MAINE (WMTW) – If you have a Maine E-ZPass and you see a red or yellow light flash and a message to “Call Customer Service” display when you pass through a toll booth, you can ignore it for now.

The Maine Turnpike Authority says there is a system interruption with one of its toll system providers.

“While this message may cause confusion, it can be disregarded until further notice. The issue is causing a delay in transaction processing and does not indicate a problem with individual E-ZPass accounts. Toll transactions are still being recorded and will be posted to accounts once the system catches up,” the MTA said in a press release. “Rest assured, there is no need to contact MTA Customer Service if you see the ‘Call Customer Service’ message.”

The MTA said Friday that the provider had identified the issue and was working to restore full functionality.

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Avery Bariteau, Fryeburg Academy sophomore: Bariteau was at her best on the biggest stage, posting the fastest 200-meter dash time in Maine this season (26.10 seconds) at the Class B meet. She placed third in the 55-meter dash (7.47) at states and 10th in the 300-meter dash (41.14) at New Englands.

Shealyn Brochu, Morse senior: Brochu set a KVAC Class B championship meet record in the 1-mile run (5:00.81), beating the record she set last year by nearly five seconds. She then won the state title in 5:04.03 before posting her best time of the season (5:00.13) in the event to place third at New Englands.

Sophia Chase, Bangor junior: Chase was the only girl to win three state titles this year, topping the podium in the 200-meter dash (26.30), 400-meter dash (1:00.65) and long jump (17 feet, 8 1/4 inches) in Class A. She was also a member of a 4×200 relay team that set a state record (1:45.72) at New Balance Indoor Nationals.

Ashley Connolly, Gorham senior: Connolly stole the show at the SMAA championships, winning the 55-meter dash (7.46), 200-meter dash (27.07) and 400-meter dash (1:00.70). She then claimed the 55 title in 7.32 at Class A states, where she also finished runner-up to Chase by only 0.01 second in the 200.

Laurel Driscoll, Scarborough junior: Driscoll was a top runner in the 1-mile for Scarborough, winning Class A (5:04.01) and SMAA (5:11.21) titles in the event before earning sixth place at New Englands (5:04.33). She also placed second in the 2-mile run (11:24.84) at Class A states for the runner-up Red Storm.

Teanne Ewings, Greater Houlton Christian senior: One of the state’s premier distance runners regardless of the season, Ewings dominated the Eastern Maine Indoor Track League once again this winter. At Class B states, she defended her title in the 2-mile run (11:13.39) and placed second in the 1-mile run (5:06.61).

Jacqueline Franklin, Greely senior: Franklin claimed Class B (1:02.02) and Western Maine Conference (1:01.99) titles in the 400-meter dash and was part of Greely’s state runner-up 4×200-meter relay team (1:52.15). She helped the Rangers win their 17th state championship.

Isabella Harmon, Scarborough junior: Harmon was one of Maine’s most exceptional field athletes this winter, winning the Class A high jump (5-6) and pole vault (10-0) state titles for the Red Storm. At a Jan. 9 meet, she cleared 11-2 1/2 in the vault, the second-best mark by a Class A competitor statewide since 2014.

Samantha Moore, Portland senior: After posting Maine’s second-best 800-meter run time since 2014 (2:13.53) at the Riverhawk Invitational, Moore defended her Class A title in the event with a time of 2:21.27. She was also state runner-up in the 1-mile (5:04.66) and placed sixth in the 1,000-meter run at New Englands (2:58.50).

Tayla Pelletier, Windham senior: Pelletier claimed Class A titles in the triple jump (36 feet, 8 1/2 inches) and 55-meter hurdles (8.46 seconds) and later placed third in the long jump at the New England championships (19-1). She also won all three events at the SMAA championships (35-8, 8.59, 17-3 1/2).

Coach of the Year

Alan Mosca, Bangor: Mosca had already built the Rams into a juggernaut, and this year, his program cemented itself a full-fledged dynasty by winning its fourth Class A state title since 2020. In addition to Chase’s wins at the state championship meet, Bangor also won the Class A crown in the 4×200 relay (Madeline Thai, Jalynn Williams, Gabby Goding, Bayley Fryer). The Rams earned points in 13 events, enough to beat a strong Scarborough team for the title.

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Over the past 13 years, great white sharks have increasingly made their presence known off Maine’s coast. More than 100 individual sharks have been detected, with the majority of sightings occurring in recent years and notably in shallow waters. This shift in behavior has prompted researchers to dive deeper into understanding what these sharks are doing in Maine’s waters, and their latest findings have just been published in Frontiers in Marine Science. The research is the result of collaboration between the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and several other organizations.

“We are excited to have this study published and continue to expand our understanding of white sharks in the western North Atlantic and the coastal waters in Maine,” said Matt Davis, the lead author of the study and a scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources. “This work could not have been done without the collaboration of many researchers and organizations, and we thank everyone involved.”

This study is particularly significant because it marks the first time that researchers have been able to track the movements of white sharks over time in the region. The effort started in 2020, following a tragic event when a swimmer was killed by a white shark off the coast of Harpswell, marking Maine’s first recorded fatal shark bite. In response to this incident, officials at the Maine DMR worked closely with other groups to expand the study of white sharks and their behavior in Maine’s coastal waters. The team used an array of receivers placed along Maine’s coastline, from York and Ogunquit to Kennebunk and Reid State Park. These receivers were designed to detect sharks that had been tagged off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Hilton Head, South Carolina.

With the data collected over the years, researchers were able to develop a clearer picture of the sharks’ movements and behavior patterns in the area. The findings show that these sharks are spending time in waters less than 50 meters (164 feet) deep off Maine, with peak sightings occurring between July and September; this aligns with previous observations of white sharks using similar habitats in other regions. But what stands out in this recent study is how often these sharks are detected during daylight hours. Half of the shark detections occurred during the day, a time when beaches are typically busy with human activity. This was particularly true along areas like Ogunquit, Kennebunk, and Head Beach in Phippsburg, which had some of the highest numbers of shark detections.

Despite the uptick in shark sightings, the team also found that the frequency of white shark detections along Maine’s beaches was still relatively low compared to other regions where these sharks are known to frequent. For example, areas off Cape Cod, which has long been known as a hotspot for white sharks, saw far more frequent detections. The team emphasized that while the presence of sharks in Maine waters is notable, there is no reason to believe that humans are at significant risk. While sharks are often feared, they are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, playing an important role in regulating the populations of other marine species. Their presence in Maine’s waters suggests a healthy marine environment, which could be beneficial for the overall ecosystem.

The scientists hope the findings of this study will help inform future management strategies in Maine. By understanding where and when white sharks are most likely to be detected, researchers and policymakers can better communicate with the public about how to safely enjoy Maine’s beaches without unnecessary fear. As Maine continues to see more shark detections in its waters, studies like this will be crucial in ensuring that shark conservation efforts continue while also keeping human safety a priority.