Northeast
Wealthy Maine couple accused of killing trees to secure ocean view, poisoning public beach in the process
Two Maine millionaires are bickering in court over accusations that one poisoned the other’s trees to score the ultimate ocean view — and that in doing so, a lethal herbicide leached into their small community’s only public beach.
Lisa Gorman, wife of the late LL Bean president Leon Gorman, claims that her neighbor applied herbicide to her oak trees without consent in 2021, The Associated Press reported.
Neighbor Amelia Bond, former CEO of St. Louis Foundation, then offered to split the cost to remove the dying trees from the front of the Camden home in 2022, according to legal documents reviewed by the AP. This gave Bond an unobstructed view of Penobscot Bay, an idyllic harbor filled with lobster boats, yachts and schooners.
The destruction didn’t stop at the Gorman property. Herbicide Tebuthiuron spread next door to the town’s only public seaside beach, prompting a legal investigation. Residents were seen walking their dogs just 500 feet away from the soil where the herbicide, lethal to aquatic plants, was detected, according to the AP.
NORTH KOREA AGREES TO STOP SENDING BALLOONS WITH MANURE, TRASH TO SOUTH KOREA
The homes of Lisa Gorman, front, and Amelia and Arthur Bond are seen in Camden, Maine, on June 4. The Bonds, a wealthy and well-connected Missouri couple, poisoned their neighbor’s trees to secure a view of Camden Harbor, outraging residents in the seaside community. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Bond and her husband, Arthur Bond III, an architect and the nephew of former U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, have paid thousands to the state and $1.5 million to Gorman, the town’s planning and development director told the AP.
The couple, part-time transplants from Missouri, are also on the hook for further monitoring and remediation to the Laite Memorial Beach and its park, and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has agreed to investigate the incident further.
Many residents of Camden, made up of just 5,000 residents, don’t think the fines are adequate punishment, with some calling for harsher fines or even criminal prosecution.
“Anybody dumb enough to poison trees right next to the ocean should be prosecuted, as far as I’m concerned,” Paul Hodgson, a resident, told the AP.
CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS VOTE TO BAN ‘REUSABLE’ PLASTIC BAGS FROM GROCERY STORES
This undated image provided by Vinal Applebee shows the home of Lisa Gorman in the foreground, the poisoned oak trees behind her home and the home of the perpetrators behind the dead trees in Camden, Maine. (Vinal Applebee via AP)
The maximum fine that can be imposed by the Maine Board of Pesticide Control is $4,500, which the Gormans already paid. Rep. Vicki Doudera suggested that perhaps there should be a sliding scale for wealthier perpetrators.
“It makes me so livid,” Doudera told the AP. “This situation, the minute I heard about it, I thought, ‘Wow! These people are going to get a slap on the wrist.’ That’s just not right.”
An attorney for the Bond couple told the outlet their clients “continue to cooperate with the town of Camden, state of Maine and the Gormans” and “continue to take the allegations against them seriously.”
A cruise ship crosses Penobscot Bay off the coast of Camden, Maine, on June 4. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The herbicide at the center of the skirmish, Tebuthiuron, was also used by an angry Alabama football fan to avenge his team’s loss by killing oak trees at rival Auburn in 2010.
That fan, Harvey Updyke, admitted to poisoning the trees and received jail time, the AP reported.
The substance is notoriously difficult to remove or remediate. It does not break down, so it continues to kill other plants after it is applied to one tree. Apart from removing the affected soil entirely, the only solution is to dilute the Tebuthiuron and wait two years for the substance to thin out enough to be safe for surrounding plants.
COMPANIES AGREE TO $2M PAYOUT IN ATLANTIC OIL DUMPING CASE
Layers of fog drift over in Camden, Maine, on June 4. (Associated Press)
Lynn Harrington, a Camden resident, questioned whether the Bonds should show their faces around town, where they are members of the Camden Yacht Club. Another resident, Dwight Johnson, characterized the Bonds’ offer to split the cost of tree removal after causing their death as “underhanded.”
Most acknowledged that the fabulously wealthy part-time residents “from away” — the Mainer’s expression for out-of-towners — have enough money to comfortably shoulder fines and get away with their actions.
“They just pay the fine because they have plenty of money,” Hodgson said. “That’s the town we live in.”
Read the full article from Here
Two offensive picks bookend a linebacker and a safety on Day 3 as the Texans selected WR Lewis Bond out of Boston College with pick No. 204 in the 6th round of the draft.
At just over 5-10 and 190 pounds, Bond hauled in 213 receptions during his time at BC.
In 2025 he was fourth in the nation with 7.3 receptions per game and finished with 993 yards.
Former BC QB Thomas Castellanos called Bond an unbelievable receiver who can do it all. Castellanos described Bond as a very physical receiver who can make plays in space and break tackles, adding that he was open a lot and could have been targeted even more.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Indiana tight end Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Our staff weighs in with their thoughts on the pick.
Ryland Bickley: Here’s your TE3/FB for Mike McCarthy. Nowakowski probably would’ve been a “my guy” in this draft class if I had been able to watch him more. He’s an extremely high-effort run blocker with solid mobility who should be able to find a role on offense right away. Nowakowski is a bit undersized for a tight end and his testing is just OK, but as a fullback I like the pick. We can quibble a bit with taking a returner and fullback with the team’s latest two picks, but in the fifth round you can’t complain about good football players. Grade: B+
Mike Nicastro: Nowakowski is a perfect replacement for Connor Heyward because of his versatility. He’ll play tight end, fullback, and can contribute on special teams. He played a pivotal role on Indiana’s National Championship run – the guy just feels like a winner. Although it still feels like a pick based more on need opposed to value, I like this one much better than Wetjen. Grade: B+
Alex Hanczar: Pittsburgh adds yet another big school player in the form of 2026 National Champion Riley Nowakowski. The departures of Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward led many to believe the Steelers would add depth at the position and here it is. Aside from solely playing TE, Nowakowksi will likely fill the Heyward role at the FB position. At 6-foot-two 250 pounds, I would not be surprised to see the former Hoosier lineup under center for the ‘tush push’ for the black and gold. Grade: B
Joey Bray: Welcome back Connor Heyward. In all seriousness, Riley Nowakowski is an interesting pick for the Steelers. They needed to take another tight end, but Nowakowski is more of a fullback type. He played a blocking role for Indiana last year when he did line up a tight end, although he’s 32 catches last season were more than he had in his previous four collegiate seasons combined. Nowakowski isn’t particularly fast or dynamic and doesn’t have the size to be a legit receiving threat. He is a good football player and it makes sense that Mike McCarthy would take a fullback, but taking a return man and fullback back-to-back in the mid rounds is an curious use of resources. Grade: C-
Ryan Parish: As harsh as I was on using a 4th rounder on a kick returner-only player, I’m to the moon for this selection. I highlighted Nowakowski in my Tight End draft gems list as a perfect fit for the John Kuhn/Hunter Luepke FB role in Mike McCarthy’s offense. Nowakowski is short for a tight end but perfect for a blocker for a power run scheme. He’s also gotta decent hands and tackle-breaking ability for underneath routes that should make Aaron Rodgers happy. This was a meat and potatoes pick, and yet another sign that the Steelers are veering into a gap/power running scheme. Phenomenal fit. Grade: A++
Jarrett Bailey: The Steelers were always going to take a tight end, being that they released Jonnu Smith and didn’t bring back Connor Heyward. Nowakowski will play that Heyward role. Special teams and No. 3 tight end/fullback. Not great. Not abysmal. Fine. Grade: C
Temperatures will warm into the 50s for much of the state unless you’re at the shoreline or near the New York border.
Rain showers will begin in southwest Connecticut this afternoon before slowly spreading to the east through the evening
Much of the state will see rain tonight unless you’re in the far northeast corner of Connecticut.
A few showers could linger in southern and southeastern Connecticut tomorrow morning.
Clouds will linger through much of Sunday with temperatures in the 50s for more of the state.
Monday and Tuesday will be sunnier and seasonal with temperatures well into the 60s.
Cloud cover and rain chances return by the middle of the week.
-
Boston, MA19 seconds ago
PICK IS IN: WR Lewis Bond from Boston College drafted at No. 204 overall
-
Denver, CO6 minutes agoNew Broncos TE Justin Joly posts welcome message
-
Seattle, WA12 minutes agoSeattle Mariners Win a Home Run Derby vs St. Louis Cardinals 11-9
-
San Diego, CA18 minutes agoSan Diego Manager Gives Stone-Cold Response to Hirving Lozano Return Speculations
-
Milwaukee, WI24 minutes agoCoffee chain 7 Brew opens its first Milwaukee location
-
Atlanta, GA30 minutes ago
Kendal Daniels College Highlights | 2026 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons
-
Minneapolis, MN36 minutes agoFederal investigators looking into fatal plane crash, according to officials
-
Indianapolis, IN42 minutes agoIndianapolis Colts Select Ohio State Defensive End Caden Curry in Sixth Round of 2026 NFL Draft
