BREAKING NEWS: Fire Units Responding To 166 Elm Street South Thomaston Structural Fire (FIRE OUT)

UPDATE 4:37pm...Fire is out according to command, units are clearing the scene.

What quick work from the fire fighters who responded.
UPDATE 4:25.....Owls Head has been cleared by command. 
UPDATE....St. George Fire Department requested to stage at South Thomaston station.
BREAKING NEWS....South Thomaston, - South Thomaston and area fire departments are responding to 166 Elm Street South Thomaston, Maine for a structural fire on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017.

According to fire unit on scene, heavy smoke on side b.

Along with South Thomaston, Rockland, St. George, Thomaston and Owls Head Fire Departments have been toned out.

Stay tuned.....

BREAKING NEWS: South Thomaston, Area Fire Departments Battling Second Alarm Garage Fire (Knocked Down)

12:20pm Tuesday UPDATE....According to South Thomaston Fire Department, Call came in @ 2251hrs (1051pm) for a general fire alarm called in by the alarm company.  While approaching on Bayberry Lane to the scene I was advised by the RCC that the caretaker had called back and reporting a structure fire.  Which I advised the RCC that was confirmed & that it was the garage which was approximately 50 feet from the residence.  Once first engine was on scene they pulled the pre-connects and hit the fire & had it knocked down within the first 10 minutes.  Once the call went from a general fire alarm to a structure fire this put our automatic response protocol in place which called upon Rockland, Thomaston, St George, Owls Head Fire Departments & South Thomaston ambulance.  Shortly after I arrived on scene there was an explosion from the 2 120lb propane tanks out behind the garage.  The tanks relief valves had reached their temperature and did exactly what they are designed to do.  The fire was contained to the rear exterior wall of the garage and minimal smoke water damage to the inside.  Do to the heavy fire damage it is undetermined what caused the fire.  Fire Marshall's Office was called to make them aware of the situation and a follow up call was made Tuesday morning indicating they would not be needed to respond due to the heavy fire damage.  Dead River was called in as they are the service company for the propane tanks and the tanks would be removed from the property sometime Tuesday once the propane tanks where emptied which they were prior to our departure.  South Thomaston FD units cleared the station after cleanup and putting equipment back in service @ 0300hrs.  Of my 18 member department all but 2 were able to respond to the fire.
11:54pm UPDATE... Fire units are searching for any extension on the second floor, fire knocked down.
BREAKING NEWS.....South Thomaston, Maine - South Thomaston and area fire departments are responding, battling a 2 alarm garage fire at 30 Bayberry Lane in South Thomaston, Maine on Monday, January 23rd, 2017.

Garage fully involved, knockdown underway. A house is 50 feet away.

On scene South Thomaston fire unit reported a kerosene explosion.

More details when available...

South Thomaston One Vehicle Crash Sends Driver To Hospital Via Life Flight

Photo is courtesy of Knox County Sheriff's Office

South Thomaston, Maine - At approximately 2:30 this afternoon, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a crash on the St. George Rd. (Rt.131) in South Thomaston.  The sole occupant and operator of the 2009 Toyota Scion, Richard Rydell, 62, of St. George was travelling south and stated he seemed to have gone unconscious and ended up crossing the  northbound lane, going off the road striking an embankment to a driveway and a parked car.  Rydell stated he had been painting inside earlier and may have been a determining factor.  South Thomaston EMS decided that Rydell needed to be Life-flighted to another hospital due to head, neck and leg injuries.  Rydell was not wearing a seatbelt.  They met Life-flight at the Knox County Regional Airport.  South Thomaston Fire Department also assisted at the scene.

Multiple Fire Departments Battling Three Alarm South Thomaston Fire

Photo is credited to Stephen Betts of Bangor Daily News.

Update 5:53pm: Firefighters from South Thomaston, Thomaston, Cushing, Warren, St. George, Rockland and Owls Head battled the fire.

Fire Marshals Office is on scene.

Update At 5:35pm The house belongs to Robert Barter.
One patient with burns according to dispatch is being transported to Portland's Maine Medical (not a Boston hospital) by Life Flight.
Update At 5:15pm: Warren and Cushing fire departments have been released.
BREAKING NEWS: South Thomaston, Maine - Multiple fire departments from seven towns on scene of three alarm fire in South Thomaston by Little Learners Childcare, end of Field Street on Thursday, January 7th, 2016.

One person was transported by own transportation for burns

Heavy flames showing from the front of the building.

Fire marshal is en route to scene.

Stay tuned for updates....

Time To Sign Up For Oceanside Little League!

Rockland, Maine - Oceanside Little League is pleased to announce registration events for our 2015 season, as follows:

- Rockland, Owls Head, & So Thomaston Residents - Wednesday, March 18, 6PM at Rockland District Middle School

- St George Residents - Wednesday, March 18, 5-7PM at St George School

St. George registration for Tee Ball, Minor League Baseball & Softball, and Major League Baseball & Softball. Please bring the following:

- Completed Little League Registration Form, which can be found in the "Handouts" section of Oceanside Little League's website.
- Photocopy of government-issued birth certificate for each player (hospital certificates not accepted)

Rockland, Owls Head & So Thomaston registration for Tee Ball, Minor League Baseball & Softball, and Major League Baseball & Softball at Rockland District Middle School gym in Rockland, Maine. Please bring the following:

- Completed Little League Registration Form, which can be found in the "Handouts" section of Oceanside Little League's website.
- Photocopy of government-issued birth certificate for each player (hospital certificates not accepted)
- $25 registration fee - checks payable to Oceanside Little League

Thomaston, Cushing registration for Minor League Baseball & Softball, and Major League Baseball & Softball at Thomaston Grammar School in Thomaston, Maine. (Tee Ball registrations will be held at a later date.) Please bring the following:

- Completed Player Registration Form, which can be found in the "Handouts" section of Oceanside Little League's website.

- Photocopy of player's government-issued birth certificate. (Hospital certificates are not acceptable for this purpose.)

Following is the try-out schedule for Oceanside Little League.

Baseball Try Outs - League Age 9: Mar 28, 2015 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Baseball Try Outs - League Age 10, 11, and 12: Mar 28, 2015 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

For players who meet the following criteria:

-        Reside or attend school in Rockland, Owls Head, South Thomaston, Thomaston, St George or Cushing.
-        Did NOT play baseball at the Little League Major level in Oceanside Little League last year.
-        Born between May 1, 2002 and April 30, 2005 (inclusive).

Softball Try Outs - League Age 9 through 12: Mar 28, 2015 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

For girls who meet the following criteria:

-        Reside or attend school in Rockland, Owls Head, South Thomaston, Thomaston, St George or Cushing.
-        Did NOT play softball at the Little League Major level in Oceanside Little League last year.
-        Born between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2005 (inclusive).

These try-outs will be held at The Pitch located on RT. 90 in Warren, Maine.

Georges River Land Trust Annual Meeting and Local History on September 9

South Thomaston, Maine - Members and friends of the Georges River Land Trust are invited to participate in the Annual Celebration and Business Meeting to take place on Tuesday, September 9, beginning at 3 pm at the Finnish Church, 172 St. George Rd, South Thomaston. The public is warmly invited to come out and enjoy camaraderie, meet the Land Trust staff and Board members, and learn about conservation in the St. George River watershed.

The Finnish Church is adjacent to the recently acquired 203-acre addition to the Riverview Hayfields Preserve, formerly known as the Anderson farm.  At 3:00 pm, the Land Trust will lead a short walk to see the new preserve and learn more about planned management and public use.

At 4:00 pm, guests will enjoy shared food and drinks followed by presentations by historians Art Jura and Jim Skoglund who will shed light on the early settlers of the region, including the Finnish community.

Participants are asked to bring an appetizer or dessert to share, and to RSVP to the Land Trust at (207) 594-5166.

Organized in 1987, the Georges River Land Trust works to conserve the ecosystems and traditional heritage of the Georges River watershed region through permanent land protection, stewardship, education and outdoor experiences.  The watershed extends from Montville in the north to Port Clyde and Cushing in the south and includes streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands, farms, hills, mountains, blueberry barrens and forest, as well as a rich tidal estuary of salt marsh, clamflats and productive fishing grounds. For more information, please visit Georges River Land Trust’s website (www.GeorgesRiver.org) or call (207) 594-5166.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Rt. 131 Closed Due To Single Vehicle Accident **ROAD REOPENED**

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Thomaston, Maine - RT. 131 is back open after a single vehicle down in the ditch accident. Vehicle has been removed

One was transported to Pen Bay.

South Thomaston Fire Department and the Town of Jay To Receive SHAPE Awards for Safety

*SHAPE honors public-sector employers and employees who provide a safe workplace*
MAINE - Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette announced that two municipal organizations in Maine have earned the Safety and Health Award for Public Employers (SHAPE). This certification recognizes public-sector organizations that voluntary undertake a rigorous safety achievement program for their workers.

"We congratulate the town of Jay and the South Thomaston Fire Department for becoming SHAPE certified," Paquette said. Officials from the Maine Department of Labor will present the Safety and Health Award for Public Employers (SHAPE) to the Town of Jay and South Thomaston Fire Department (STFD).

"Organizations that achieve SHAPE status demonstrate that focusing on worker safety is of utmost importance," she explained. "These departments know that keeping workers safe is not only good for the people of Maine, but also good for their communities and their taxpayers. Better safety means less lost time due to injury and illness as well as lower workers' comp costs."

The STFD will receive their SHAPE award on March 12 at 6 p.m. at the selectmen's meeting. It is the 31st fire department to receive this award since 2005. Of these, 28 fire departments have maintained their SHAPE status.

The Town of Jay will receive its award on March 25 at 6 p.m., at the town office. The Town of Jay is only the fifth municipal employer to receive SHAPE status town/city-wide for all departments. Jay's fire department and police department first earned SHAPE recognition in March 2012.

The SHAPE award was originally conceived in 2005 as a way to recognize public-sector employers and employees who are striving to provide a safe and healthful workplace. It is given only to exemplary public-sector employers after a thorough review and inspection of the employer's safety and health policies and procedures by a SafetyWorks! consultant.

Municipalities and other public entities interested in learning more about the SHAPE designation should contact SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE 345 (1-877-723-3345) or http://www.safetyworksmaine.com . SafetyWorks! provides a trained consultant with industry-specific expertise who will review the facility by appointment. The consultation may include such elements as recognizing safety hazards, sampling for air and noise exposures, recommending ways to reduce or to eliminate hazards, developing or improving a safety program, complying with regulations and identifying training needs.

The Maine Department of Labor has enforcement authority of health and safety standards for public-sector employers in Maine and is responsible for inspecting workplace injuries or fatalities suffered by public employees.

Opening Celebration of the Weskeag Wildlife Viewing Platform and Trail

Opening Celebration of the Weskeag Wildlife Viewing Platform and Trail
Editor: David Mills


SOUTH THOMASTON, ME - On Saturday, May 5th at 10 am, join staff of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and Georges RiverLand Trust to celebrate the opening of a newly built viewing platform and trail at the Weskeag Marsh.  We will meet at the Buttermilk Lane parking lot. Following a short hike along the trail, adults and youth will be able to view the birds from a safe distance at the viewing platform. Binoculars will be available for children to use, courtesy of National Audubon and Project Puffin. MDIFW staff will also make a short presentation on the migratory bird activity at the marsh.

Following a series of public outreach programs focused on the Weskeag, organized jointly by the Georges River Land Trust and Friends of the Wekseag, it became clear that people were eager to have better access to and interpretative information about the marsh.  With grant support from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the State and Georges River Land Trust have been able to develop these important opportunities for the public: safe and unobtrusive access to the marsh, and interpretive materials about the importance of the marsh to the natural ecosystem and the regional economy.

Buttermilk Lane crossing the Weskeag Marsh - Photo: GRLT

Boy Scouts from the Troup 53 Katadin Area Council built the trail and platform for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, which owns and manages the R. Waldo Tyler Wildlife Management Area.  These user-friendly access points will allow visitors to observe the abundant wildlife while protecting the actual saltmarsh and minimizing disturbance to the shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl.  The trail complements an interpretive kiosk installed by Georges River Land Trust at the Buttermilk Lane parking lot that aids in the understanding and appreciation of this significant resource in the midcoast.

This program and celebration is part of the Georges River Land Trust's continuing series of activities connecting the public with thevast resources of the watershed and surrounding areas. Upcoming events include two Revelry on the River events, Daffodil Garden Party on May 5th and Special Tour and Tasting at Breakwater Vineyards on May 19th , plus a family Quest on the Thomaston waterfront on Saturday June 9th.  For further information on the Georges River Land Trust and its programs, visit www.grlt.org, contact them at info@grlt.org, or call 594-5166.