The rate increase, to be followed with another hike in 2026, will help pay for extensive upgrades to the district’s eight sewer pumps, which are well beyond their projected operating lives, officials said.
Ethan Horton
Staff Writer
Ethan reports on cost of living for the Portland Press Herald. Before he joined in mid-2026, he covered local news in Augusta and surrounding areas and ran a weekly newsletter for the Kennebec Journal. He joined the KJ in 2024 shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was an editor for The Daily Tar Heel. For better or worse, Ethan always wanted to live in Maine.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Maine
Update: Lock-in at Gardiner-area schools cleared after ‘known safety concern’
No threat was made directly against the schools Wednesday morning, but no one was allowed into school buildings for a short time, Superintendent Patricia Hopkins said.
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Posted inKennebec Journal, Maine
No suspect identified yet in hit-and-run that injured Gardiner woman
Gardiner resident Angelique Binns was struck and seriously injured while walking along River Road in Chelsea on Nov. 6, but law enforcement has not been able to identify a suspect.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Maine, Maine Crime
Two towns, one department? Shared chief says Monmouth, Winthrop police should merge
Chief Paul Ferland said he is ‘convinced a full consolidation of both agencies into a single police department would benefit both communities.’
Posted inKennebec Journal, Maine
Hallowell imposes $190,000 spending freeze to ease tax burden next year
The spending freeze, approved Tuesday by the City Council, comes more than three months after residents petitioned the council to reverse approval of the budget, which increased property taxes by about 20% on average.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Maine
Hallowell to accept proposals to sell, renovate former Second Street Fire Station
The City Council is expected to discuss the future Tuesday night of the downtown building. Any revenue from the sale could be used to bolster municipal revenue in a challenging budget year.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Maine
Central Maine smashes third temperature record in a week
Augusta’s high temperature Wednesday tied the warmest temperature ever recorded at the site in the month of November.
Posted inKennebec Journal, Maine
Litchfield man severely injured after roll-over crash Tuesday
Speed and alcohol appear to have been factors in the crash, and it was unclear whether the driver, Michael Cummings, 46, was wearing a seat belt.
Posted inElection 2024, Kennebec Journal, Maine
Fayette voters convincingly choose to block sale of Starling Hall
The building has been the center of controversy in town since residents signed a petition this summer to force a sale of the building by the end of next year.
Posted inElection 2024, Kennebec Journal, Maine
State investigates reports of people illegally offering to drop off absentee ballots in Gardiner, Bangor
Gardiner City Clerk Kathleen Cutler said the city has received two reports of a person with a Massachusetts license plate offering to take and deliver absentee ballots.