Current event #18: Minneapolis cop who knelt on man’s neck charged with murder

The Minneapolis police officer who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died in custody after pleading that he could not breathe, was arrested Friday and charged with murder. Derek Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, after the office gathered enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt  The charges come after three days of protests, which had been escalating in violence.“Minneapolis and St. Paul are on fire. The fire is still smoldering in our streets. The ashes are symbolic of decades and generations of pain, of anguish unheard,” Walz said, adding. “Now generations of pain is manifesting itself in front of the world — and the world is watching.”

I feel like the police officer should be charged with murder because George Floyd said multiple times that he couldn’t breath. Although he kept saying that he couldn’t breath the police officer kept pushing his knee into Georges neck. If all this wouldn’t have happened the protest and all violence wouldn’t be going on. It is sad that racial profiling is going on. So many black people have lost their lives because the police were racist. Many of these black’s ancestors fought for civil rights. Blacks have the rights as us but in our society it doesn’t feel like that. 

Current Event #17: Old Town High School student charged after vandalizing athletic fields

An Old Town High School student was charged with criminal mischief for allegedly throwing a rock that shattered the glass backboard of a basketball hoop on school grounds, according to the Old Town Police Department. Earlier this month, someone had ripped out the bases on the baseball field, dragged soccer nets across the field and left field hockey goals upturned on a fence. While people in the area volunteered to help put things back, athletic director Jeremy Bousquet threatened to close the facility if it happened again.The student turned himself in to police Tuesday and is expected to appear in court on July 6 for the criminal mischief charge.

To think that two different students would both vandalize school property. If I were the authentic director I would threaten to close the facility too. These kids have the privilege to use these facilities but instead they chose to vandalize it. At least the kid turned himself in because it might lower their penalty. But if he wasn’t to do it in the first place he wouldn’t be in this mess.

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/05/26/news/bangor/old-town-high-school-student-charged-after-vandalizing-athletic-fields/

Current Event #16:3 more Mainers die as another 52 coronavirus cases are detected

Another three Mainers have died as health officials on Thursday confirmed 52 more coronavirus cases have been detected in Maine. There have now been 2,189 cases across all of Maine’s counties since the outbreak began here in March Of those, 1,951 have been confirmed positive, while 238 are likely positive, according to the Maine CDC. Out of those 2,189 cases 84 have died. 

For Maine having a population of 1.344 million and having only 2,189 people come down with Corona is quite good.  Most fo the people who have died were over the age of 75. Also many of the deaths are assumed to have corona but who knows what they could have actually died from. The funeral home get an extra six hundreds dollars from the government if they put death from corona on their death certificate so who knows how many people that have died during this time actually had corona. 

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/05/28/news/state/3-more-mainers-die-as-another-52-coronavirus-cases-are-detected/

Current Event #15: Aroostook County craftsman uses his rolling pin talent to help his community

A few weeks ago, furniture craftsman Terry Kelly was cleaning out his storage space. As he worked, he came across a pair of French-style rolling pins he’d made years ago. Since the discovery was a few days before Mother’s Day, he decided to post photos of the rolling pins on his  Facebook page and offer them for free to whoever wanted them.The response was overwhelming so Kelly is making more rolling pins, and instead of selling them outright, he’s giving them to people in return for the recipient sending a donation to the Martha and Mary’s Kitchen.

These people are getting the rolling pins they want and Terry is getting to do something that he loves. But not only that he gets to do something that he loves, he also gets to help out his local food kitchen. In these times so many people are getting laid off their jobs soup pantries have seen a spike in demand so any donations help them even if it is just a small one. This is what people should strive to be and not be so greedy about money and help their community out.  

Current event #14:Man killed in Weld motorcycle crash.

An Oxford resident Thomas Owens was killed Wednesday May 27th when his motorcycle crashed in Weld. Thomas Owens, 56, was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle north on Route 142, also known as Mill Street, about 11:30 p.m. when he lost control at a curve and crashed, according to the Maine State Police. Owens was not wearing a helmet, and he died at the scene, the state police said.The crash remains under investigation.

It is very sad to hear that he died at such a young age, he had so much more to live for in life. A fatality might have avoided if he had warn a helmet. Many motorcyclist are killed yearly because they either lose control or other drivers aren’t paying enough attention.  So many people lose loved ones due to motorcycle crashes and these fatalities could easily be avoided.

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/05/28/news/mid-maine/man-killed-in-weld-motorcycle-crash/

Current Event #13- Bangor High couple stage a ‘porch prom’ after coronavirus upends plans

Bangor senior Aislyn Tkacs plans were turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among with all the events she wouldn’t experience senior prom was one. She gave up on the thought of being able to do her senior prom but her prom date Owen Smiley, didn’t give up. Neither did his mom, Sarah Smiley, who vowed to help the couple celebrate in style.Sarah Smiley said her son was sad that Aislyn would miss out on her prom, and wondered if there was something he could do. They had planned a trip to Sunset Rock in Dedham for more photos and dinner at the Lucerne Inn it was one of the closest open establishments that seemed to set the proper tone for a prom date.

  Many seniors are missing out on senior prom, graduation, and so much more. Many other couples are having quarantine proms. This just goes to show that you can brighten the hard times by just doing something small. This also goes to show that you can not take everything for granted because it can be taken away in a blink of an eye. We might think online school and missing out on stuff is hard but we will get through it . We are all in this together and  we are all experiencing the same hard times.  

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/05/29/up-beat/no-school-no-problem-bangor-high-couple-stages-two-person-porch-prom/

Current Event #12:18 firefighters resign amid disagreement with town officials

A group of 18 firefighters of the Paris Maine Fire Department quit Wednesday night. They quit because the Town Manager Dawn Noyes reversed a decision made by Chief Mark Blaquire. Firefighter Jon Longley said Noyes and human resource manager Paula Andrews reinstated an individual. The town manager made this decision after the chief and several officers had decided to strip him of his rank. Blaquire originally made the decision out of safety concerns.

I think it is very sad that a group of 18 firefighters left just because of one thing. I also think that the town manager shouldn't have reversed the decision if it was made because of safety concerns. I personally think that the firefighters made the right decision of leaving if there was safety concerns. Hopefully the Fire Department get more members in place of the 18 who left. 

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/02/27/news/lewiston-auburn/18-firefighters-resign-amid-disagreement-with-town-officials/