Bangor, Maine News Update: April 8, 2021

The Maine CDC reports 1 additional death from COVID-19, and 406 new cases of the virus, the highest single-day total in more than two months. Dr. Nirav Shah says people who signed up on the state's website to be notified of available vaccination appointments should not wait for them to call. Over 90,000 residents signed up, which has overwhelmed the Maine CDC, so they advise people to be proactive about finding availabilities on their own and making appointments.

Bangor Police shut down the Walmart parking lot Wednesday afternoon, after a customer reported seeing a suspicious device in the parking lot. The Bangor Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team responded and found that the pressure cooker device was not an explosive. The store was closed for about an hour.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led a student at a Richmond elementary school to bring a loaded gun to class. The gun was seized at the Marcia Buker school, and officials say no one was hurt or threatened. Police say the child and parents could face charges for the incident.

Goodwill has put out a plea for people to stop donating their trash. Sometimes stores get things like broken furniture or dishes, but at other times, it's literal trash that's donated. Find more information about items they do not accept on the Goodwill website. 

The SPCA of Hancock County is inviting the public to stop by Saturday for an outdoor event that will include a chance to meet a batch of puppies they have up for adoption. The two girls and seven boys are 1-year-old chihuahua-dachshund mixes from North Carolina. Find more information about the event, including how to schedule playtime with the puppies, on the SPCA of Hancock County Facebook page. 

The Bangor Humane Society is happy to report all their dogs are healthy, once again, after battling a canine virus. But the sickness has left the shelter with a shortage of used linens and dog toys to be used for the animals. Donations of linens and dog toys are sorely needed, and can be dropped off on the covered porch of the shelter on Mt. Hope Avenue in Bangor.