WMWV – 93.5

Photo courtesy of WinterKids

January 14, 2021 – WinterKids kicks off the 4^th annual Winter Games this week across the state and in New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, and Canada!  In Maine, kids, teachers, and families in nearly 100 communities are participating in the Games. Teachers and families receive a Playbook, resources, and incentives to complete a 4-week series of fun outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenges. There are over 6,000 kids participating this year.

“We are thrilled to offer a fun, active way to engage all kids in outdoor learning throughout the winter,” says Julie Mulkern, WinterKids Executive Director. “This year, the Winter Games is focused on resilience, inclusion, community and service within the context of celebrating winter through outdoor physical activity, nutrition, and family engagement,” says Mulkern.

WinterKids’ Winter Games allows kids to participate, whether they are receiving in-person education or learning at home. Embracing outdoor learning helps to avoid the pitfalls of online learning and the negative effects of excessive screen time – particularly for those in elementary school. WinterKids provides resources for both teachers and parents to get their kids outside and active. There is also a WinterKids Winter Games Facebook group for resource sharing, and downloadable activities on the organization’s website.

The Winter Games resources are designed to be used in the winter and beyond for outdoor, active learning.

For teachers, parents, and community groups who want to join the fun, please visit www.winterkids.org today to request materials while they last.

WinterKids is the nonprofit organization that helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity. The organization delivers innovative outdoor programs for families, schools, and communities. WinterKids’ Major Community Sponsor is Hannaford.  WinterKids’ Supporting Sponsors are Agren, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, L.L.Bean, Portland Glass, WEX, and WMTW 8 and The CW. The WinterKids Winter Games are made possible with support from Bingham Program, Hydro Quebec, Backyard Farms, MMG Insurance, University of New England, Johnny’s Select Seeds, Hannaford SnackPals, Playworks, Aroma Joe’s and Subway of Maine. Learn more at WinterKids.org

Photo Courtesy of Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

Under the leadership of Sheriff Kevin J. Joyce, who took office in 2010, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office became one of four Sheriff’s Office’s nationwide to be awarded the National Sheriff’s Association Triple Crown Award in 2020.

The Triple Crown Award was established by the National Sheriff’s Association to recognize those sheriff’s offices, which achieve simultaneous accreditation from three accrediting bodies, The Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, the American Correctional Association’s Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare.  Currently, there are a total of 3,081 Sheriff’s Offices in the United States.  Only 68 other Sheriffs’ Offices have ever attained this award since the award was established in 1993. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is the only agency in Maine to have received this award.  Accreditation is a team effort that involves all agency personnel.

This is a significant accomplishment that the Sheriff’s Office personnel should be commended on for the ongoing pursuit of excellence in public safety.

The Cumberland County Jail was the State of Maine’s first adult detention facility to have achieved accreditation from the American Correctional Association in 2002.  In 2005, the agency became accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare illustrating their commitment to providing nationally accepted standards of care in health services delivery to the inmates housed in the facility.

In 2015, the agency became accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies for demonstrating compliance with the best practices related to life, health, and safety procedures for the agency and ensuring law enforcement is prepared to meet basic community service expectations and manage critical events.  The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the pursuit of best practices in law enforcement, corrections, and public service.

For more information please visit cumberlandso.org

Picture courtesy of Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

On January 10, 2021 at approximately 0004 hours, a Deputy with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle on Roosevelt Trail in Naples for a suspended registration.  During the inventory of the vehicle, the Deputies located a significant amount of illegal narcotics, a firearm and cash. In total, 253 grams of suspected fentanyl, 177 grams of suspected cocaine and 4.8 grams of suspected cocaine base, “crack”, was seized.

The operator, Ray Atkisson Jr., 37 years old of Norway, was charged with operating with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, aggravated trafficking of fentanyl, aggravated trafficking of cocaine and trafficking of cocaine base.

The passengers, Jared Mcclure, 29 years old of Bath, and Molly Farrington, 40 years old of Norway, were charged with aggravated trafficking of fentanyl, aggravated trafficking of cocaine and trafficking of cocaine base.

An additional aggravating factor was the possession of a firearm while trafficking illegal drugs.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.

This investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely.

This case represents the second significant fentanyl seizure in recent weeks. This case also reflects the extent of the drug problem in the Sebago Lake area. The CCSO will continue to collaborate with public health officials, substance abuse programs, and our Federal, State, and Local law enforcement partners to protect our communities from drug-related crimes.

Source: Official Press Release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office