Bangor, Maine News Update: April 22, 2019

Spring showers are causing some headaches, including along the Kennebec River which has overflowed its banks in a few locations, although, so far, the flooding is not as bad as last year. And in Glenburn, residents of outer Ohio Street are dealing with mud so thick that residents are forced to park at the Community Center and walk in, or get a ride with someone who has a four-wheel drive.

Students are back in class in Rockland after a vandalism spree that included the theft of student medications nearly forced the school to close for the day. Rockland Police say a quick response from the custodial staff and a local glass company replaced broken windows over the weekend so classes wouldn’t be interrupted this week.

A plan to open a pre-release program somewhere in Machias means that the shuttered Downeast Correctional Facility likely won’t reopen. Corrections officials told the Ellsworth American that it would just be too expensive to operate the old prison, and that a facility that would house 50 inmates and employ 15 people is a more practical solution.

The arrival of warmer temperatures is causing bears to wake from hibernation, so residents are reminded to take some precautions to avoid having one wander into their yard. Take in bird feeders at night, keep trash stored inside if possible, and clean barbecue grills thoroughly after using. Find more tips on the website for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Folks will be walking for a great cause this Saturday morning, starting at the Brewer Auditorium, as they walk to fight multiple sclerosis. Participants can choose a 1 mile or 3 mile route in the walk that has raised more than a billion dollars since its inception in 1988. Find more information on the Brewer Walk MS website.