Anna McDougal said being inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame last month was one of the best moments of her life.
The Wiscasset woman said skiing in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria was awesome, and a big deal, “but I think this was more of a big deal.”
She loved the Hall’s induction ceremony, including the heavy trophy and the standing ovation she and the other inductees got, McDougal, 45, shared in a phone interview Monday.
She said her whole family was at the ceremony; so were her ski coach Connie French-Smith, Special Olympics Maine and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. In a same-day post at x.com, Bellows called McDougal’s induction historic, a first for a Special Olympics athlete in Maine.
Last January, the Hall announced this year’s inductees to be. And McDougal said Monday, as a result of being part of the Hall’s Class of 2024, she has a new friend, fellow 2024 inductee Kissy Walker, the award-winning Husson College basketball coach.
“It’s nice to have a friend I can relate to about sports, someone who understands me,” McDougal said.
In the 2017 Games, McDougal won silver in Alpine novice slalom and bronze in Alpine novice giant slalom.
Her favorite memories from the Sept. 15 Maine Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, were having her family there and the standing ovation. “That meant a lot to me.”
Giving her speech, she got to talk about determination, being prepared and her love of skiing, she said. “I think my speech was very powerful because I showed a lot of emotions, and I just wanted to cry, because I was so happy in that moment. And all of the inductees, they were in that moment, too. That’s what I loved about it.”
What’s next for the artist, author and advocate for people with disabilities? McDougal’s latest book, “Ski Dreams,” is still set to come out. McDougal said it will be paired with her earlier autobiography, “A Look Back,” about growing up with Down Syndrome. “Two books in one.”
And she will keep on skiing, for her love of it and always in loving memory of her grandfather Harry Shartar, who was proud of her skiing.
While influenza remains the top concern for Maine public health experts, other viruses are also currently circulating, including norovirus and COVID-19.
“Influenza is clearly the main event,” said Dr. Cheryl Liechty, a MaineHealth infectious disease specialist. “The curve in terms of the rise of influenza cases was really steep.”
Maine reported 1,343 flu cases for the week ending Jan. 3, an uptick from the 1,283 cases recorded the previous week, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations increased to 147 from 108 during the same time periods.
“I hope the peak is now,” Liechty said, “but I’m not really sure.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday that all of New England, except for Vermont, is currently experiencing “very high” levels of influenza. Vermont is in the “moderate” category.
“What we are seeing, overwhelmingly, is the flu,” said Andrew Donovan, associate vice president of infection prevention for Northern Light Health. “We are seeing both respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in our patients.”
Norovirus also appears to be circulating, although due to its short duration and because it’s less severe than the flu, public health data on the illness — which causes gastrointestinal symptoms that typically resolve within a few days — is not as robust.
“Norovirus is the gastrointestinal scourge of New England winters and cruise ships,” Liechty said.
According to surveillance data at wastewater treatment plants in Portland, Bangor and Lewiston, norovirus levels detected in those communities are currently “high.” The treatment plants participate in WastewaterSCAN, which reports virus levels in wastewater through a program run by Stanford University and Emory University.
Dr. Genevieve Whiting, a Westbrook pediatrician and secretary of the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said viruses are prevalent right now, especially the flu and norovirus.
“For my patients right now, it’s a rare encounter that I hear everyone in a family has been healthy,” Whiting said. “I’ve had families come in and say their entire family has had norovirus. Several of my patients have had ER visits for suspected norovirus, where they needed IV fluids because they were dehydrated.”
Both Liechty and Whiting said they are seeing less respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, likely because there has been good uptake of the new RSV vaccine, which is recommended for older people and those who are pregnant. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
“The RSV vaccine has been a real success, as RSV was a leading cause of hospitalizations for babies,” Whiting said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases increased to 610 in the final week of 2025, compared to 279 the previous week. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are available at primary care, pharmacies and clinics across the state.
“If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet,” Liechty said, “you should beat a hasty path to get your shot.”
Defensemen Max Wanner was re-assigned to the Maine Mariners from the Providence Bruins on Thursday. Defenseman Michael Underwood was also re-assigned to Maine.
Wanner, 22, was acquired by the Boston Bruins when they traded Trent Federic to Edmonton last March. He played in 15 games for the AHL Providence Bruins at the end of last season, and seven this season.
Underwood returns for his second stint with the Mariners. He appeared in 67 games with Maine last season.
2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
Power bank feature creep is out of control
Defensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
Viral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
Pat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
Oregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
Nebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
Damon Wilson II, Missouri DE in legal dispute with Georgia, to re-enter transfer portal: Source