Maine

‘Pursuing every avenue’: What we know about the paddleboarder killed in Maine

Published

9 months ago

July 15, 2025

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‘Pursuing every avenue’: What we know about the paddleboarder killed in Maine

Crime

“Detectives continue to follow up on all leads, and tips are still coming in,” Maine State Police said nearly two weeks after Sunshine Stewart’s death.

Authorities continue to investigate the death of Sunshine Stewart, 48, of Tenants Harbor, Maine. GoFundMe

Nearly two weeks after a paddleboarder in Maine was killed, police have released few details about the homicide that has rocked a close-knit fishing community.

Sunshine Stewart, 48, went missing the evening of July 2 after she took her paddleboard out on Crawford Pond in Union, Maine. Stewart, a resident of Tenants Harbor, was found dead after officials responded to help search for her at 1 a.m. on Thursday, July 3.

Police announced that Stewart’s death was ruled a homicide, but have not released her exact cause of death. Anyone who may have seen her or anything near 100 Acre Island, the landmass in the middle of the pond, are asked to contact police.

After Maine State Police found the woman’s body, the agency established a tipline and warned residents to stay vigilant.

Almost two weeks later, there have been no arrests.

“Detectives continue to follow up on all leads, and tips are still coming in,” Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine State Police, said Monday. “Detectives are actively pursuing every avenue, and we will provide updates when it’s appropriate and responsible to do so.”

Moss noted that releasing Stewart’s cause of death “could compromise the integrity of the investigation.”

Victim’s sister, small, Maine communities react

Kim Ware, Stewart’s sister who organized an online fundraiser for funeral expenses, called Stewart “the strongest person I know.”

Ware, who could not be reached for comment, told ABC News Stewart was a marine biologist, the “world’s best bartender, sternman, lobsterman and boat captain” and was working as a contractor.

“Anyone blessed to be in her presence was in awe of her, her strength, courage, character, her energy and light,” Ware said. “Truly an amazing woman. Now we have to rally and give her justice!”

Stewart grew up in the Union area and attended Medomak Valley High School and Bradford College in Haverhill, according to the Midcoast Villager. A longtime friend told the local outlet that Stewart had rented a camper and was spending the summer at Mic Mac Campground in Union.

Residents in midcoast Maine, including Union, the area around Crawford Pond, and Tenants Harbor, are unnerved by the killing and the lack of information from officials.

“The whole thing is just really hard to wrap your head around,” an employee at the Tenants Harbor General Store told the Bangor Daily News, where Stewart was a familiar face. “A lot of people knew her, and you know, it’s devastating when something like that happens.”

Steve Betts, a longtime reporter for the Villager covering Stewart’s death, spoke to News Center Maine about the case, which he described as “the biggest mystery I’ve been involved in since I’ve been here.”

“There’s no question people are on edge,” Betts told the newscenter. “People are saying it. People are saying on social media. People I’ve talked with, they’re concerned for their daughters, they’re concerned for their granddaughters, their wives. And they’re [law enforcement] telling people lock your doors.”

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.

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Maine

Regular gas tops $4, premium over $5 in Maine amid severe Trump Iran threats

Published

8 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Regular gas tops , premium over in Maine amid severe Trump Iran threats

Brady Chapman fills up one of four trucks he uses for his business Wednesday at Irving Gas Station in Bethel. Regular gas was $4.09 at the station. (Rose Lincoln/Staff Writer)

Maine’s average price for regular gasoline rose to its highest point since August 2022, as the conflict in Iran continues to drive up global oil costs.

A gallon of regular gas averaged $4.03 here Tuesday, ticking up more than 6 cents overnight, according to data aggregated by motor club AAA. That price has risen 38.5% — about $1.12 — since Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel struck Iran, triggering a conflict that has since spilled into the broader Middle East.

Maine’s average price crossed the $4 threshold a week after the national average did so. The national average was up to $4.14 Tuesday, AAA data shows.

Premium gas was up to $5.07 per gallon in Maine, topping $5 for the first time in nearly four years. Diesel, meanwhile, averaged about $5.90 per gallon Tuesday.

Collectively, those figures mark the state’s highest average gas prices since the summer of 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine drove gas prices to record highs. A gallon of regular gas peaked at $5.09 that June, the highest ever recorded by AAA.

This week, Maine’s prices were the 21st highest among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to AAA. California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada and Oregon all saw average prices above $5 per gallon Tuesday.

This is a developing story.

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Maine

Tennessee forward & Maine native J.P. Estrella enters transfer portal

Published

20 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee forward & Maine native J.P. Estrella enters transfer portal

Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella, a Scarborough native and former South Portland standout, announced earlier today that he is entering the transfer portal.

Estrella shared the news in a social media post, writing that his time at Tennessee “means more to me than I can put into words” and that he’ll “cherish the time I spent there.”

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Maine

This Maine Restaurant’s Lobster Roll Is 3 Feet Long… Yes, Really!

Published

1 day ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

This Maine Restaurant’s Lobster Roll Is 3 Feet Long… Yes, Really!

This iconic spot is a “road-trip-worthy” Maine destination, but can you handle their newest addition?

Spring has sprung, which means plenty of people will take a well-deserved break from the daily grind and hit the open road. If you’re heading out to explore some cool Maine traditions—and you love lobster rolls—we’ve found the perfect stop.

The Taste of Maine restaurant has been serving up delicious seafood since 1978. They’re famous for a few things: a giant inflatable lobster that covers about 75% of the roof, and their claim to fame—the “World’s Largest Lobster Roll.”

These legendary lobster rolls are 22 inches long, and over the years, many customers have taken on the dare of finishing one. If you succeed, you earn membership in the “Clean Plate Club”—no easy feat given the size of this lobster roll.

But this year, Taste of Maine has gone even bigger. Introducing the “Monster” Lobster Roll: 3 feet long, packed with 2½ pounds of fresh Maine lobster meat—tail, claw, and knuckle—all on a 6-inch roll. This colossal creation carries a price tag of $259.99.

Read More: Maine Amusement Park Reveals New Family Attraction For 2026

Located at 161 Main Street in Woolwich, Maine, Taste of Maine is now open for its 48th season.

One of the best things about Taste of Maine is watching people take on these enormous lobster rolls. Guests love filming themselves attempting to finish them, including a Guinness World Records titleholder for “World’s Largest Mouth Gape.”

Spring Hours:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM

To see just how long Taste of Maine has been a local favorite, check out this classic TV commercial from the 1980s!