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Maine

Video captures student assaulting freshman at Maine high school

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Video captures student assaulting freshman at Maine high school


WALDOBORO, Maine — A freshman at Medomak Valley High School was attacked Wednesday afternoon in a vicious assault captured on video.

The father of the child, who is not being named to protect the privacy of the student, said bullying is rampant in the schools.

The assault occurred outside the school as students were getting on buses. The video shows a larger male student knocking down a smaller male and then repeatedly punching him in the head. Nearby students did not intervene, with some watching and others walking by the assault. Two adults are seen rushing to the scene and the assailant got up and walked away as one of the adults directed him to go to the office.

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The father said this was the fourth time his son has been assaulted at the school since classes started this year.

“They have posters throughout the school, saying bullying is not tolerated but they don’t do anything,” the father said.

He said, in one instance, a junior in the gym picked up his son and threw him to the floor, breaking his son’s cellphone. In another, a girl came up from behind him in the hallway and knocked him to the floor.

The father said he is frustrated with the lack of action by the school resource officer throughout the year. He said the officer asked his son if he did anything to provoke the assault and that is trying to shift the blame to the victim.

A student filmed the Wednesday assault and shared it on social media.

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Regional School Unit 40 Superintendent Thomas Ambrose issued a letter to parents Thursday morning

“I want to thank everyone who reached out to me about the fight at the high school yesterday. I’m writing this letter to let everyone know the following: 1. Fighting and violence at RSU 40 will not be tolerated. 2. There will be consequences for students who have violated our code of conduct or district policies once the investigation is complete. 3. We are working in collaboration with law-enforcement and our attorney to make sure that the investigation is conducted appropriately and that laws and policies for student behavior and discipline are being implemented appropriately. I’ve received some questions about the process for communication when an incident like this occurs. It is important to remember that students are protected by State and federal privacy laws including FERPA: the Federal Education Rights to Privacy Act. It is very likely that little to no information about the discipline or consequences for situations like this will be shared publicly. Students have a right to confidentiality, and this right often causes people to think that things are being swept under the rug or not addressed. I want to assure everyone that is not the case and we will be dealing with the discipline aspects of this situation as soon as the investigation is complete. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time. My email address is Thomas_Ambrose@rsu40.org,” the letter stated.

Medomak serves students from Waldoboro, Friendship, Warren, Union and Washington.

This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.



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Maine

Amtrak train strikes, kills man in Old Orchard Beach, Maine

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Amtrak train strikes, kills man in Old Orchard Beach, Maine


A 51-year-old man was fatally struck by an Amtrak train in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, on Thursday afternoon, and police believe alcohol was a factor.

Old Orchard Beach Police say they responded around 2:18 p.m. to the area of the railroad tracks located off from the roadway near 133 Temple Avenue. The victim, who had been struck by a train traveling northbound, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Information obtained from witnesses suggests the man was traveling alone and walking nearby the railroad tracks moments before being struck by the train, according to police, who didn’t say why they believe alcohol was a factor in the incident.

The victim’s name is being withheld pending further investigation and notification, with police saying only that he was from Old Orchard Beach.

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Amtrak said in a statement obtained by NBC10 Boston affiliate News Center Maine that the individual was trespassing when he came into contact with the train.

Amtrak urged the public in its statement to stay off railroad property and use caution around railroad tracks and grade crossings, writing, “These incidents can affect everyone involved—those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers.”

There were no reported injuries among the 135 passengers and crew members abord the No. 683 train that was traveling from Boston to Brunswick until the incident happened on Thursday.

The added that preventing railroad incidents and fatalities is a priority for them. Amtrak is working with local authorities investigating this latest incident.

An investigation remains ongoing by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, Amtrak Police and Saco Police Department, which responded to assist.

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High bacteria advisories reported at multiple Maine swimming spots

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High bacteria advisories reported at multiple Maine swimming spots


PORTLAND (WGME) — Wednesday afternoon, Tassel Top Park officials posted on social media, reporting the beach was temporarily closed to swimming after routine testing found elevated levels of E. coli in the water.

Anna Goodnik, a visitor at the park, says she was disappointed to learn she could not swim.

“It’s a beautiful lake. I feel so sorry, it’s too bad this happened,” Goodnik said.

She says she drove from Portland to visit the park.

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“Very sad because I came from Portland, I drove 40 minutes,” Goodnik said.

Goodnik says she has been coming to Tassel Top Park for 15 years and that while the park remained open, she was hoping to get in the water.

“The water is so smooth right now, I would just like to swim in it,” Goodnik said.

Raymond Town Manager Glenn Michalowski said in a statement that the Portland Water District provides weekly test results for 18 locations around Sebago Lake. Tassel Top Beach was closed for swimming because E. coli levels exceeded state water quality standards.

Michalowski said testing indicated the presence of waterfowl in the area, which can contribute to elevated bacterial levels. The statement also noted that high E. coli counts after rain events and in areas with waterfowl activity are a normal occurrence across Maine beaches and recreational water areas.

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Ben Peierls, research director at the Lakes Environmental Association, says warmer water can lead to more bacterial growth.

“When water gets warmer, there’s more growth of bacteria,” Peierls said.

Peierls says E. coli can come from animals such as birds, dogs and other wildlife, or from human waste. He says this time of year can bring rain and runoff that carries contaminants into lakes.

“This time of year, there’s lot of rain and runoff materials coming into lakes, and it’s coming from sources where there may have been that fecal material, and it gets washed into lakes and it shows up in places people could be recreating,” Peierls said.

Tassel Top is not the only location reporting elevated bacteria levels. Ferry Beach in Scarborough and East End Beach in Portland also reported results above Maine’s safety threshold for enterococci in marine waters.

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Town officials say Tassel Top Beach will reopen once retesting confirms the water has returned to safe levels, and residents will be notified when the closure is lifted. Swimming can resume once weekly testing confirms water quality is back within safe limits.

To check the status of all beaches in the state, click here.



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Person hospitalized after shed fire in Harpswell

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Person hospitalized after shed fire in Harpswell


HARPSWELL (WGME) — The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office says a person was hospitalized after a shed fire Wednesday night.

Firefighters were called to 23 Smokehouse Road in Harpswell for a shed fire around 7 p.m.

Crews quickly put out the fire and kept it from spreading into the woods.

An unhoused person who had been living in the shed suffered burns and smoke inhalation.

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They were taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators believe the fire may have been electrical in nature.

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The fire remains under investigation.

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