Bangor, Maine News Update: May 23, 2018

A Windham man who sent cyanide through the mail to a suicidal man in England is sentenced to 25 years in prison. Sidney Kilmartin had been advertising and mailing a substance he said was cyanide, but was really Epsom salts, until Andrew Denton of Hull, England threatened to report him. That’s when Kilmartin sent him the real thing and Denton used it to commit suicide.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency is asking for the public’s help locating three people who are wanted on charges connected to the sale of illegal drugs in Aroostook County. Nine others were arrested recently in a county-wide sweep, but officials are still looking for Amber Shaw and Josh Easler of Presque Isle, and Fernando Vasquez of Massachusetts. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.

Skowhegan Police are warning residents that flyers circulating around town announcing a Tanya Tucker concert at the Augusta Civic Center are a scam. The flyers look professional, listing Hights Ford  and Everetts tires as  sponsors of the event, and listing George Hand as the promoter. Police are now looking for the man and warning residents to ignore the fake advertisements.

Pest experts in Maine say that a new tick-borne illness is causing problems in our state despite the fact that it’s normally found in the south. The Lone Star ticks have been brought here by songbirds on their summer migration and can cause an allergy to red meat. The bite is said to be painful and can cause symptoms including weakness, dizziness, nausea, and respiratory problems.

Miss Maine USA Marina Gray landed in the top 10 at the pageant in Louisiana, which is farther than any other contestant since 2011. Gray is an Army National Guard Sergeant in a Brunswick battalion who says she hopes she inspires young girls everywhere to follow their dreams.