On this date in Maine history: Oct. 10

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 10, 2020

Oct. 10, 1980: President Jimmy Carter signs the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, ending 1976 lawsuits by the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes, in which they claimed about 12.5 million acres of Maine, or two-thirds of the state’s territory. Oct. 10, 2019: The 164-acre Howard Hill Historical Park, which includes two scenic overlooks providing views of the State House complex, is dedicated in Augusta. The Kennebec Land Trust, using a mix of private and public money bought the land and transferred the title to the city. The trust retains a conservation easement to the park. Gov. Paul LePage criticized the project repeatedly, as well as Maine land conservation programs generally, and he delayed the sale of bonds to finance the Land for Maine’s Future program.

Opinion: Susan Collins is fighting climate change and growing clean energy jobs

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 10, 2020

We need all hands on deck to help return America to the prosperity it enjoyed prior to the COVID-19 economic shutdown, and as Maine’s senior U.S. senator, Susan Collins has spearheaded that effort with the added benefit of helping protect our climate. ~ Rep. Dick Campbell (R), Orrington

Letter: Collins and conservation

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 10, 2020

This week, the League of Conservation Voters from Washington, D.C., announced an $800,000 buy of ads and mailings to defeat Sen. Susan Collins. This is an example of how feckless and partisan national environmental groups are today. I moved to Maine in 1996 and have worked on many conservation projects during my tenure here. During her time as a senator I have watched Collins exert leadership and support for the widest array of conservation and environmental initiatives of any senator in Maine history. Keep Susan Collins working for Mainers. ~ Amos S. Eno, Land Conservation Assistance Network

Federal $4.1 million grant to improve International Marine Terminal in Portland

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 9, 2020

The money will be used to link Merrill's Marine Terminal and the International Marine Terminal, consolidate cross-docking activities, renovate a vacant warehouse and add capacity for container operations.

Hiker death at Katahdin is 2nd in 2 days

ASSOCIATED PRESS • October 9, 2020

The body of an unidentified hiker has been found at the summit of Mount [sic] Katahdin, the second death in two days, Maine officials said. The hiker, a man, was found dead Thursday morning, Baxter State Park said. It was not immediately clear what caused his death. On Wednesday, Donald MacGillis, 74, died after he got lost hiking near the summit and fell while spending the night on the mountain awaiting rescuers. He was in critical condition when airlifted from the mountain, and later died of his injuries. The park reminded hikers that the mountain “is a formidable place, especially as winter approaches.”

Hiker found dead on summit of Katahdin

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 9, 2020

The body of an unidentified male was found Thursday morning on Katahdin’s Baxter peak, according to Baxter State Park officials. It’s the second death of a hiker on Katahdin in as many days. A veteran Massachusetts journalist died after a 50-foot fall on Wednesday. The body was found at around 10 a.m. and was later reported via a 911 call around 11:30 a.m., according to officials. The Baxter State Park Rangers initiated a recovery mission flown by the Maine Army National Guard who recovered the body that afternoon. 

Maine town apologizes after criticizing anonymous hiker who fixed bridge along its trail

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 9, 2020

A Maine town is trying to identify the rogue hiker who built a replacement bridge next to a collapsed one along a hiking trail on a popular 308-acre preserve. “When outside entities create trails and structures without notifying our department, that leads to confusion for hikers and others” using the Lowell Preserve, Windham town manager Barry Tibbetts posted Wednesday on Facebook. The post drew widespread criticism from Mainers who felt the town was targeting the hiker for wrongdoing, instead of thanking them for installing a safe crossing on a municipal trail that had become dangerous. The town’s post was edited Thursday to apologize and “thank” the anonymous hiker for making the repairs.

Another hiker dies on Mt. Katahdin, the second death this week

WABI-TV5 • October 9, 2020

Baxter State Park officials say that Thursday a man was found dead at the summit of Katahdin. It’s the second death on the mountain in as many days. Park officials tell us that around 11:30 AM someone called 9-1-1 to report the death. The man’s body was brought down from the summit with help from the Maine Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. The Medical Examiner’s office is working to determine what caused his death. On Wednesday, a Massachusetts man fell 50 feet off Knife Edge and later died at a hospital.

Hiker found dead on summit of Katahdin

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 9, 2020

The body of an unidentified male was found Thursday morning at the summit of Mount Katahdin, Baxter State Park announced Friday. It was the second death of a hiker on Maine’s highest mountain in two days, prompting park officials to remind hikers that the mountain “is a formidable place, especially as winter approaches.” Eight people have died in Baxter State Park in the last 10 years. Park Director Eben Sypitkowski said, “The mountain is a formidable place, especially as winter approaches. I ask everyone visiting us this fall and winter to please be safe, set an early turn-around time and stick to it, and always carry sufficient food, water, and clothing.”

Oh, deer: Your odds of hitting an animal on the way home tonight? Higher than you think.

SUN JOURNAL • October 9, 2020

Your odds of hitting an animal on the drive home tonight? One in 91, according to State Farm. Maine ranks 22nd in the country for its rate of animal collisions, according to a news release from the insurance company Wednesday. State Farm covered 1,365 car-animal claims last year in Maine. November, October and December are the highest hit months nationally, in that order.

Column: What your vote may really mean

TIMES RECORD • October 9, 2020

When people vote, they pick candidates. That’s what elections are all about. Not really. This year, there are at least four hidden elections taking place. For instance, President Trump has pushed his authority to overturn actions by regulatory agencies that are supposed to be independent, making them just another part of his administration. The presidential election could lead to their recovering their lawful, independent powers. That would mean environmental, banking and many other rules could be recovered. Plus, federal inspectors general could be restored to their independent authority. That is what’s just behind the presidential ballot. ~ Gordon L. Weil

Maine’s piping plovers had another record nesting season

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 9, 2020

For the third consecutive year, Maine saw a record number of nesting piping plovers and fledglings despite greater traffic at some beaches as people looked to get outside during the pandemic. There were 98 nesting pairs and 199 fledglings at the 25 beaches where the birds are monitored, up from last year’s mark of 89 nesting pairs and 175 fledglings, said Laura Minich Zitske, the plover project director at Maine Audubon.

State park campgrounds set attendance record during pandemic

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 9, 2020

This year the number of visitors to Maine’s 12 state park campgrounds – at least 270,794 campers through Sept. 30 – already has topped the previous record of 261,589 campers in 2018. Not bad considering that state park campgrounds opened two to four weeks later and because of the coronavirus pandemic, missing the busy Memorial Day weekend. The pandemic is the very reason for this year’s surge in campers, parks officials say.

Column: At forest’s edge

TIMES RECORD • October 9, 2020

October arrives, and its first day shines like a found silver dollar. As afternoon deepens, I drive a few minutes to Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick. Rob, who has generously offered to take me on his evening hunt, arrives a few minutes later. It is archery season for deer. Time dwindles, and Rob whispers that he’s heard some steps in the woods to our rear. He uses a fawn call to see if a doe appears. Silence, as if every being within earshot mulls this over. Then the mixed song of chirr and tweet and rustle resumes. No animal appears. But clearly, I think, everything is near. ~ Sandy Stott 

3 marvelous days grouse hunting in the Maine woods

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 9, 2020

Earlier this week, I joined a group of friends on what has become a traditional way-too-short trip into the woods in search of ruffed grouse to shoot at, and moose to talk to. I’ve sometimes referred to this as our “catch-and-release moose hunt.” The reason: My group of pals and I haven’t let the lack of a moose permit get in the way of our attempts to capture video and still photos of the magnificent critters. Alas, this year, the moose didn’t participate. Over three days and hundreds of miles of driving, we saw plenty of tracks, and talked to some folks who’d offered up the familiar “You should have been here 10 minutes ago! He was the biggest moose we’ve ever seen” refrain. But photos? Video? Nope. We got nothing.

Rumford boat launch on Androscoggin River is finished

RUMFORD FALLS TIMES • October 8, 2020

The new town boat launch on Route 2 next to the Androscoggin River is complete. Town Manager Stacy Carter told selectmen via zoom last week that the engineer and code enforcement officer would be “looking things over to make sure it’s done to spec.” Carter said he checked the status of the launch beyond the McDonald’s restaurant almost daily as the project was underway. “Bedard Excavation did a very good job. I think it’s going to bring a lot of usage to the river here in the future. There’s a huge parking area for boats and trailers, and a picnic area. That’s a project that was done very well.”

These 3 critters want to make a home in your basements and attics

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 8, 2020

Unfinished attics or basements can be dark, dusty, damp and altogether unpleasant places to spend any amount of your time. But those conditions make them very attractive to certain insects and mammals who are just looking for a sheltered space to nest or den and mean you no harm. Here are three of the more common of these hidden houseguests you might already have in your attic or basement: Spiders, bats, snakes.

Hiker air-lifted from Katahdin dies of injuries sustained in fall

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 8, 2020

A 75-year-old Massachusetts man died Wednesday after he got lost hiking near the top of Mount Katahdin and fell while spending the night on the mountain awaiting rescuers. Donald MacGillis, a longtime Boston Globe editor from Pittsfield, Mass., was in critical condition when airlifted from Mount Katahdin Wednesday. He later died from his injuries.

Land Trust celebrates decade of Bath’s Whiskeag Trail

TIMES RECORD • October 8, 2020

Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is celebrating 10 years since the opening of the Whiskeag Trail, a five-mile-long multi-use trail in the north end of Bath crossing forested lands owned by the city of Bath and the land trust. The Whiskeag Trail explores pockets of wooded areas while connecting destinations throughout Bath like the YMCA, McMann playing fields, Bath Middle School, Oak Grove Cemetery and the conservation land at Sewall Woods and Thorne Head Preserves.