Jezzer of Waterville, ME I thought things like this didn't happen in Maine.report abuse

reader of Boston, MA "Hofland was the subject of a manhunt that began on the night of Oct. 23 after he allegedly pointed a gun at a local police officer who stopped him during a seat belt safety check in Searsport"


---I bet the As Maine Goes forum is missing one of their postersreport abuse

thinking of farmington, ME It seems like most schools have good security plans in place. The problem is, unless you have someone standing at the door the entire time students are entering the building in the morning, it's almost impossible to stop someone from walking in with them. And how do you tell the difference between a parent, grandparent, guardian, etc. who might be legitimately escorting their child into the school and a person who is dangerous? It takes a very tough policy (with parental support) and personnel to back it up. If you're going to say doors to the school will be locked at all times, then you have to have some kind of system (costs money, folks) in place to screen visitors to the school, be they parents, delivery people, staff, etc. More time, staff, and money. Not that we put a cost on our children's safety -- of course not. But school budgets are at rock bottom as it is so either taxes will go up or something else will have to be cut. In the meantime, thank God this situation was resolved without physical injury to anyone involved. Great job school personnel and police.report abuse

lm of Benton, ME The article congratulated the school for their lock down procedure. It did not help keep this guy out of the school. So many schools can be walked into unnoticed. Granted, it got the rest of the kids out of there, but are we willing to sacrifice even 11 kids and say it was a good job?report abuse