Bangor, Maine News Update: July 10, 2020

The Maine CDC reports 26 new cases of COVID-19 in the state and 45 more people who have recovered. Penobscot County has registered its 2nd death of a person diagnosed with COVID-19, of a woman in her 80’s.

Officials have identified a body that washed up on a Robbinston beach as a man from New Brunswick. 64-year-old Richard Warnell of St. Andrews had been the subject of a missing persons investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Officials say there’s no indication that Warnell died in Maine.

A Bucksport woman is sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of her boyfriend’s 2-year-old daughter. Kloe Hawksley died three years ago, after being struck in the torso. Savannah Smith pleaded guilty on Thursday to manslaughter before receiving her sentence.

Two paper mills will lay off employees in Maine. Nearly 60 workers will be let go from the Pixelle specialty Solutions plant in Jay, after the explosion of a digester has forced the company to buy pulp from outside sources. And in Westbrook, Sappi North America will lay off 75 employees, when they shut down Paper Machine number 9.

Wreaths Across America will host the second annual Stem to Stone 5K on Saturday, July 18th, with people choosing between participating in the virtual or the in-person event in Columbia Falls. Each person that registers for the race will enable another wreath to be placed on a veteran’s grave. Find more information on the Stem to Stone 5k Columbia Falls Facebook page and on our Sunday morning program, Maine Concerns.

A special birthday parade was held in Brewer on Thursday, for Mary Pearson, who turned 100 years old. Family members told WVII-TV that just being able to sing happy birthday to her was special, since the pandemic has kept them all separated. They say it may not be her last birthday party, since she tells people she’s going to live to be 110.