Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel

Jessica Lowell Kennebec Journal

Jessica Lowell covers business and economic development and general news in the Gardiner area. After short but intense aspirations to be an opera singer (age 4) and a deep-sea diver (age 6) her most enduring passion has been telling stories. A University of Maine graduate, she worked for newspapers in New Hampshire, upstate New York and Wyoming, where she has won awards for investigative and explanatory journalism. She’s a fellow of the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism and the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. After several years out of journalism, she returned to Maine and to writing, where she spends her free time enjoying both trees and the ocean, two commodities that Wyoming lacks.

Latest

Published
March 5, 2021

Maine Ethics Commission to meet on Senate District 14 campaign complaint

The complaint alleges that electronic signs used by William Guerrette lacked a disclosure statement of who paid for them. That disclosure was added to the signs at the request of the commission.
Published
March 4, 2021

West Gardiner delays annual Town Meeting

Due to restrictions on the size of public gatherings, town officials hope the delay means they can hold an open Town Meeting later in the year, when residents can ask questions and debate town spending priorities.
Published
March 3, 2021

Electronic campaign signs draw complaint in Gardiner area

Four electronic signs posted on behalf of William Guerrette, Republican candidate for the Senate District 14 seat, have drawn a complaint over the disclosure of who paid for the signs.
Published
March 3, 2021

Augusta man missing since January found dead

Augusta police say they found the body of Pierre ‘Pete’ Bolduc on Wednesday in Augusta and the cause of his death is under investigation.
Published
March 1, 2021

Guerrette, Hickman vie for Senate District 14 seat

The special election was called because Shenna Bellows, who was elected to a third term representing Senate District 14, declined to be sworn in when she was elected by the Legislature to serve as Maine’s secretary of state.
Published
February 26, 2021

West Gardiner teen becomes Maine’s first female Eagle Scout

Mia Dawbin completed the requirements to earn her standing as an Eagle Scout earlier this year, making her the first girl to reach that rank in Maine.
Published
February 26, 2021

Gardiner announces plan to reopen city buildings, library Monday

Even though people will be able to conduct city business in person, the Gardiner Public Library will continue to provide services through its takeout window for those who want to continue to use it.
Published
February 25, 2021

Gardiner city councilor says she’s being ‘poor-shamed,’ won’t resign over unpaid taxes

Penny Sergent, who took office in January, said she’s being poor-shamed by other city councilors, and won’t quit. Several councilors called on Sergent to resign Wednesday after they learned of her unpaid taxes.
Published
February 24, 2021

Gardiner city councilor behind on property taxes, asked to resign

Penny Sergent, who was elected in November as one of three at-large city councilors in Gardiner, owes more than $12,000 in back real estate and property tax.
Published
February 24, 2021

Suspended Gardiner attorney denies claims in second civil complaint

Clarence H. ‘Skip’ Spurling denies the allegations of a woman who says he sexually assaulted her, saying she consented to his conduct and that no attorney-client relationship existed when the conduct in question took place.