Bangor, Maine News Update: August 18, 2020

The Maine CDC is investigating an outbreak of 24 cases of COVID-19, following a wedding reception at the Big Moose Inn, and officials expect that number to rise as more testing is completed. Some local businesses and schools closed out of an abundance of caution. Officials say anyone who attended a reception at the facility on August 7th and has symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider.

A Bangor man faces charges after allegedly trying to steal a vehicle on West Broadway, while a family stood on the sidewalk taking pictures. The driver tried to get Benjamin Parker out of the driver’s seat and succeeded, but only after Parker allegedly beat him with a copy of the Bible. Parker fled the scene but was located sometime later behind a house on Cedar Street.

The Maine State Police report a small plane went down in Surry on Monday evening. First responders said the plane was completely submerged but all the people on-board got out safely. The crash is now under investigation by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board.

Construction will begin today on the replacement of the Wilson Street Bridge in Brewer. The construction on the span that carries Route 1A over I-395 is the first phase of the Maine DOT’s I-395/Route 9 Connector. The project is expected to be completed in November of next year.

A 9-year-old girl from Brewer celebrated her birthday by asking for money to provide backpacks full of school supplies for kids in need. Ava Burke and her parents delivered 57 of the full backpacks to Penquis on Monday. This is the third year that Ava has used her birthday money to purchase the school supplies.

It seems early to talk about Christmas gifts, but the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers, which provides gift boxes to children every year, expects the need to be great this year. An Amazon wish list has been set up, as a way to donate, or find more information on the website for the Maine Children's Home.