Feds: Cost-saving measure led to deaths of 2 employees at Down East mill

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 14, 2026

The Baileyville mill where a chemical release killed two young workers last winter did not have adequate safety measures, according to an investigative update released Tuesday by federal officials. The incident at Woodland Pulp’s bleach plant in Washington County claimed the lives of a UMaine college student and a rising chemical engineer, and injured an additional 10 employees who were also exposed to the toxic gas. The cause of the gas exposure was traced to the previous day, when managers decided to shut down most of the mill due to high operating costs that followed a rise in the price of natural gas. The shutdown included a fan that normally would remove hydrogen sulfide from inside the mill. Without the scrubber fan, the toxic gas accumulated in a sewer pipe and escaped through piping to other areas of the building, where Kasie Malcolm, 20, and Allen Hornberger, 26, were later found.

Chemical safety board skewers Maine paper mill over gas spill that led to deaths

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 14, 2026

Federal investigators on Tuesday detailed a series of safety failures that led to the preventable deaths of two young workers at a Maine paper mill in January. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s update reveals Woodland Pulp lacked basic alarms, tracking systems and ventilation to protect employees from a predictable toxic gas release. The findings highlight safety gaps in a facility that remains a vital economic engine for Washington County. “Although our investigation is still ongoing, it already is clear that this terrible tragedy should never have happened,” said Steve Owens, chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, in the Tuesday update.

Kennebunk Fire and Rescue clean up oil spill after boat turnover

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 14, 2026

Kennebunk Fire and Rescue urged people to avoid swimming in the area of Strawberry Island after a small boat crashed Tuesday morning and spilled oil. The fire department said that it was working with Maine Department of Environmental Protection to clean up the spill from a 60 gallon fuel tank. It urged people to stay out of the water for “at least the next two tide cycles.” After an investigation, Kennebunk Fire and Rescue discovered the boat was tied to a sinking incident late Monday.

Kingfield voters approve campsite moratorium

RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • July 14, 2026

Residents of Kingfield overwhelmingly approved a moratorium that sought to pause development on “transient overnight recreational developments” during a special town meeting July 13. The moratorium was presented to the town in May by residents living on Lower Iron Bridge Road. By passing the ordinance, the group hoped to freeze the development of a campsite proposed by Bowdoin College, which would be built on a 20.7-acre plot on the same road. Bowdoin withdrew its application to develop the site in May, saying they would wait six months before reapplying to allow the town to assess its outdated ordinances.

New owners aim to turn a Bangor-area ski hill into a year-round destination

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

The new owners of Hermon Mountain are turning the seasonal ski area into a four-season operation, adding a restaurant, a disc golf course and a concert and event lineup. Casee and Dave Hart and Amy and Tim McClary bought the mountain for $2.1 million on April 30. By adding paying customers in spring, summer and fall, the new owners are trying to smooth out revenue through the months the lifts sit idle.

UMaine is applying to receive up to $1 million for agricultural research infrastructure

MAINE PUBLIC • July 12, 2026

The University of Maine could receive up to $1 million in federal funding for agricultural research infrastructure. The funding is part of a new partnership between the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Education to encourage land-grant universities to address deferred maintenance and to accelerate modernization of agricultural research facilities. UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said, "It's about helping rural farms be sustained.

Where you can legally pick blueberries in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

Maine has 47,600 acres of commercial wild blueberry managed by 515 farms. These berries will begin to ripen this month through September. If you’re looking for free, wild blueberry patches, you can find opportunities all over. Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust in Brunswick has 20 acres of wild blueberry barrens open to the public. Beech Hill Preserve in Rockport is managed by the Coastal Mountains Land Trust, and July 20-26 is free blueberry community pick week. Acadia National Park allows visitors to pick 1 dry half gallon of blueberries per person, per day. Birch Point Trail and Hollingsworth Trail in the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge in Steuben offer opportunities for recreational blueberry picking. Great Pond Mountain Wildlands has several hiking trails in Orland where you can pick berries. The annual Wild Blueberry Weekend in Maine will take place August 2-3. Visitors may pick wild blueberries at select locations.

Opinion: The hidden costs of military ‘exercises’

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2026

The noise from events such as the recent Great State of Maine Air Show in Brunswick can be dismissed as a nuisance, but the environmental, financial and cultural impact cannot. The U.S. military is exempt from regulatory standards. The documentary “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” explores toxic contamination at military sites and global environmental damage, including deforestation, ocean pollution, toxic battlefields, and the military carbon footprint. ~ Peter S. Morgan Jr., U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Raymond

Column: Scarborough Marsh a unique paddling experience

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2026

For paddlers looking for a unique, scenic kayak or canoe trip, Scarborough Marsh in southern Maine is a good choice. The 3,100-acre estuary is the largest salt marsh in Maine. Passage through the marsh seems a maze as it twists and turns. At different times, paddlers can be facing any direction on the compass. A very entertaining day of paddling in a truly exceptional setting. ~ Ron Chase

Woman dies after bystanders pull her from Hancock County pond

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

Deborah Wedge, 67, was on the water on Beech Hill Pond off Salisbury Cove Road about 4:21 p.m. when she likely suffered an unknown “medical event,” according to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Bystanders rescued her from the water and performed CPR until first responders arrived, the sheriff’s office said early Monday morning. But Wedge died at the scene.

3 tips to judge black bear size before your hunt this fall

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

One of the biggest challenges new bear hunters face is estimating the size of a black bear as it slips into view during the waning hours of daylight. Here are the top three proven tips I have given my hunting clients. If the bear has ears that pop up and appear wide and rounded, that’s a small bear. Big ears, little bear. Little ears, big bear. If it appears the bear is dragging its belly on the ground, you may have a bear of a lifetime in front of you. Long legs on a bear typically indicate an immature bear. ~ John Floyd

Can’t get a slot to see the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain? Try these other Acadia sites instead

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 12, 2026

While Cadillac Mountain is the most popular spot to watch the sunrise in Acadia National Park,  it’s not the only place where visitors can enjoy an enchanting daybreak. For the visitors who either can’t secure a Cadillac reservation or are less enticed by the swarms of onlookers, there are still quite a few spots to catch a glorious sunrise in Acadia.
• Egg Rock Overlook
• Schoodic Point
• Otter Cliffs
• Champlain Mountain
• Seawall picnic area

5-acre brush fire in Otisfield contained after 15 departments respond

ADVERTISER DEMOCRAT • July 12, 2026

Crews have contained a fire in Otisfield that broke out in the woods Sunday. Otisfield Fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Fox said a call came in just after 11 a.m. reporting a brush fire off Bolsters Mills Road. When crews arrived at the scene, the fire had spread about 2 acres, but quickly grew to 5 acres. Otisfield Fire Department called for additional engines. A total of 15 fire departments responded. The fire was contained after several hours, but officials were taking preventative measures to ensure it does not reignite.

Five-acre brush fire in Otisfield contained after 15 departments respond

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 12, 2026

Crews have contained a fire in Otisfield that broke out in the woods Sunday. Otisfield Fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Fox said a call came in just after 11 a.m. reporting a brush fire off Bolsters Mills Road. When crews arrived at the scene, the fire had spread about 2 acres, but quickly grew to 5 acres. Otisfield Fire Department called for additional engines. A total of 15 fire departments responded to the scene.

UMaine is applying to receive up to $1 million for agricultural research infrastructure

MAINE PUBLIC • July 12, 2026

The University of Maine could receive up to $1 million in federal funding for agricultural research infrastructure. The funding is part of a new partnership between the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Education to encourage land-grant universities to address deferred maintenance and to accelerate modernization of agricultural research facilities. UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said, "It's about helping rural farms be sustained.

Rooftop solar eases New England's electric demand in heat wave

MAINE PUBLIC • July 12, 2026

Solar panels mounted on rooftops across New England significantly eased overall demand for electricity from the regional grid during an intense heat wave in early July, according to a new analysis. Jamie Dickerson, senior of climate and clean energy programs at the Acadia Center, said distributed solar generation helped New England electric customers save at least $130 million in wholesale energy costs during the heat event between June 28 and July 4.

They could be lurking right outside your door. Tips on avoiding ticks in your yard from Maine experts

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 12, 2026

Maine residents are in the midst of this year’s tick season and experts say the tiny menaces could be as close as your front or back yard. Last week, the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District held a workshop at the Auburn Public Library on a variety of ways to reduce ticks in your yard. The state’s current data suggests it’s shaping up to be a normal tick season. For tick-proofing landscaping tips, go to the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension’s resource page at extension.umaine.edu.

Skowhegan man remembered as passionate, adventurous and loving

CENTRAL MAINE • July 11, 2026

Jakub Prokop was a passenger on a 16-foot fishing boat traveling in Skowhegan, up the Kennebec in Fairfield, when he was ejected from the boat without a life jacket. The incident is under investigation. “He lived and felt the world so much more intensely than everybody,” Jakub’s brother, Matush Prokop, 24, said. “He found so much joy in the things he loved and the people he loved.”

Column: How 30 minutes can help one of Maine’s most iconic birds

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 11, 2026

The good news: Maine’s loon population is doing well overall. A total of 3,174 loons were reported across southern Maine lakes last year, including 568 chicks. The population has more than doubled since the first official Loon Count in 1983. More than 1,800 volunteers count loons on 400 lakes and ponds across southern Maine. This year’s loon count is next Saturday, July 18. Traditionally, surveys covered only southern lakes because northern lakes didn’t have enough resident volunteers to cover the necessary territory. Nonetheless, Maine Audubon is working to expand the range of surveyed lakes north. It’s too late to sign up to survey a remote lake this year. But maybe next year. ~ Bob Duchesne

8 must-try Maine hikes if you love waterfalls

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 11, 2026

Here are eight Maine hikes where gorgeous waterfalls await your arrival.
• Moxie Falls, near The Forks
• Niagara Falls in Baxter State Park
• Ledge Falls in Baxter State Park
• Orin Falls in Katahdin Woods and Waters
• Gulf Hagas near Brownville
• Mariaville Falls in Mariaville
• Peter’s Brook Trail in Blue Hill
• Little Wilson Falls, near Elliottsville