News

Sex Offender List Expands
From: Stephen McCausland
Maine Department Of Public Safety

State Police say the number of Maine's registered sex offenders will increase by more than 30 per cent following recent changes enacted during the last Legislative session. The law change that went into effect September 17 requires those convicted after January 1, 1982 for a number of offenses to now register. Previously the cutoff date to be included as a registered Maine sex offender was June 30, 1992.

State Police Lt. Thomas Kelly, who oversees the State Bureau of Identification, said there are currently 1687 persons on Maine's sex offender registry and that his division has already identified 584 more that will be added to the list as a result of the law change. Kelly said that number will increase as older criminal history data is converted from paper to electronic records. The recent change also affects those that have been convicted out of state, but now live, work, or attend school in Maine.

Kelly said State Police have begun mailing letters this week to notify the 584 new names that they need to register. The letters will be sent to the person's last known address.Those required to register and fail do so are subject to a class D misdemeanor crime. Two such violations increase the penalty to a class C felony, with a third violation to a class B felony. More information is available from the Maine State Bureau of Identification, State House Station #42, Augusta, Maine 04333 or by calling (207) 624-7270. The web site for Maine's sex offender registry is www.informe.org/sor

Registered sex offenders in Gray, as of 9/27/05, from http://www.informe.org/sor

Allen, Thomas, DOB: 03/07/1962, Address last verified on: 12/20/2004
Davis, Robert, DOB: 03/18/1960, Address last verified on: 02/15/2005
Decker, Matthew, 05/06/1978: Address last verified on: 07/16/2005
Mason, Thomas, DOB: 7/14/1949, Address last verified on: 08/09/2005
Poulin, Michael, DOB: 04/06/1950, Address last verified on: 07/11/2005
Vallee, Rene, DOB: 06/23/1967, Address last verified on: 08/19/2005
Young, Douglas, DOB: 11/22/1958, Address last verified on: 06/05/2005

Registered sex offenders New Gloucester
Coombs, John, DOB: 11/06/1952, Address last verified on: 12/28/2004
Hale II, Roland, DOB: 05/21/1976, Address last verified on: 11/15/2004
Morris, Dwayne, DOB: 0/17/1963, Address last verified on: 07/21/2005
Spaulding, Roland, DOB: 02/08, Address last verified on: 05/16/2005

Hall quits Trustees

Appointed last week to an alternate position on the Gray Library Trustees Committee, Richard Hall has since declined to accept it.

At the Council meeting last Tuesday, September 20, the Council interviewed two applicants for open positions on the Library Committee as Trustees. One was a regular, voting seat an the other was a non-voting alternate seat. In his application and at the interview, Mr. Hall had said that he was interested in being a Library Trustee because of his prior involvement with the Library as former Councilor-liaison. He wrote that his reason for choosing the board ws his "willingness to promote and provide assistance for Library business, and that he would contribute "hard work and dedication."

Several days after the Council vote placing applicant Joyce Burrow on the regular position and Mr. Hall to the alternate position, Mr. Hall wrote that "I did not apply for the Alternate position," therefore "I will not be serving in the Alternate capacity."

Mr. Hall did tell Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz that he has accepted a Director nomination for the Gray Public Library Association. (GPLA)
The GPLA is a non-profit corporation that was recently formed to help the Library in its fundraising. When the SAD indicated that they may want to offer the trusteeship of the Pennell lands and building trust to the GPLA, and when the GPLA indicated that they may want to lease the building back to the Town so the Library could occupy the currently empty building, the Council became concerned that there was an issue of incompatibility. Several Trustees are also Directors in the GPLA. They would be occupying a position of service to the Council as Trustees, but also acting as landlord to the Council at the same time.

During the Coucnil meeting when the Council interviewed candidates for the various committee postions, Councilor John Welch asked Mr. Hall how he would deal with a conflict between his role as potential Library Trustee and a role on the GPLA. Mr. Hall responded that "Any remote smattering should be avoided. Even if you yourself do not see it that way, you should remove yourself so the two roles are not compromised."

Since Mr. Hall has declined his position on the Library Trustees, the Council will again be looking for volunteers to serve.

Found: Maine's Best Lobster Roll
At Bob's Seafood in Windham

Bob's Seafood in Windham has been named as the best place in Maine to get a lobster roll. The Maine Lobster Promotion Council was inundated with votes from the public in response to their search for this year's best lobster roll and Bob's Seafood came in as the favorite. The very close runner up was last year's winner, Castine Variety.

Bob's Seafood is "The Total Seafood Market" and is owned and operated by Bob and Paula Coppersmith and Tim and Dianne Mathieu. Tim Mathieu said: "We're delighted to be named as the place that serves the best lobster roll and the customers that we've told so far are equally thrilled for us. Our gourmet lobster roll is filled with 1/4 pound of freshly picked knuckle and claw meat and a little mayonnaise. We keep it so simple because that's the way our customers like it."

The entry cards nominating Bob's Seafood raved about their lobster rolls: "Lots of good fresh meat"... "they have the best lobster rolls and customer service"… "the meat is so fresh and they are always stuffed"… "they have just the right amount of dressing and flavor"…and "the roll is full of delicious sweet meat cooked to perfection."

Kristen Millar, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council, said: "We wanted to add a little excitement to the Maine lobster experience and give the public an opportunity to share their favorite lobster roll with the world and they did! We were overwhelmed with entries over the summer, which reconfirmed to us that Maine is filled with great places to get a lobster roll."

Booby Trapped Marijuana Plot

Stephen McCausland, The Maine Department of Public Safety
On behalf of MDEA Director Roy E. McKinney, Division Commander Darrell O. Crandall reports that MDEA Agents escape serious injury in "booby trapped" marijuana patch.

On Friday, September 23, 2005 Special Agents of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) were searching for growing marijuana in Hancock County. From an aircraft, agents located a grow site near a stream in Franklin. Additional agents went to the area on foot with the intent to locate and seize the plants. As agents neared the plants, they encountered several variations of "booby traps." One agent was slightly injured when he stepped on a sharp object that had been intentionally buried beneath the surface of the ground. Agents then encountered "trip wires," and immediately backed out of the area.

Members of the State Police Bomb Team were called in to inspect the area for explosives. They determined the trip wires were not connected to explosives, but were intended to trip people, causing them to fall on sharp objects protruding from the ground. From this area, agents seized forty-seven (47) mature marijuana plants. MDEA Agents located a nearby cabin they determined to be associated with the marijuana, and obtained a search warrant. Inside, the agents located drying marijuana, processed marijuana and several firearms. As this search was underway the owner, 52-year-old Jan Michael Ryan, returned home. He was taken into custody and charged with Aggravated Cultivation of Marijuana. He posted bail and will make an initial appearance in Ellsworth District Court on December 6, 2005.
The Hancock County Sheriff's Office and Ellsworth Police assisted MDEA with this operation.

Fall Lamb and Goat Auction Announced

CORINTH, Me. -Tilton's Auction Facility on Puddledock Road in Corinth will host a lamb and goat auction at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 29. Corinth is about 30 minutes from Bangor on Route 15. Staff from UMaine Cooperative Extension will be on hand with educational displays and printed materials on goat and lamb production. This auction is an opportune time to sell livestock.

A team from the University of Maine, the USDA and the Maine Department of Agriculture has been working to improve the market for Maine-raised goats and lambs. Local auctions such as the one planned at Tilton's are one of the positive outcomes of this effort. These auctions connect Maine producers of goats and lambs with traditional livestock buyers as well as new buyers from Maine's growing ethnic communities. There is typically a high demand for lambs and goats for ethnic religious observances. High-quality lambs and goats can bring a premium price. If you have lambs or goats to sell, or you would like more information about this special auction, please call the Piscataquis County office of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension at 1-800-287-1491.

Maine College Democrats present 'All Day with Al Franken'

Please Join Al Franken and Governor Baldacci for an exciting show and reception at Bowdoin or Bates College, October 1st , RSVP at www.mainecollegedems.com/alfranken

Bowdoin Events:

Show at Morrell Gym, Bowdoin College 8pm, October 1st, Reception at Brunswick, 5 Locust Lane 9pm, October 1st. Bates Events: Reception at Bates College 4pm, October 1st, Show at Bates 6pm, October 1st (sold out, except for VIP tickets that come with attending the reception).
To benefit the Maine College Democrats, Named 2005 "State Federation of the Year" by the College Democrats of America. For our Second annual Convention (open to everyone):

The Maine College Democrats (MCD's) will hold their second annual state convention at Bowdoin College from September 30 to October 2.

http://www.mainecollegedems.com/ . Food and housing are provided.
Friday includes a Maine Won't Discriminate Rally, and prominent Maine politicians, including the Senate President, Majority Leader, Chair of the Party and prominent Legislatures. Saturday includes trainings, community service, Congressman Tom Allen, Governor Baldacci and Al Franken.