By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Police are waiting to interview a 22-year-old Houlton man still recovering in intensive care at Eastern Main Medical Center in Bangor following a stabbing sometime in the pre-dawn hours last Tuesday. According to Detective Carolyn Crandall, Amber Tompkins called 9-1-1 at 5:50 a.m. stating that she had seen Phillip Kay stab her boyfriend, Joshua Foster, in the kitchen at 3 Maliseet Drive where all three had been living. Tompkins and Foster have two young children who were not in the house at the time of the incident.
Crandall says when she arrived at the scene, the house showed signs of a fight and both men were intoxicated when she placed Kay, 27-years-old, under arrest. Crandall said a “fixed blade” knife that comes in a sheath, but not necessarily a hunting knife, was the weapon used in the stabbing.
Foster, who is no longer on a respirator, but is still on heavy medication due to the nature of his injuries, has not been interviewed by police about the incident. Kay is in jail in Houlton on a Class B felony charge of aggravated assault and has not been able to raise the $10,000 bail.
The investigation is a joint effort between the Houlton Police Department and the Maine State Police. Crandall declined to give any details as to what may have precipitated the altercation between the two men. Kay has a court date of April 16.
Aroostook to contract with new 9-1-1 response provider
In a cost-saving measure to taxpayers, the Aroostook County Commissioners will proceed to switch emergency landline 9-1-1 calls to the Penobscot Regional Communications Center (PRCC) instead of the current arrangement with the Maine Department of Public Safety’s Public Safety Answering Point. Cellular 9-1-1 calls will continue to go directly to the State Police.
At their meeting last Wednesday evening, the commissioners authorized the county administrator to begin negotiations with PRCC and proceed with the changeover by July 1, 2009.
The commissioners said they weighed the annual contract with PRCC of $180,000 annually against the requested rate increase by the Department of Public Safety of $261,741 for service and considered the safety and cost considerations when making their decision to save taxpayer money and switch service to PRCC.
In other business, County Administrator Doug Beaulieu reported that a $1,700 fine by the Bureau of Labor Standards was waived after the facilities manager corrected a violation that was found during a safety inspection of county facilities. The fine did not involve the jail. And, the commissioners toured the jail as mandated by law noting that the inmate population was high that particular day with a total of 90 persons. Beaulieu says the capacity is 66 persons and the daily population fluctuates.
The next meeting of the county commissioners is March 4 in Fort Kent.
When the Houlton Planning Board met last Tuesday evening, the group discussed wind turbines and possible considerations when drafting a ordinance pertaining to wind-powered energy. Blain Lincoln of Northern Refrigeration answered questions based on his experience as a dealer with regard to height, electrical connections, foundations, power conversion, noise levels, ice buildup and battery storage.
Wade Hanson distributed information and gave an overview of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as it pertains to Houlton’s revitalization and economic development plans. TIF is slated for future discussion before going to the town council.
The next planning board meeting will be Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m.
