Bangor, Maine News Update: February 22, 2019

Four members of the University of Maine’s women’s hockey team have been suspended after what college officials call violations of the student athlete code of conduct. Sophomore Maggie Blair was arrested Sunday on suspicion of OUI, while the other three players were involved in an altercation at a restaurant and bar.

All but one of the firefighters on the Thorndike volunteer fire department resigned Wednesday night after a town select board meeting, due to what they say is the town’s refusal to replace outdated and unsafe equipment. Town officials say they have mutual aid agreements with other communities in case of emergencies.

Governor Janet Mills has thrown her support behind a 145 mile transmission line across Western Maine that would supply Canadian hydropower to electricity consumers in Massachusetts. Supporters say it will lower carbon emissions and reduce electricity costs across the region, while critics point to the destruction of vast tracts of wilderness.

The historic Falls Bridge, connecting Blue Hill to South Blue Hill is in its last days, as MDOT officials have decided it needs to be replaced with a new, 8.9 million dollar bridge. Construction is not set to start for another couple of years.

A first step has been taken toward reopening the Old Town paper mill, with the startup of the Number 5 package boiler this week. ND Paper posted on its Facebook page that this is the first piece of major operating equipment to run at the site since it was shuttered in 2015. When it’s up and running, officials expect it will create more than a 100 jobs at the site.