Eastport Hires New Police Chief Downeast Broadband Utility Ahead
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Join us on Twitter @TheCalaisAdv Like us on Facebook VOL. 184, NO. 25 JUNE 20, 2019 © 2019 The Calais Advertiser Inc. $1.50 (tax included) Eastport Hires Nurses Hold Informational Picket New Police Chief By Jayna Smith and though the decision was [Argir’s], the city council was The City of Eastport has a kept informed.” new police chief. City Man- Donahe had replaced Dale ager Ross Argir confirmed that Earle in the chief’s position. Peter Harris, who has been act- Earle was hired in October of ing as interim police chief, has 2015 and dismissed in Novem- been officially hired to lead the ber of 2017. city’s police department. When According to Argir, who appointed as interim police began his own employment chief this past April, Harris had with the City of Eastport just become the city’s ninth police six months ago, Harris was chief in the last 10 years. hired to the department in July According to Argir, the East- of 2018. Harris holds a Bach- port City Council voted 4-1 to elor’s degree from Atlantic hire Harris as Chief of Police Union College and is a graduate with a salary of $47,500. His of the Maine Criminal Justice appointment is subject to a one- Academy. year probationary period. Argir said of Harris in April As interim chief, Harris re- when Harris was assigned as placed Michael Donahe. Do- interim, “Though his appoint- nahe’s employment with the ment as interim chief is his first city was terminated in April. supervisory role in law enforce- At that time, Argir told The ment, I am confident he has the Calais Advertiser that he could skills, mindset, and integrity to “neither confirm nor deny lead the department.” Registered nurses and medical laboratory scientists at Calais Regional Hospital--joined by some com- why Mr. Donahe was fired, munity members--held an informational picket on Monday morning, June 17th. (Photo by Jayna Smith) Downeast Broadband Utility Ahead of Schedule, Setting the Stage for Other Communities By Jayna Smith by Downeast Broadband Util- “It’s taken a lot of hard work, Serving Calais and Baileyville, economy. “Our residents soon ity, First National Bank, and great vision and leadership, DBU will provide “super high- will realize that it’s just a mat- Nearly 70 people were in at- Downeast Economic Develop- and a spirit of collaboration of speed internet” through dark ter of time that the dividends tendance for Downeast Broad- ment. our communities,” he stated, fiber network to businesses and will be reinvested back into band Utility’s Business After City Manager Mike Ellis with regards to the creation of residences in the two towns. our area which will eventually Hours presentation on Wednes- opened the meeting, com- Downeast Broadband Utility By making a fiber optic net- help everyone, regardless of day, June 12th. The public mending the efforts of both the (DBU). work accessible, a positive im- what tax bracket one may be meeting was held at Calais City of Calais and the Town “[DBU] is the first of its pact will be created, promising in,” Ellis said. Motor Inn and presented by of Baileyville for “agreeing kind, non-profit, open-access, to attract new businesses to the St. Croix Valley Chamber of to invest in themselves” when fiber optic network in the State area and creating higher paying (continued on page 2) Commerce with sponsorship other companies would not. of Maine,” Ellis explained. jobs, thus, boosting the local City Looks to Install Electric Benefit Planned for Toddler Burned Vehicle Chargers Last Week By Kaileigh Deacon As Calais looks toward the future of Downtown and city By Jayna Smith 60% of his body. Every day brings advance- growth, one thing to consider is Wyatte’s aunt, Keri to be appealing to all potential A young Calais boy sus- Barnard, provided The ments in technology that tained serious injuries late last changes the way our days go visitors, including those with Calais Advertiser with electric vehicles. The council Wednesday afternoon, June an update on Friday, ex- and how our lives work. For 12th while sitting at a backyard a growing number of people, previously heard a presenta- plaining that his burns tion from Tesla that would campfire, according to the State are now considered the change comes in the form Fire Marshal’s Office. of choosing an electric vehicle install Tesla electric chargers in to be on 30% of his Calais. At the time the council Wyatte Chandler, age 1 ½, body. Wyatte, she said, over the traditional fuel run was sitting with his mother has been transferred to models. (continued on page 3) Courtnie Chandler when his Shriners Hospital. father, Joshua Barnard, poured (continued on page 2) a flammable liquid over the fire. The liquid pouring from • Calais School Committee – 2 the bottle ignited, at which time Wyatte Chandler, age 1 • Coutinho Still Missing– 5 Barnard instinctively dropped We meet/beat ANY competitor’s ad price! ½, was seriously burned • Radio Field Day – 11 the bottle, accidentally spill- on Wednesday, June ing some of the contents on 12th. A benefit spa- Prince Fresh Water Festival Wyatte. ghetti dinner with a – 16 & 17 The boy was transferred to Chinese raffle and a Calais Regional Hospital and 50/50 raffle will take • Writer’s Corner –19 then to Boston’s Mass General. place on Saturday, June • Wildlife Photos – 25 He was being treated with 22nd. (Photo courtesy of Check out prattcars.com burns originally reported as to the family) • Tom the Cat – 32 US Route 1, Calais • 207-454-0600 PAGE 2 service.” This, of course, will want to be kept accountable Broadband stimulate competitive pricing for our actions here. We want (continued from page 1) among providers, as customers you all to want our service. Dan Sullivan, President of can shop around for the best We want the competition to Downeast Broadband Utility, pricing and service options. come in and drive you to us,” told those in attendance that he “The taxpayers in these two he said. has “been inundated by other towns [of Calais and Bai- McAfee provided an expla- towns, from other states, how leyville] own that network, so nation of how the open-access we built this model, how did if an ISP (internet service pro- network will work. “DBU this work…” He said other vider) decides to no longer be owns the fiber, they run the area towns are very interested there, they walk out the door, construction, they are respon- in connecting to this network. another comes in because you sible for all the loans and con- A major benefit of fiber, own the infrastructure. That tracts, and they pay an operator Sullivan explained, “is its sym- is a huge, huge piece to this,” to manage the network,” he metrical capabilities, the fact Sullivan stated. And those said, adding that the operator that you get the same speed up internet providers leasing the is Riverside Electric. “You, as and down.” This eliminates network will generate revenue the customer, will never talk buffering and allows for the for DBU. to DBU… use of multiple devices simul- Also providing information “Then there’s an operator taneously without interruption, at the Business After Hours that’s responsible for plac- unlike with coaxial. With fiber event was Tim McAfee, CEO ing all the orders from the optic internet access, there are of Pioneer Broadband. Pioneer network, all the repairs, all no electricity disruptions as Broadband is the designer for of the operation, the money, with cable internet connection, the network and has been hired everything goes through this therefore, a more consistent as the construction and engi- operator. Then there’s the service. neering firm for the network, a retailer, that’s us, the internet Sullivan stated, “This par- project it won by bid. McAfee service provider. We’re going ticular network is called an presented the technical aspects to bring you services through open-access, dark fiber net- and updates of the project. that fiber.” work. There’s no signal in He informed the audience Retailers such as Pioneer it. All this is is a cable and a that once the project is com- Broadband will interact with Dan Sullivan, President of Downeast Broadband Utility, addresses plete and ready for customer the operator when a customer the audience at the Business After Hours public meeting held last telephone pole all around these week. (Photo by Jayna Smith) two communities. It’s then up access, Pioneer Broadband has called the retailer for ser- to an internet service provider will be DBU’s first provider. vice. “In no way does the like Pioneer, Axiom, GWI, “And we want more providers. owner (DBU) talk to the end- ber deadline, although some point, those ISPs can advertise and others to then sell you the We want that competition. We user. The towns deal with the areas could be ready as early for and hook-up customers. operator and the retailers. It’s as mid-July. More information and up- just a highway, but it’s a really As phases--or areas--are dates on Downeast Broadband big highway.” completed, DBU will take Utility can be found on Fa- Maps were shown indicat- ownership and notify all pre- cebook (www.facebook.com/ ing service locations. McAfee approved ISPs, a step taken to downeastbroadband) or its said it has taken 35 miles of ensure that no one ISP has an website (www.downeastbroad- fiber-optic cables in Baileyville advantage over another. At that band.com). and 47 in Calais. “We’re talk- ing about 85 miles of fiber Let us help you get your home ready for summer! that your communities have come together and desired and Toddler from 4 p.m.