Bangor, Maine News Update: February 6, 2019

The identity of a man who died in an Orrington house fire last month has finally been released. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says it took them a while to identify 51-year-old Burton Hagelin Junior because he gave the others in the house a false name. Hagelin, who was originally from Dover-Foxcroft, had only been living there for a couple of months.

Two suspicious packages that an unidentified man dropped in the lobby of the Penobscot County Jail yesterday before exiting the building prompted a response from the bomb squad and the evacuation of the neighboring post office. Bangor Police say upon inspection neither box contained explosives.

The leaders of Bangor area food pantries met on Wednesday to discuss how to provide for an influx of clients who got their February food stamps early, due to the government shutdown, and are now running out of food. Bill Rae of Manna Ministries says donations are needed at all area food pantries. Our radio stations will be collecting pasta between 10 and 2 this Saturday at Hannaford stores in Brewer, Ellsworth, Old Town, and on Union Street in Bangor.

Acadia National Park officials say they’re having a hard time filling summer jobs due to the federal government shutdown. The BDN reports the process of hiring more than 100 seasonal workers is behind schedule. Supervisors are now working overtime to help catch up before another possible shutdown next week.

Penquis is requiring all its Foster Grandparent program  volunteers to be fingerprinted, as part of a required background check. The program pairs volunteers over 55 years of age with children in schools, headstart, and childcare centers, to give them some undivided attention. Find more information on the Penquis website.