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"Big Sister" Mills Takes Population Control to Next Level In COVID-19 Media Scare
Franklin County Sheriff says, "We will not be setting up a Police State. PERIOD."
By: David Deschesne
Fort Fairfield Journal, April 1, 2020
On March 31, Maine Governor Janet "Big Sister" Mills issued a series of substantial new mandates in light of the mainstream-media's COVID-19 scare. The primary measure was a Stay Healthy at Home directive that requires people living in Maine to stay at home at all times unless for an essential job or an essential personal reason, such as obtaining food, medicine, health care, or other necessary purposes.
The Governor also mandated a series of other new restrictions, including:
- For essential businesses and operations that remain open, limiting the number of customers in their buildings at any one time, implementing curb-side pickup and delivery options as much as possible, and enforcing U.S. CDC-recommended physical distancing requirements for their customers and employees in and around their facilities.
- Prohibiting the use of public transportation unless for an essential reason or job that cannot be done from home and limiting the number of people traveling in private vehicles to persons within the immediate household unless transporting for essential activities.
- Mandating the continued termination of classroom or other in-person instruction until at least May 1, 2020.
- Mandating that, when out of the home or when at work at an essential business, individuals shall maintain a minimum distance of six feet from other persons.
The Executive Order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on April 2, 2020 and will last until at least April 30, 2020. The Governor may amend, rescind, or renew this timeline at her discretion. The Governor also extended the closure of restaurants and bars statewide for dine-in customers until at least April 30, 2020 to align with today’s Executive Order.
In response to these new, heightened police state measures, Franklin County Sheriff, Scott Nichols Sr. issued a response on his Facebook page.
"We will not be setting up a Police State. PERIOD," wrote Sheriff Nichols. "The Sheriff’s Office will not purposefully go out and stop vehicles because they are on the road or stop and ask why people are out and about. To do so puts our officers at risk. This is not Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia where you are asked for your papers!"
He did say that they would be taking prudent actions in other areas, however.
"What we will take action on, if needed – are those rare situations where there are a lot of people overtly hanging out in public – obviously in defiance of the Governor’s order. Even in that case – we will first educate and try to disperse the group. We will avoid arrests unless absolutely necessary."
Sheriff Nichols asks his constituents to use common sense during Mills' Executive Order. "We are more interested in the safety and well-being of the public as well as our officers at this time. With that being said, we are sworn to uphold the Constitution and laws of the State - for any unlawful act/situation, arrestees will be taken into custody and transported for fingerprinting and bail."
He said the best way to approach the coming days is to treat everyone as though they have the virus. "Follow strict CDC guidelines and recommendations, use masks if needed, wash your hands frequently, disinfect, wear gloves and use common sense in all situations. The longer we do NOT follow these guidelines, the longer we wait in isolation. Most of you are doing a fantastic job – we appreciate that! Please look out for one another, especially the elderly and shut ins. Please be a good neighbor/citizen always showing compassion. Please be kind especially on social media, negativity online only adds to the stress people are currently experiencing."
Franklin County is located in Western Maine and contains the major towns of Carrabassett Valley, Farmington, Jay, Rangeley, and Wilton