Death of solid waste worker by trash truck investigated
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Officials in Portland, Maine, are investigating how a city maintenance worker was struck and killed by the trash truck he had gotten out of.
The city says 46-year-old Martin Dinh, of South Portland, was near the end of his shift on Sunday. Officials say Dinh’s body was found about three hours later by someone who came to the public works facility to load materials.
The city says state police were called in to examine the vehicle and city police reconstructed the scene to try to determine a cause. The medical examiner’s office and Labor Department were also notified.
Dinh was a maintenance worker for the public work’s department’s solid waste division. The city hired him Aug. 20, 2018.
Maine ag commissioner let down by USDA’s blueberry aid snub
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s agriculture commissioner says it’s “highly disappointing” the federal government won’t include the state’s blueberry growers in a program designed to provide payments to farmers hurt by trade disruption.
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal says the agency will keep pushing for the inclusion of Maine wild blueberry growers in future payment programs aimed at offsetting such disruptions.
Beal had called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to include wild blueberries in its Market Facilitation Program. That program’s set to provide aid to growers hurt by foreign trade retaliation. The U.S. is currently embroiled in trade hostility with China.
The USDA said Maine’s blueberry industry is helped by other assistance programs. Beal says the problem is those programs don’t provide help directly to the farmers themselves.
Police: Someone left meth near store’s toy section
MADAWASKA, Maine (AP) — Police are investigating the discovery of a bag of methamphetamine in the toy section of a store in northern Maine.
The Madawaska Police Department says the bag had smiley faces on it.
It was found by an employee at Family Dollar Store and turned over to police Sunday. Police tested the substance and determined it was methamphetamine.
The police department said in a post on social media that the incident showed “a complete selfish and calloused behavior toward the safety of our children.”
A meth overdose can be fatal. The Maine Department of Public Safety says there were 26 meth-related deaths last year in the state.
Medical examiner soon to release how man found in cove died
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maine says it should be able to release a cause of death soon in the case of a body found in Greenland Cove near Bremen.
The Maine Marine Patrol announced the discovery of the body of a man on Monday. A spokesman for the medical examiner’s office says a report about the man’s cause of death will likely be available on Tuesday afternoon.
The marine patrol had been searching since Aug. 12 for 63-year-old Glenn Murdoch of Bremen. That search focused on Round Pond Harbor, which is almost two nautical miles south of where the body was located Monday.
Murdoch was reported missing on Aug. 12 after his skiff was found adrift in the harbor where his boat was moored.
Belfast startup buys idled paper mill
MADISON, Maine (AP) — A Belfast startup says it has bought the former Madison Paper Industries mill.
The Bangor Daily News reports that building products manufacturing startup GO Lab indicated the deal was worth $1.9 million. The company plans to make wood fiber insulation from softwood chips.
Josh Henry, president of GO Lab, says the insulation will be environmentally friendly. He said most conventional insulation products are made with fossil fuels.
The mill, which is 550,000 square feet, was purchased from New Mill Capital Holdings, a partnership that bought it in December 2017. The mill closed in May 2016, when more than 200 workers lost their jobs.
Portland Sea Dogs welcome 10 millionth fan through gates
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Portland Sea Dogs have welcomed 10 million fans through their turnstiles.
Maine’s minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, reached the attendance milestone in a Monday night game at Hadlock Field in Portland. The franchise says the fan to set the record was Tabitha Berube of Gray, who was at the game with family.
The Sea Dogs are nearing the end of their 26th season. They’ve been affiliated with the Red Sox since 2003. The team is averaging 5,549 fans per game this season.
The Sea Dogs say they gave Berube a prize package including 2020 season tickets. Berube’s son Jackson also got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the game.
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