Sam Shepherd

Kennebec Journal

Sam Shepherd covers general news in the Hallowell and Farmingdale area. He grew up in Hallowell, attending Hall-Dale High School and later the University of Maine. He previously worked at the Mount Desert Islander in Bar Harbor before moving home to work for the Kennebec Journal in summer 2018. His interests include cooking, tracking down the best local food and drink and soccer.

Latest

Published
March 25, 2020

Grappling with garbage amid coronavirus, central Maine towns modify waste collection

Area municipalities have changed the way people can get rid of their trash, while some have even closed their facilities.
Published
March 24, 2020

Hallowell officials appoint Board of Health, extend emergency declaration

City Director of Municipal Emergency Management Jim Owens is under self-isolation after flying on March 14, but continues to work normal hours.
Published
March 23, 2020

Personal protective equipment a concern for some central Maine emergency medical services

While bigger departments may have equipment to handle calls safely for some time during the coronavirus pandemic, smaller ones could run out of protective gear — and personnel.
Published
March 23, 2020

Monmouth, Hallowell officers in isolation as call volumes decrease for central Maine police departments

Hallowell and Monmouth police departments each have an officer in isolation, and central Maine departments are seeing fewer calls due to the coronavirus.
Published
March 22, 2020

Restaurants tweak menus, boost deliveries during COVID-19 pandemic

Servers have transitioned to delivery drivers at Augusta’s State Lunch, while other businesses look to trim their menus to offer only the strongest sellers.
Published
March 22, 2020

Producers hold on as coronavirus cancels Maine Maple Sunday gatherings

“It’s a devastating impact,” said Scott Dunn, president of the Maine Maple Producers Association. “Producers make 50% of their annual sales or more on Maple Sunday Weekend.”
Published
March 20, 2020

Fire destroys West Gardiner home

Fire Chief Ernie Pierce said no one was injured, but rabbits likely died, in a fire that tore through a home on Moose Hill Road.
Published
March 20, 2020

Augusta, other central Maine Schools closing until late April

A message sent to parents of students at Augusta Schools on Friday morning said all schools are closed due to COVID-19.
Published
March 18, 2020

Augusta soup kitchen, food bank expand programs during outbreak

The Bread of Life Ministries Soup Kitchen is offering two meals to customers five days a week during the coronavirus outbreak, while Augusta Food Bank will have weekend food for eligible students while they’re out of school.
Published
March 17, 2020

Central Maine laundromats on the frontline of coronavirus prevention

Augusta laundromat owner Todd Hedrick said employees are sanitizing their workplaces daily so customers can clean their clothing.