Small town dysfunction / Consumer-owned utility lessons / Bangor’s lack of public restrooms

Maine’s small towns are suddenly gripped by dysfunction

More clerks in small communities across Maine have had to shoulder increased workloads as town governments grapple with staff shortages.

What Maine could learn from Nebraska’s consumer-owned electric utility

Nebraska is the nation’s only state served entirely by consumer-owned power, rather than investor-owned utilities.

Bangor’s lack of public restrooms leave homeless people with few options

With few public restroom options, homeless people in Bangor often have to find quiet, concealed places to relieve themselves.

Schoodic Peninsula is on pace to have busiest summer ever

This year, visitors to the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park could top 354,000 — double what it was just nine years ago.

As local inns change hands, worry grows about local food losing its place in the restaurants

With a growing number of Maine-owned amenities sell to out-of-state operators, local food is disappearing from tried-and-true menus.

You should take your ‘secret’ fishing and hunting spots to your grave

“Over the years, as many do with their own secret fishing spots, I developed a sense of ownership of it, feeling as though it was mine,” BDN Outdoors contributor Chris Sargent writes.

Imposing cliffs and majestic rockbound shoreline highlight Campobello surf-and-turf trip

“Sheltered from southwest winds by a prominent bluff, we launched in calm water at the beach in Mill Cove,” BDN Outdoors contributor Ron Chase writes.

In other Maine news …

A Bangor 12-year-old is missing

30-year-old arrested after shots fired in Bangor

Swimmer dies after being pulled from Rockland Breakwater

Body of 28-year-old man recovered from Sebago Lake

60-year-old motorcyclist seriously injured in Naples crash

UMaine football dominated Florida International University in heartbreaking loss