Bangor, Maine News Update: January 17, 2020

A Hancock County doctor is no longer allowed to practice medicine in Maine after being found guilty in Maryland of possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone. Doctor Brandt Rice, of Blue Hill, allegedly issued more than 200 fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances in Maine between 2014 and 2017.

An Ellsworth man will spend more than seven years in prison for robbing two Bangor banks. Timothy Meyers pleaded guilty in June, admitting to robbing the TD Bank Branch on Stillwater Avenue and the Key Bank on Bangor Mall Boulevard.

A 45 hundred dollar reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for shooting a bald eagle in the town of Peru. The person who found  the eagle near the Androscoggin River cared for it until help arrived but it died sometime later. Anyone with information is asked to contact Operation Game Thief or the State Police.

More than 100 thousand dollars in scholarship money is being offered to students and instructors interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing and the trades. The Maine Blue Collar Scholarpship Foundation and the Maine Manufacturers Association have teamed up to offer the funds, in an effort to provide skilled workers in lucrative fields. Find more information about how to apply at Maine blue collar dot com.

Maine health officials saw a record number of Lyme disease cases last year. The Maine CDC says there were at least two thousand seventy-nine cases in 2019. While experts say it's too early to know why the numbers went up, it's a good reminder to take precautions against ticks.

The weekend of January 31st is free snowmobiling weekend in Maine. That means riders from out of state and from Canada can come to Maine and ride for free, without having to get a temporary license. Find more information on the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website.

Island Connections will hold its 4th annual Chowder and Chili Chowdown Saturday, January 25th at the Atlantic Oceanside in Bar Harbor. Proceeds will help fund the service that provides transportation services to seniors and those with disabilities. Find more information about the event and how to enter your best recipe on the Facebook page for the Chowder and Chili Chowdown.