Latest news with #Biddeford
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Biddeford voters approve $49.8M school budget
Jun. 10—Biddeford voters approved the proposed $49.8 million school budget on Tuesday. The vote was 589 in favor and 245 against, with 7 responses left blank. The fiscal year 2026 budget is up $2.5 million, or 5.39% over this year's budget, and was approved by the Biddeford School Committee on April 30. With approval of the budget, the tax rate will increase by 81 cents, bringing the total up to $15.03. This means that a median home assessed at $382,350 will have an annual property tax of $5,747, up 5.7% from this year. Cost drivers for the school budget include staff salaries, health insurance and an updated math and reading curriculum. The district anticipates adding several new positions in the fiscal year beginning in July, including a new English language learning teacher, as well as a full-time science, technology, engineering and math position and a full-time special education secretary. Creating the FY26 budget this spring presented "unprecedented challenges," Superintendent Jeremy Ray said. The primary challenge is the significant increase in Biddeford's valuation, which resulted in decreased funding from the state. With Biddeford property values deemed higher, the state believes the city is in need of less funding, and taxpayers are expected to pay more in taxes to fund the Biddeford school system. However, many families are unable to do so, Ray said. "This substantial shift in funding responsibility presents unprecedented challenges for our budget planning process as we work to maintain educational quality while being mindful of taxpayer impact," Ray said. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Wells man set for trial over shooting death of his young niece
Jun. 9—BIDDEFORD — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in the trial of a Wells man who is accused of firing a gun at his family's home, killing his 2-year-old niece and injuring his brother. Andrew Huber Young, 22, is charged with murder in the May 2022 death of Octavia Jean Young. He also faces two counts of attempted murder and two counts of assault against his father and brother. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorney, David Bobrow, has said that his client never intended to kill anyone. Huber Young didn't know Octavia was dead until after talking with police hours after the shooting, Bobrow said last fall. Huber Young told police in a lengthy interview, hours after the shooting, that he was mad at his brother Ethan for stealing a T-shirt and threatening to destroy his hamster cage, according to an arrest affidavit by Maine State Police Detective Conner Walton. "Andrew said that he aimed at Ethan's chest before shooting, but he claimed he didn't intend to kill Ethan," Walton wrote. "He claimed he wanted Ethan's respect. Andrew said he has an anger-control problem." According to the affidavit, Huber Young told police the shooting took place at his parents' home following a fight with his brother that started when Huber Young noticed him wearing his T-shirt. Even after Huber Young's parents told him to leave the house, he continued to fight with his brother over text messages while attending a Sea Dogs game in Portland. He eventually returned to the house and fired shots through a locked glass door using his father's pistol, Walton wrote. His father told police it was taken without his knowledge. The prosecution's case relies heavily on what Huber Young told police. Superior Court Justice Richard Mulhern denied Bobrow's request to throw the confession out last fall, after Bobrow argued police violated his client's rights by not telling him during the interview that Octavia was dead. Those arguments will likely still be a major part of Huber Young's defense. A pre-trial hearing Thursday in York County Superior Court offered a glimpse at the breadth of material jurors will be asked to consider. There are texts messages, 911 calls, crime scene photographs of bullet holes and shell casings, and a three-hour video of Huber Young at the police station — most of which Bobrow said his client spends sitting quietly, handcuffed to a bench while waiting for police to meet with him. "It's context, judge," said Bobrow, who asked the judge to allow him to play the entire video for the jury. Bobrow suggested his client can be seen struggling several times to get comfortable. "Certainly the jury is entitled to see ... what he was exposed to." Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin argued that for the jury "to sit there and watch a silent picture of him on a bench, it just seems like that's a waste of judicial resources and the jury's time." Bobrow implied during the hearing Thursday that prosecutors did not include all of the texts exchanged between Huber Young and his brother before the shooting, but Robbin said prosecutors already shared all of their evidence with Bobrow before trial. "We don't know which additional texts Attorney Bobrow wants us to put in," Robbin told the judge. "What we think we have identified are all the relevant communications within the time period." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Wells man set for trial over shooting death of his young niece
Jun. 9—BIDDEFORD — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in the trial of a Wells man who is accused of firing a gun at his family's home, killing his 2-year-old niece and injuring his brother. Andrew Huber Young, 22, is charged with murder in the May 2022 death of Octavia Jean Young. He also faces two counts of attempted murder and two counts of assault against his father and brother. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorney, David Bobrow, has said that his client never intended to kill anyone. Huber Young didn't know Octavia was dead until after talking with police hours after the shooting, Bobrow said last fall. Huber Young told police in a lengthy interview, hours after the shooting, that he was mad at his brother Ethan for stealing a T-shirt and threatening to destroy his hamster cage, according to an arrest affidavit by Maine State Police Detective Conner Walton. "Andrew said that he aimed at Ethan's chest before shooting, but he claimed he didn't intend to kill Ethan," Walton wrote. "He claimed he wanted Ethan's respect. Andrew said he has an anger-control problem." According to the affidavit, Huber Young told police the shooting took place at his parents' home following a fight with his brother that started when Huber Young noticed him wearing his T-shirt. Even after Huber Young's parents told him to leave the house, he continued to fight with his brother over text messages while attending a Sea Dogs game in Portland. He eventually returned to the house and fired shots through a locked glass door using his father's pistol, Walton wrote. His father told police it was taken without his knowledge. The prosecution's case relies heavily on what Huber Young told police. Superior Court Justice Richard Mulhern denied Bobrow's request to throw the confession out last fall, after Bobrow argued police violated his client's rights by not telling him during the interview that Octavia was dead. Those arguments will likely still be a major part of Huber Young's defense. A pre-trial hearing Thursday in York County Superior Court offered a glimpse at the breadth of material jurors will be asked to consider. There are texts messages, 911 calls, crime scene photographs of bullet holes and shell casings, and a three-hour video of Huber Young at the police station — most of which Bobrow said his client spends sitting quietly, handcuffed to a bench while waiting for police to meet with him. "It's context, judge," said Bobrow, who asked the judge to allow him to play the entire video for the jury. Bobrow suggested his client can be seen struggling several times to get comfortable. "Certainly the jury is entitled to see ... what he was exposed to." Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin argued that for the jury "to sit there and watch a silent picture of him on a bench, it just seems like that's a waste of judicial resources and the jury's time." Bobrow implied during the hearing Thursday that prosecutors did not include all of the texts exchanged between Huber Young and his brother before the shooting, but Robbin said prosecutors already shared all of their evidence with Bobrow before trial. "We don't know which additional texts Attorney Bobrow wants us to put in," Robbin told the judge. "What we think we have identified are all the relevant communications within the time period." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Biddeford High School sends off Class of 2025
Jun. 6—Scott Descoteaux took to the stage Friday night and gave graduating Biddeford High School students on odd message: when life gets hard, just wash your hands. In the early 19th century, the Biddeford Middle School principal said, many women were dying during childbirth, and doctors couldn't figure out why. That's until a Hungarian physician realized doctors need to wash their hands between patients to avoid infections. "It was that simple, and it changed everything," he said. "Graduates, things are not always as complicated as they seem. Sometimes life's solutions are really quite simple." Descoteaux was invited by students to give the guest speech at the Biddeford High School's Class of 2025 graduation ceremony, and told his former students he was moved and honored to watch them receive their diplomas. In a speech that married sincerity and humor, Descoteaux encouraged students to forge their own paths and embrace failure. "I'm not here with a magic formula for life. I do not have a secret philosophy on how to find success, meaningful happiness or wealth. What I am here to talk to you about today is something that I think is just as important: the choices that you'll make here, moving forward, and the kind of person that you want to become," he said. "Your journey will not look like anyone else's, and that's exactly how it's supposed to be." In a memorable ending to his speech, Descoteaux lead the crowd in a rendition of the school's alma mater while holding — but not really playing — the ukulele. On a warm, wet Friday night, 175 Biddeford High School students walked across the stage of the school's Tiger Gym to receive their diplomas. The evening included a lively crowd and performances from the Biddeford High School Band, the concert choir and several student speeches. Senior Class President Keelie Gregoire kicked off by sharing some wisdom from pop singer Harry Styles. "'If you are happy doing what you are doing, then no one can tell you you aren't successful,'" Gregoire quoted the singer. "As we all go on to college, the trades, taking a gap year, or the military, it is very important to put yourself out there and take risks." Salutatorian Glen LaRoche told the crowd about how much being a part of band had changed his life for the better, and valedictorian Ella Ireland rounded out the speeches by congratulating her classmates for their growth and perseverance. "Eleanor Roosevelt once said that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," Ireland said. "It is my hope that people can go out into the world and have the courage to dream those dreams. Nothing good comes easy, and you will have to work for it." After the students walked, and occasionally danced, across the stage to grab their diplomas, Principal Martha Jacques told students they were ready to leave their mark on the world. "The world you're stepping into is full of possibilities, and now more than ever, it needs your curiosity, your creativity and your kindness," she said. Over the weekend, other high schools in the region including Westbrook, Scarborough and South Portland will celebrate their graduating classes. Seniors at Portland's three high schools graduated at Merrill Auditorium earlier this week. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Biddeford man arrested after being seen with gun near high school
May 9—A man was arrested after police say he was seen with a gun during morning drop-off at Biddeford High School. A student told a school resource officer that they saw the 21-year-old man from Biddeford with a gun in his vehicle while the man was dropping off another student, according to city officials who said there was no direct threat made to anyone at the school. The school district went into lockdown as a precaution because of the presence of an unauthorized firearm, while officers arrived in the parking lot at 9:05 a.m., Superintendent Jeremy Ray said during a press conference Friday afternoon. Police removed the man from his vehicle and detained him with no issues, said police Chief JoAnne Fisk. He has been charged with possession of a firearm near a school, a Class E crime, and there may be additional charges as the investigation continues, Fisk said. The high school was dismissed for the rest of the day; the other Biddeford schools resumed classes as usual. "I really take comfort in knowing today that the system worked," Biddeford Mayor Martin Grohman said during the press conference. "Students reported what they saw, officers responded immediately and school leaders acted decisively. It's a clear example of our community really stepping up and keeping each other safe." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
