Man dies after going into burning house to save dog
ORLAND, Maine (AP) — Investigators say a Maine man died when he returned to a burning house to get his dog.
Maine Public Safety Department spokesman Steve McCausland says the man escaped with his family before going back inside Monday evening in the town of Orland. Firefighters recovered the body of 40-year-old Sam Crawford hours later, after the fire was extinguished.
Two other adults and two children escaped the fire uninjured.
Investigators say the fire was caused by a space heater in the garage. They say Crawford moved a skidder, a vehicle used in logging, to safety before telling others he was going back to look for his dog.
The home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. Firefighters had to use tanker trucks to haul water to the rural site.
Maine basket maker wins prestigious $50,000 fellowship
ORONO, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who is part of a long tradition of basket makers in a native American tribe has received a prestigious fellowship and its $50,000 award.
Thirty-eight-year-old Gabriel Frey is a Passamaquoddy basket maker from Orono known for adding flourishes of color and other notes of personal expressions to traditional Indian work baskets. The Portland Press Herald reports he is the latest artist from Maine to win a United States Artists fellowship for his work.
The cash prize is unrestricted, which means Frey can use the money as he wishes. Frey says he works as a massage therapist and makes baskets on his own time, so the money is life-changing.
Frey says he will have more flexibility to buy materials like leather to use in his basketwork.
Spring-like weather gives way to wintry mix in New England
By The Associated Press
The spring-like weather in northern New England is fleeting.
A day after temperatures soared close to 60 degrees, the mercury will struggle to reach freezing on Wednesday. And there’s a possibility of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow Wednesday night.
James Brown from the National Weather Service said there’s a bit of a yo-yo with temperatures. He said it will warm up again later in the week before normal winter temperatures return this weekend.
Maine Senate confirms 5 more of governor’s nominees
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers have confirmed five of the new governor’s remaining cabinet nominees.
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ picks to lead the state’s health and human services, public safety, corrections, education, and financial and professional regulation agencies.
Four confirmed nominees received unanimous support in the Senate and from legislative committees. That includes Acting Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew, who’s helping Maine roll-out of voter-approved Medicaid expansion.
The Senate voted 21-13 to confirm Michael Sauschuck for public safety commissioner. The Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 8-5 Friday to recommend Sauschuck, who faced criticism from gun rights groups.
Legislative committee recommendations are final unless overridden by two-thirds of senators.
A legislative committee on Feb. 14 is set to consider Mills’ nomination for agriculture commissioner.
Park reports delays in hiring due to government shutdown
BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — Maine’s Acadia National Park says it is struggling to fill summer jobs due to the federal government shutdown.
The Bangor Daily News reports park officials said Monday they are behind schedule in hiring more than 100 seasonal workers who help make sure the park’s facilities are open by mid-April.
Acadia superintendent Kevin Schneider says he has authorized supervisors to work overtime on weekends to help catch up.
The park remained open to the public during the shutdown, but public restrooms were unavailable and there was no trash collection.
The 35-day shutdown ended Jan. 26 with a temporary agreement that provides full funding through Feb. 15.
Park spokeswoman Christie Anastasia says the possibility of another shutdown has officials “holding our breath.”
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