother still missing
MILBRIDGE —Two fishermen and brothers apparently drowned off Bois Bubert Island last week. Thursday afternoon, only one of the men had been found.
Maine Marine Patrol Lt. Alan Talbot said Thursday that searchers recovered the body of Jack Jellison, 43, of Milbridge on Wednesday. His body was taken to the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta. Still missing was his brother, Alton Jellison, 44, also of Milbridge.
The two brothers, both lobstermen and clam diggers, were seen the morning of April 10 when they set off in their lobster boat down the Narraguagus River bound for Little Bois Bubert Harbor at the southwestern tip of the island.
Talbot said Jack Jellison’s wife reported the men missing Wednesday morning.
A search was begun by fishermen from the area. Once authorities were notified, they began a full-scale search involving the Marine Patrol, Coast Guard aircraft and local units, and wardens from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Jack Jellison’s remains were found by a local fisherman, Sheldon Dorr.
Talbot said the brothers regularly made visits of several days to a cabin or fishing camp they owned that was built on a float in Little Bois Bubert Harbor.
Searchers found their boat still moored when they arrived at the site, but the wreckage of their skiff was found on the beach.
–The Ellsworth American.
DAMARISCOTTA
Warm weather lures alewives to area ahead of schedule
At least three large schools of alewives have been spotted in the Great Salt Bay, and as many as a dozen fish were seen climbing the Damariscotta Fish Ladder last weekend.
Stan Waltz, the fish warden for the ladder, said a group of alewives were seen in the upper pools last weekend. The annual run of alewives is early this year because of warm spring temperatures.
Last year, an estimated 400,000 alewives climbed the newly restored fish ladder in Damariscotta Mills as they headed into the lake for their annual spawning run.
After the fish spawn, they swim back downstream, where many are harvested using a pair of mechanical hoppers. Lobster fishermen say they are prime bait.
– The Lincoln County News
http://lincolncountynewsonline.com
BAR HARBOR
Top park official praises proposal to rebuild Route 3
Strong support for the proposed reconstruction of Route 3 was offered recently by Acadia National Park Superintendent Sheridan Steele.
In an April 2 letter to Maine Transportation Commissioner David Cole, Steele praised the project, which would rebuild 4.5 miles of Route 3. He also offered the park’s assistance with and cooperation on the matter.
“The importance of this section of Route 3 cannot be overstated. Route 3 is the primary access road to downtown Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, which receives approximately 2.3 million visits annually,” Steele wrote.
The road also serves College of the Atlantic, three Island Explorer bus routes, an international ferry terminal and a business district with 600 lodging rooms, Steele said.
The park is interested in adding to the project the improvement of the Route 3 entrance to the Hulls Cove visitor center and Park Loop Road, he said.
MDOT officials announced April 6 that they had initiated planning for the reconstruction of Route 3. Earlier this year, town officials applied with Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and with Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud for a federal earmark of $3.6 million to rebuild .85 miles of Route 3, from the ferry terminal to downtown. The total cost of rebuilding all 4.5 miles of Route 3 from Ireson Hill to downtown is estimated at $10 million.
– Mount Desert Islander
EASTPORT
School Committee discussion addresses possibility of cuts
Possible cuts in the Eastport school system because of a significant drop in revenue led to a healthy turnout of school staff, city councilors and budget committee members at the April 6 Eastport School Committee meeting.
Superintendent Terry Lux said the loss in revenue this year, from both state subsidy cuts and the reduction in tuition revenue, is more than $400,000, The following year, with the end of federal stimulus monies, the losses that school systems will see in federal and state funding will be even greater.
About possible cuts, she said, “It’s deep, it’s wide, it’s your friends and colleagues.” But, she added, “Our main objective is to not damage the education of students of this union.”
Eastport is part of School Union 104, which also includes Charlotte, Dennysville, Pembroke and Perry.
Concerned about possible cuts in staffing, staff members gave a presentation about programs at the Eastport schools.
Teacher Trudy Newcomb said potential cuts are being considered without requesting input from teachers.
She said she was concerned that, with pressure from local taxpayers and the effects of school consolidation, the school system’s mission to educate students may be forgotten by the school board.
– The Quoddy Tides
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