Jessica Lowell

Kennebec Journal

Jessica Lowell covers business and economic development and general news in the Gardiner area. After short but intense aspirations to be an opera singer (age 4) and a deep-sea diver (age 6) her most enduring passion has been telling stories. A University of Maine graduate, she worked for newspapers in New Hampshire, upstate New York and Wyoming, where she has won awards for investigative and explanatory journalism. She’s a fellow of the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism and the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. After several years out of journalism, she returned to Maine and to writing, where she spends her free time enjoying both trees and the ocean, two commodities that Wyoming lacks.

Latest

Published
September 12, 2023

Abandoned memories up for auction in Augusta

The state treasurer’s office says it’s holding over $309 million worth of unclaimed cash and items left behind in abandoned safe deposit boxes. For the first time in some 20 years, it will auction them off.
Published
September 11, 2023

Crash on I-95 in West Gardiner causes minor injuries, slows traffic

Three people were taken to the hospital Monday morning after a car hit a guardrail.
Published
September 8, 2023

Cause of Litchfield plane crash that killed 2 remains unknown

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its initial report on the fatal crash, an early step in an investigation that could take 12 to 18 months.
Published
September 7, 2023

Hot twist to a cool, wet summer brings blast of heat and advisories to central Maine

Augusta set high-temperature records twice this week. Several schools closed early due to a lack of air conditioning.
Published
September 5, 2023

Kennebec County EMA director put on administrative leave 3 months after hiring

Kennebec County Administrator Scott Ferguson declined to specify the reason for the action.
Published
September 5, 2023

Gardiner sewer line replacement to limit Church Street access

The street will be closed to through traffic for up to three weeks after construction gets underway Sept. 18.
Published
September 4, 2023

Dream career for Gardiner editor brings international publishing branch to Maine

A lifelong love of books has shaped the career of Lydia Stevens, who as acquisitions editor for Urano World Publishing is building its U.S. branch in Gardiner.
Published
August 31, 2023

State environmental officials assess Litchfield fatal plane crash site for lingering environmental impacts

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is testing soil samples from the crash site to determine if additional environmental cleanup is needed.
Published
August 24, 2023

North Yarmouth pilot, student pilot identified as 2 dead in Litchfield plane crash

The pilot of the Wiggins Airways plane has been identified as James Shepard-Kegl, 69, of North Yarmouth, the student pilot was Jumaane Omari Stanley Melville, 37, of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Published
August 23, 2023

Two crew members die after plane crashes in Litchfield during training flight

The victims, who were not identified publicly Wednesday, were the only people aboard the Beechcraft turboprop, which was destroyed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.