by  V. Paul Reynolds

Make no mistake about it. When it comes to Maine’s most important wildlife game species, our whitetail deer are at the very top of the list. There are a number of reasons, not the least of which is the enormous impact that deer have on Maine’s overall economy, as well as the budget and income at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The Machias Farmer’s Market and dike are full of vendors and shoppers as the region moves into the final month of high tourist season. Photo by Bill Kitchen

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Dollar General broke ground on its new Machias location last week. The store will be located on the corner of the Kennebec Road and Rte. 1, across from Tom’s Mini Mart, with an address of 206 Dublin Street, Machias.

Laura Somerville works as a spokesperson for the Tennessee-based chain. She said that the store plans to open its doors in late fall, but added that construction timelines could slip.

by Ruth Leubecker

Collaboration, long seen as a successful undertaking Downeast, will soon enter a new arena with Project HOPE, a law enforcement initiative aimed at tackling drug abuse.

“We copycatted the program from Scarborough, and we partner with Healthy Acadia,” explained Glenn Moshier, Ellsworth police chief. “Dottie Small, a detective with us, is currently working with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Hopefully, in the next two months there will be two starting up in Washington County.”

Amara Dorr’s feathers were not ruffled when she marched through Milbridge dressed as the American bald eagle last Saturday. Dorr marched as part of the Wyman’s of Maine parade float, on the streets last week as part of the town’s annual Milbridge Days celebration. Photo courtesy Richard Bondurant.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

 State Police have confirmed that a man and woman from New York City were arrested in New York and charged in connection with the homicide discovered in Cherryfield last month.

 Being held on fugitive-from-justice charges are 37-year-old Carine Reeves and 19-year-old Quaneysha Greeley.  The two were arrested by New York City Police on 141st Street in the Laurelton section of Queens. They are being held without bail. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Local sea chantey expert Stephen Sanfilippo sang this historic ballad during last weekend’s celebration of the return of Machiasport’s Civil War cannon to Fort O’Brien last weekend. Sanfilippo resides in Pembroke.

The ballad recounts the events of the Battle of the Rim, also known as the Siege of Machias, which took place August 13 and 14, 1777. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Last Saturday morning the town of Machiasport celebrated the return of a Civil War cannon with speeches, song, and cake. The cannon was returned to the Fort O’Brien historic site earlier in 2017. 

The 1862 bronze “Napoleon” cannon, so named for its widespread use during the Napoleonic wars, may or may not be original to the civil war-era Fort Machias, but according to the Machiasport Historical Society, was on site by the time of World War II.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Town clerk Donna-Jean Metta was fired from her position during a special meeting of the Machiasport Selectboard last Monday, July 24.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Editor’s note: This article is the first in our series, Primer for the Primary, which will run periodically as candidates present themselves for Maine’s 2018 gubernatorial, congressional, Senate and state legislative elections. The series will showcase interviews with each candidate, and focus on their key campaign messages.