UPDATE: Missing Paddleboarder Located on Graham Lake

UPDATE: A paddleboarder from Ellsworth who went missing on Graham Lake ten days ago was located Friday evening, May 15.

20-year-old Grayson Mote had gone missing while paddleboarding on Graham Lake on Tuesday, May 5. A member of his family who was out searching for him by boat located him deceased, at approximately 6:30pm, about 2/10 of a mile from the shore of Graham Lake.

A Maine Marine Patrol officer brought him to shore, and Grayson was transported to the Office of the Maine State Medical Examiner.

Mote had been the focus of an intensive water and air search that included members of the Maine Warden Service, Ellsworth Police Department, Ellsworth Fire Department, Maine Marine Patrol, Maine state Police, the Maine Forest Service and friends and family of Grayson. The search included boats, sonar, divers, submersible drones, aircraft, and ground searchers along the shore.

ORIGINAL POST: Maine Game Wardens are searching for a missing paddleboarder on Graham Lake in Ellsworth.

Game Wardens were dispatched to Graham Lake in Ellsworth, May 5, to search for a missing 20-year-old man. The man is suspected to have left his family camp on a paddle board sometime between 10:00am and 11:30am, likely without a personal floatation device.

Ellsworth Police and Fire Department personnel initially responded and searched the lake with watercraft and drones.

Game Wardens searched using watercraft during the afternoon, May 5, with a Maine Warden Service plane and a Maine Forest Service helicopter. Dive teams from the Warden Service, Marine Patrol and State Police have joined the search. The dive teams are also utilizing side scan sonar and submersible ROVs in the search.

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Lewiston Man Arrested in Early Morning 7-Eleven Robbery

Lewiston Police arrested a 44-year-old city man Friday morning, May 15, following a reported robbery at a local 7-Eleven store.

According to police, officers responded to the store at approximately 3:52am, after the store clerk reported that a male subject had entered and forcibly stolen money from behind the register. Officers quickly arrived and began searching the area. A man matching the suspect’s description was seen entering a nearby building and was apprehended without incident.

Evidence related to the robbery was located on the suspect, police said. The suspect has been identified as Samuel Hurt, 44, of Lewiston.

Hurt has been charged with:

  • Robbery
  • Theft by Unauthorized Taking

No injuries were reported during the incident. The investigation remains active.

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Medomak Valley High School Implements Shelter-in-Place Due to Off-Campus Concerns

Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro briefly went into shelter-in-place protocol Friday afternoon, May 15, out of an abundance of caution in response to concerns about an off-campus event.

In a letter sent to parents and guardians, school officials stated the protocol was initiated this afternoon and lasted approximately 40 minutes. Students remained safe and secure in their classrooms with their teachers throughout the duration.

The shelter-in-place was lifted at 1:25pm after the school received confirmation from the Police Department that there was no risk to the school community.

Our students and staff did an excellent job following procedures, allowing us to resume our normal school day promptly. We appreciate the quick response of our local law enforcement and the cooperation of our entire school community.

No further details about the nature of the off-campus event were provided in the school’s message.

School officials emphasized that the measure was precautionary and that the safety of students remained the top priority.

Medomak Valley High School serves students in the Medomak Valley region and is part of Regional School Unit 40.

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Fatal Fire in Mapleton Claims Life of Adult Woman

A woman died early Thursday morning, May 14, in a structure fire that destroyed a home on Carvell Road in Mapleton.

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the blaze, which was reported shortly after 5:00am at 258 Carvell Road. Firefighters from the Mapleton/Castle Hill/Chapman Fire Department responded immediately and received mutual aid from the Washburn Fire Department and the Presque Isle Fire Department.

While battling the flames, responders discovered the body of an adult female inside the residence. The victim has not yet been positively identified. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta will determine her identity as well as the official manner and cause of death.

The origin and cause of the fire remain under active investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The house was a total loss. No further details have been released at this time.

Authorities have not indicated whether smoke detectors were present or operating, nor have they commented on any potential contributing factors.

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Mass Casualty Explosion in Searsmont

WGME, CBS 13 is reporting a mass casualty response is underway in Searsmont after an explosion at Robbins Lumber Inc., on Main Street.

The fire reportedly started in an area where wood shavings are packed in plastic bags. It is not clear the extent of the injuries.

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Distracted Driver Crashes into Canton Barn; One Person Injured

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office says one person was injured after a distracted driver crashed into a barn in Canton, May 15.

Reports say 26-year-old Ethyn Buotte of Rumford, was distracted, went off the road near 19 Turner Street, and then crashed into the barn, which is attached to a home.

Buotte was not injured, however a passenger was taken to Rumford Hospital with minor injuries.

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Bangor Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl

33-year-old Bradley Bellfleur of Bangor is accused of conspiring with out-of-state fentanyl traffickers.

U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann has sentenced Bellfleur to six years in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty on July 23, 2024.

According to court records, Bellfleur was enrolled in the Penobscot Adult Treatment and Recovery Court in Bangor as part of his sentence for a 2022 burglary conviction. While enrolled in that court, investigators received information that he was trafficking fentanyl. A search of his residence recovered fentanyl and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Additional evidence—such as messages obtained from his cellular phones—showed that Bellfleur was working with individuals from Massachusetts and obtaining fentanyl on a regular basis for distribution in the Bangor area. Bellfleur was convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine in 2016.

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Pres. Trump meets with China’s Xi Jinping; leaders agree that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping opened their closely watched summit in Beijing with more than two hours of talks centered on global tensions, trade, Taiwan, and the escalating conflict involving Iran.

Trump discussed the Strait of Hormuz and the US-Israel war on Iran during his meeting with Xi, and according to the White House, the world leaders had a “good” meeting on Thursday and agreed that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open to support the free flow of energy”.

US Treasury Sec’y Scott Bessent said separately that he believed Beijing would do what they can to open the waterway, which he said was “very much in their interest”. Separately, a coalition of 26 countries — including United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, Qatar, and South Korea — released a joint statement backing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The countries voiced support for a defensive multinational mission that could eventually include mine-clearing operations once conditions allow.

During the discussions, Xi described the US-China relationship as one of the world’s most important partnerships and urged both countries to avoid damaging ties. He also warned that Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue between Washington and Beijing, cautioning that mishandling it could trigger serious confrontation and place the broader relationship at risk. While Chinese officials highlighted Taiwan concerns in their summary of the meeting, the American account focused more heavily on economic matters and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Trump later revealed that Xi pledged China would not provide military equipment to Iran. Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said Xi made the commitment clearly and directly. At the same time, Trump acknowledged that China intends to continue purchasing significant amounts of Iranian oil because of its long-standing economic relationship with Tehran.

The war in the Middle East and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz became major themes throughout the summit. Trump said Xi expressed support for reopening the critical shipping route and offered to help mediate with Iran if needed. “President Xi would like to see a deal made,” Trump said. “He said, ‘If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help.’” Trump added that Xi opposed restrictions and tolls in the strategically important waterway, which handles a large share of global oil shipments. According to Trump, Xi even joked during their conversation about both sides previously blocking access through the strait.

Trump also said Xi agreed to move forward with an order for 200 Boeing aircraft, a deal the president said would support American jobs. “One thing he agreed to today is he is going to order 200 jets,” Trump said, adding that Boeing had initially expected a smaller agreement.

President Trump’s visit to China continues Friday with additional meetings, a diplomatic lunch, and cultural events before he returns to Washington.

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Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks steps down amid DHS leadership changes

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael “Mike” Banks has stepped down effective immediately, becoming the latest senior immigration official to leave the Department of Homeland Security during a period of major leadership turnover under DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Banks confirmed his departure Thursday, ending a public service career that spanned nearly 37 years, including time in the U.S. Navy and multiple leadership roles within Border Patrol. In farewell remarks to staff, he said it was time to return to Texas and focus on his family and ranch. Reflecting on his tenure, Banks praised agents for transforming what he described as a “chaotic and unsecured” southern border into “the most secure border this country has ever seen.” He also noted that more work remained before achieving full operational control of the border.

Rodney Scott, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, thanked Banks for his decades of service and credited him with helping guide the agency through one of the most difficult periods in modern border enforcement.

Banks was appointed Border Patrol chief in January 2025 by President Donald Trump after previously serving as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border czar during Operation Lone Star. The Texas-led initiative was launched in response to record migration levels during President Joe Biden’s administration.

Before taking the national role, Banks worked in several Border Patrol positions, including leadership at the Weslaco, Texas station. He previously left the agency in 2022 after disagreeing with Biden-era immigration policies, including changes to migrant processing procedures. His appointment in 2025 was unusual because the Border Patrol chief position had traditionally been filled by career agency officials rather than political appointees.

During Banks’s leadership, Border Patrol expanded operations beyond the southern border, deploying agents to cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis as part of broader immigration enforcement efforts. Some of those operations, particularly those overseen by former commander Gregory Bovino, drew criticism over aggressive tactics and widespread street-level enforcement.

Banks’s exit follows several other high-profile departures within DHS. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was removed earlier this year after controversies tied to government advertising campaigns and backlash surrounding fatal federal shootings in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons is also preparing to leave his post at the end of May. The department has said longtime immigration official David Venturella will replace Lyons on an interim basis.

Throughout Banks’s tenure, DHS repeatedly pointed to declining illegal border crossings as evidence that enforcement policies were working. However, some federal data and local reports indicated migrant encounters continued in certain areas, including thousands of attempted crossings recorded earlier this year.

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Lainey Wilson marries Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges in Tennessee ceremony

Lainey Wilson and former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges are officially married after exchanging vows on Sunday, May 10, at The Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee.

Wilson and Hodges began dating in 2021 and became engaged in February 2025. Wilson announced the engagement at the time on Instagram, sharing the news alongside a series of photos and videos, captioned “4x4xU forever ❤” (referring to the track “4x4xU” off her album Whirlwind.)

The couple shared details of their wedding with Vogue, revealing that the venue choice came from a spontaneous road trip moment. “Duck and I were driving backroads in Tennessee and saw a billboard for The Ruskin Cave,” Wilson explained. “Duck said, ‘You wanna get married there?’ I said, ‘Done deal.’ We dropped by, saw the venue and fell in love with the natural beauty of the cave and the simplicity of the property.”

Known for her signature bell-bottom stage outfits, Wilson chose a custom Oscar de la Renta wedding gown decorated with delicate Japanese cherry blossom details. She arrived in a white horse-drawn carriage, while Hodges wore a custom D. Lacquaniti suit paired with personalized Western accessories, including boots, a bolo tie and cowboy hat.

The ceremony took place outdoors beside a waterfall, with guests surrounded by the peaceful sounds of flowing water and spring scenery. Wilson described it as “My absolute dream ceremony,” adding that the waterfall convinced them to hold the wedding at that exact location. Several familiar faces from the country music world attended the celebration, including Luke Bryan, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, Lauren Alaina and Ella Langley.

Wilson’s father escorted her down the aisle, and the ceremony was officiated by her longtime mentor and friend, Wes Williams. Reflecting on the moment, Wilson said, “I have never seen Duck smile as big as he did then. It made me feel giddy about turning the page into this next chapter of marriage. We were both anxious to say ‘I do!’”

Following cocktail hour, guests moved into the cave for the reception, with the evening featuring Cajun-inspired dishes prepared by chefs from Wilson’s ‘Bell Bottoms Up Bar,’ along with live music from New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band. The newlyweds shared their first dance to 10-90 (The Sound of Roses) by Muscadine Bloodline. The celebration concluded with the couple walking through a sparkler sendoff before leaving in a vintage white Ford truck.

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