or detained can help ensure that low-risk individuals are not held simply because they cannot afford bail, which saves counties money and mitigates the detrimental effects of detention. Hear from several counties about how they provide counsel at the earliest opportunity and the benefits they have seen from this practice. Enjoy this free webinar on February 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm. For more information contact Kathy Rowings at 202-942-4279, krowings@naco.org or click here to register now.

District 1 County Commissioner Betty Johnson will be starting her 2nd year of her 2nd term of office. Commissioner Johnson takes the lead in media relations, public awareness and transparency in county government. She also represents the Board of Commissioners on the following committees: Coastal Communities Workforce Board, Waldo County Comprehensive Community Health Coalition Executive

On December 19th the dispatchers of Waldo County RCC "put on"

the fourth annual Friendly Callers Christmas dinner. Seventeen of the friendly callers and their guests gathered at the Waldo County EMA Conference room to feast on a traditional holiday dinner of roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, carrots, rolls and desserts. They were also presented a gift box containing some canned vegetables, fruits, hand warmers, an LED flashlight, batteries, socks and a smoke alarm. The smoke alarm was donated by Belfast Fire Chief, James Richards. A good time was had by all. Several commented on how much they enjoy this annual event. Dispatchers donate all the ingredients for the dinner, and this year it was prepared by residents of the Waldo County Regional Reentry Center who cooked the turkeys, made the pies and prepared all of the other food. Items in the gift boxes are paid for with money that dispatchers put into a fund every weekend for the privilege of wearing blue jeans those days. Two organizations, Waldo County TRIAD and the local branch of Spectrum Generations each donate $100.00 every year for this event. It is important to know that no tax payer dollars go into this event. Dispatchers, Waldo County Deputies and Belfast PD officers helped to deliver the gift boxes to those who did not attend. Just another way to show these senior citizens that we care for them.

Board, Waldo County Comprehensive Community Health Coalition Executive Board, Homeless in Maine Consortium, Mid Coast Economic Development District, EMA Emergency Operating Committee, Waldo County Wellness Committee, Maine Board of Occupational Safety, and Belfast Creative Coalition. District 2 County Commissioner William Shorey will be starting the 4th year of his 2nd term and has served as Chairman of the Board for five years. Commissioner Shorey serves as project manager for large county building-related projects. He is currently involved in remediation of the Old Jailer’s House, barn and Old Waldo County Jail through a Brownfields EPA Cleanup Grant. Commissioner Shorey also serves as the chief negotiator for all collective bargaining units, as Corporator of Eastern Maine Development Corporation and spends hundreds of hours each season in the ever-expanding Waldo County Garden. District 3 County Commissioner Amy Fowler will be starting the 4th year of her 3rd term as Waldo County Commissioner. She represented Waldo County on the Board of Corrections and Corrections Working Group for the consolidated statewide correctional system for many years. Commissioner Fowler continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Maine County Commissioners Association, the MCCA Annual Convention Planning Committee, the Judicial Branch Infrastructure Advisory Group, Waldo County Emergency Management Agency LEPC, Director on the Spirit of America Council, and Governor’s appointee on the Board of E-9-1-1 Council.

Deputy James Porter and Dan Thompson of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office accompanied Deputies from ten other Maine Sheriff’s Offices to participate in the Wreaths across America event this year. The pictures below include a photo of the officers as they decorated the stone of Maine State Trooper Mark Coleman.

Commissioner Bill Shorey reported that 31.5 tons of produce was harvested during the 2015 season! Of that, six tons went to the Waldo County YMCA and other shipments were distributed to approximately 20 different locations including food cupboards and soup kitchens. Comm. Shorey states, “This project would not enjoy the level of success that it has without the support of the clients of the Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center. Their dedication to this project was outstanding this year.” ~Click here to read more.

In this issue:

The Importance of Legal Counsel in Pretrial Justice Webinar 2-18-16

Featuring Waldo County

Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center

The 2015 Harvest Report

Friendly Callers Christmas Dinner

Getting to Know The Waldo County Commissioners

Wreaths across America

December 2015

COUNTY NEWS Maine County Commissioners Association Newsletter

The Importance of Legal Counsel in Pretrial Justice

Individuals who are held in jail before trial have been shown to have worse outcomes, from higher risk of unemployment to greater risk of reoffending. Providing counsel as soon as possible for a person who has been arrested

December is the second issue in a series of MCCA Newsletter editions featuring a single county. If you would like to see your county highlighted in an upcoming newsletter, please contact Lauren Haven at 623-4697 or through email at lauren.haven@mainecounties.org.

The County of Waldo named after Brigadier-General Samuel Waldo was incorporated in 1827. It covers an area of approximately 724 miles and is comprised of 25 towns and the beautivusdlf

beautiful City of Belfast. Waldo is recognized for The Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area which is a nationally protected 1,055-acre artificial pond and wetland located in the town of Troy. The area was acquired by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1966 to protect the waterfowl and other wildlife associated with this area in Central Maine.

The Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center is among Waldo County’s many achievements providing a program-rich environment that creatively addresses criminogenic risk, utilizes case management and prescriptive case planning that

focuses on actuarial risk/needs, and implements a phase/tier system that engages and slowly transitions offenders into a prosocial lifestyle. This approach has made MCRRC a cost effective alternative to incarceration and a responsible, proactive approach to reducing recidivism. Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center received national recognition from National Association of Counties in 2011. The pictures to the right show MCRRC residents who volunteered to work on community service projects. Here they are helping the Waldo County Habitat for Humanity at a fund raising dinner. A few days later they were moved and split wood at Camp Tanglewood in Lincolnville.