The middle of a Maine winter may seem a poor time to think about outdoor photography. But if you’re into snowmobiling, cross country skiing or snowshoeing, or if you simply go where the snowplows go to enjoy the outdoors, you should keep your camera handy: Winter’s beauty surrounds… Read More
The transition of the University of Maine athletic department under new athletic director Suzanne Tyler continues with the addition of two administrators. Dino Mattessich joined the staff last week as the Senior Associate Athletic Director, while Craig Turnbull has been hired as the Assistant Athletic… Read More
High school AT HOWLAND Penobscot Valley 54, Foxcroft 27 googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0]… Read More
High school AT OLD TOWN Old Town boys (8-0) 104, Belfast (9-1) 66 googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if… Read More
Bill Nemer has decided his 11th season as varsity girls basketball coach at Ashland High School will be his last. The 40-year-old Nemer has decided that coaching high school sports year round is not something he wants to do now that both his childen are… Read More
FORT KENT – Junior forward Scott Raymond scored seven of Caribou’s 14 points in overtime as the Vikings slipped past Fort Kent 82-79 Tuesday night in a schoolboy basketball thriller. Brett Doody paced the Vikings with 33 points, 16 in the third quarter. Adam Pelkey… Read More
OLD TOWN – Old Town coach Marty Clark just stood there, shaking his head and smiling after his Indians boys team edged Brewer 62-59 in overtime here at MacKenzie Gym Tuesday night. “If you had told me before the season that we were going to… Read More
Aaron McDonald of the University of New England has been named the Maine College Basketball Coaches and Writers Association Co-Player of the week. The senior forward from Millinocket torched opponents for 38.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in wins over Husson and Maine Maritime Academy. Read More
WEST SPRINGFIELD, R.I. – Portland Pirates goaltender Ron Tugnutt was named AHL Player of the Week after posting a 2-0-1 record with a 1.62 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage (92 saves on 97 shots). Read More
The 13th annual Great Caribou Bog Wicked Winter Ski Tour and Race scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until Feb. 10 due to lack of snow. The event will start at 11 a.m. with registration starting two hours earlier in the Bangor Mall. The 106 who have already… Read More
The Maine Roadrunners quadriplegic wheelchair rugby team will play in the Sarasota Smash, a six-team invitational tournament, this weekend. They will play five games against teams from Puerto Rico, Florida and New Orleans. The Roadrunners will depart Bangor International Airport on Friday at 7 a.m. For further information,… Read More
JONESPORT – Adam Knowlton scored from underneath with 15 seconds left to lift the Sumner Tigers to a 74-72 schoolboy basketball win over the Jonesport-Beals Royals Tuesday night. Knowlton paced the Tigers with 23 points, while Davey Seward and Chris Carter tossed in 11 each… Read More
BANGOR – Senior forward Becky Moholland scored 18 points, including her 1,000 collegiate point, to lead the Husson Braves to a 71-66 women’s basketball win over the University of Maine-Farmington Beavers Tuesday night. Beth Miller added 13 points for Husson, which also received 10 points… Read More
ORONO – When John Gordon began his freshman basketball season at the University of Maine, he thought of himself as the team’s second-string point guard. After pouring in 26 more points to lead the Black Bears to a 79-66 win over the University of Hartford… Read More
BUCKSPORT – Christy Grover scored a game-high 20 points and also pulled down 11 rebounds to help rally the Bucksport Golden Bucks to a 53-44 schoolgirl basketball win over the Mount Desert Island Trojans Tuesday night. Christina Wheeler had seven of her 16 points in… Read More
STATESVILLE, N.C. – Waddell Wilson, general manager of the Kodiak-sponsored Larry Hedrick Motorsports Team that featured Newburgh’s Ricky Craven, has resigned effective immediately. Wilson was instrumental in helping Craven capture the NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award last season. “I consider myself very… Read More
PORTLAND — A stage act in which male dancers wore bikinis did not violate Portland’s obscenity ordinance, a judge ruled. District Judge Roland Beaudoin said the act was not illegal because police did not prove the dancers’ buttocks were fully exposed. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
SKOWHEGAN — Christopher McLeod, 25, formerly of Rhode Island, was arrested in Solon for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. McLeod remains in the Somerset County Jail on the charge and a probation hold from Rhode Island. “We have every indication, they [Rhode… Read More
Lt. Frank Coombs of the Hampden Fire Department called Tuesday to say “an anonymous business donation came in for $1,000, and we’ve had a few other donations. I’m proud to tell you we are at $10,004, and the call has been made to the troopers.”… Read More
Water district plans to seek rate increase> Bangor trustees to ask PUC to approve 24.46 percent hike
BANGOR — Staff and trustees from the Bangor Water District informed the City Council on Tuesday that they planned to file with the Maine Public Utilities Commission for a rate increase of 24.46 percent. This is the first rate case for the district since 1994,… Read More
OLD TOWN — Less than four months after winning his three-year seat in the November elections, Old Town’s newest city councilor has announced his resignation. Arthur Curtis Jr. announced this week that he has accepted a job in Shelton, Conn., and that his resignation on… Read More
BAILEYVILLE — A request by Princeton officials for the return of a large parcel of land next to the Princeton Regional Airport’s primary runway was discussed Monday night during the Baileyville Town Council’s meeting. Councilor Fred Lanigan said that he and Gus Gillis, Baileyville’s representative… Read More
PITTSFIELD — A gripe session by a Pittsfield-based diabetes support group was the initial catalyst behind a legislative bill that could change the insurance support for a large portion of Maine’s 66,000 diabetics. Next week, the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance will… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Six people were arrested Tuesday and charged for marijuana violations, the result of a four-month joint investigation by the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Arrested were Brian Webb, 20, of Derby, Daniel Conner, 22, of Guilford, and Tommy Corson,… Read More
BANGOR — An unknown number of people will lose their jobs in a reorganization at St. Joseph Hospital. “Unfortunately, we are going to have to eliminate some positions,” said Sister Mary Norberta, chief executive officer at the hospital, which employs 460 full-time staffers. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
On Jan. 9, preceded by fancy invitations and accompanied by a great deal of fanfare, the state of Maine unveiled its Economic Development Strategic Outline. Unfortunately, the outline unveiling was much ado about nothing. There was nothing in the plan that was innovative or that really pointed out… Read More
ALLAGASH — Weather forecasters and local officials were watching the St. John River Tuesday as a combination of warmer weather and rain were expected to cause the water level to rise and ice to jam in this northern Maine town. Some low-level flooding has occurred,… Read More
ELLSWORTH — Hancock County commissioners have instituted a new policy forcing county department heads to scrutinize personnel and justify their positions should vacancies arise. Commissioners voted 3-0 at Tuesday’s meeting to adopt the new policy aimed at making them and department heads more accountable for… Read More
ORRINGTON — Town officials agreed Monday night to apply for a joint Community Development Block Grant with the city of Brewer to complete sewer line work from the Brewer city line to Harrison Avenue in Orrington. The northern portion of Orrington is served by the… Read More
BANGOR — The widower of a Stockholm woman has sued the U.S. government, charging that treatment she received at Loring Air Force Base for a skin condition led to her death. In early 1992, Rose Johnson began to receive treatment at Loring for severe psoriasis. Read More
Digging beneath the appealing prospect of the Army moving a component of its Leavenworth, Kan., prison to Loring revealed a possible complication with housing and jobs for inmates’ families. This region and the military need to treat this as a legitimate concern, but not an obstacle in the… Read More
PORTLAND — The Portland Newspapers, publisher of the Portland Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram, will reduce its staff by about 50 positions through layoffs, President Bruce J. Gensmer said Tuesday. “We have to respond to a challenging environment and very slow advertising sales,”… Read More
ROCKLAND — Two Waldoboro brothers were arrested Tuesday afternoon for a midcoast burglary spree that included break-ins at nine Knox County homes since last week netting nearly $8,000. Randall Main, 23, and Corey Main, 20, were arrested at their Waldoboro apartment by officers from the… Read More
JONESBORO — The Board of Assessors will hold a special town meeting to decide the legitimacy of an application for a tax abatement from the town’s biggest taxpayer, the Babcock Ultrapower biomass plant. Earlier this month, the owners of the idle $49 million plant filed… Read More
4th District Court, Calais Stephanie A. Francis, 23, Eastport, operating motor vehicle while under influence of intoxicating liquor, 90-day license suspension, $400. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0;… Read More
PORTLAND — The State Theatre, a former movie palace that was refurbished and made into a popular venue for the performing arts, will close because of financial problems, its general manager announced last week. “I am professionally and personally disappointed that our vision for the… Read More
Sen. Phil Gramm, campaigning in Maine last week, heard it from members of his own party. GOP Rep. Kenneth F. Lemont of Kittery caught the presidential candidate by surprise when he asked, “No budget is perfect, but has given you what you want — a seven-year balanced budget. Read More
ISLESBORO — As a lobsterman, Robert Bell gets his share of nipped fingers. But when he flipped his middle one in the direction of Capt. Sonny Polk, it got him kicked off the state ferry for two weeks. “His conduct was objectionable and we had… Read More
BELFAST, Northern Ireland — A leading Irish newspaper said Tuesday that a U.S.-led commission on Northern Ireland will reject a British demand that the IRA disarm before peace talks resume. The Irish Times of Dublin said leaks from the Irish and British governments indicate that… Read More
NEWBURGH — The arrest of three burglary suspects after a 4 1/2-hour chase through the cold, dark Newburgh woods Monday night has solved multiple burglaries in Penobscot County and piqued the interest of police in several other counties, deputies said. “We’ve been hammered by daytime… Read More
ORONO — The host town for the University of Maine and Old Town are teaming up to compile welcome packages for first-year university students — a target market of between 1,400 and 1,700 potential new customers that converge on the area each year. The first… Read More
ST. ALBANS — A smoke detector and St. Albans Fire Chief David Crocker are the main reasons Dawn Hite of St. Albans was not seriously injured Tuesday morning. After working a night shift, Hite was sleeping on the second floor of her split-level home on… Read More
GORHAM — Alcohol and speed were factors in a snowmobile accident that claimed the lives of two men in Gorham earlier this month, state game wardens said Tuesday. Autopsies showed that 30-year-old Barry Cole of Westbrook and 29-year-old David Bouchard of Windham had blood alcohol… Read More
BANGOR — The Bangor Fire Department’s activation of a second ambulance nearly four months ago was a concern to Capital Ambulance. But both parties are continuing to meet and talk, Assistant Chief Jeff Cammack told the Bangor City Council during a workshop on Tuesday. Capital… Read More
AUGUSTA — Gov. Angus S. King won high marks Tuesday night for his initiatives in small business, education and long-term care. He also won the hearts of Augusta-area legislators. That’s because he said in his State of the State speech he would postpone some emotional… Read More
Tuesday evening’s light snowfall caused a rash of car accidents, keeping area police agencies hopping for a few hours. One of the more serious accidents in Greater Bangor occurred at 6:50 p.m. in Orono. Two people were taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center with injuries. Read More
1st District Court, Madawaska: Roland T. Fortin, 49, Washburn, operating motor vehicle while under influence of intoxicating liquor, 48 hours in jail, 90-day license suspension, $400. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for… Read More
CAMDEN — John Viehman has the greatest job in the world. Not only is he the editor of the Camden-based Backpacker Magazine — with a fourth-floor view of Camden harbor — he is also the host of the public television show “Trailside,” which takes him… Read More
ELLSWORTH — More than 70 ice and open-water fishermen and family members have formed a society that is proposing alternatives to some of the measures being considered by Ellsworth city councilors to protect the water quality of Branch Lake. Calling itself the Branch Lake Angling… Read More
BREWER — Should the Police Department help the public library retrieve overdue books? That was a question City Manager Harold Parks and librarian Elise Gould presented to the City Council Tuesday night. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
MARS HILL — Town officials will set a date for a referendum election, maybe as early as next month, to decide if the town should create and fund a tax increment financing district to support a proposed potato processing facility. Residents will be asked if… Read More
WASHINGTON — Members of Maine’s congressional delegation supported President Clinton’s broad themes in his State of the Union address, but emphasized the need to finish the job of balancing the budget. Sen. Olympia Snowe credited the president for striking “the right chord” on education, fighting… Read More
If Sen. Bob Dole should be elected president, I wonder if Mrs. Dole will relinquish her position as head of the American Red Cross at a salary of about $185,000 per year? My wife did volunteer work at the Red Cross for several years, but… Read More
After witnessing the recent University of Maine women’s basketball game vs. Drexel at Alfond, all I can say is wow! You can have your Steeler-Colts or Dallas-Green Bay football games, the Super Bowl NBA game of the week, or any other sporting event you want… Read More
Recently, many states have enacted so-called “three strikes and you’re out” laws. The idea is one of those simple and obvious solutions that make people scratch their heads and ask themselves “Why didn’t I think of that?” Sure, instead of giving repeat criminal offenders probation… Read More
On the local 6 o’clock news recently, I watched a piece about a Maine second-grade class which had just begun a hands-on approach to science this year. Because I am a second-grade teacher, I listened carefully to what was being said. I got the sense that most second… Read More
Where are the people from the town of Penobscot? Your taxes are going up again this year and they will rise again the year after that. You can only blame yourselves. School and municipal budgets are being drafted and debated by the various boards and committees and only… Read More
BANGOR — The Safe Kids Center, a community center that provides free literature on how to protect children from injury, is open from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, or by appointment, at Bangor Fire Station 5 on Hogan Road. The center features activity books on… Read More
NEWPORT — The creation of regional cooperatives and partnerships to share the cost of education is not only politically correct, it is economically correct, according to William Braun, superintendent for SAD 48, based in Newport. SAD 48 is one of six districts in central Maine… Read More
TURNER — Black ice was a factor in a three-car accident that killed an Auburn man Tuesday morning, state police said. Robert E. Harris Sr., 59, of Auburn was killed after his pickup truck was hit head-on by a van driven by Shane Libby, 26,… Read More
HUDSON — Nomination papers are available at the town office for the following positions: Two seats on the board of selectmen for two years; one seat on the SAD 64 board of directors for a three-year term; one SAD 64 director for one year. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
BELFAST — A wrongful-death suit has been brought against Edward Ziobron contending that he murdered his wife, Judith, two years ago. The official cause of Judith Ziobron’s death was a fall from a horse. The suit contends that the woman was beaten to death. Although… Read More
LIMESTONE — Former state Rep. Paul Young of Limestone announced Tuesday he will meet with legislative supporters Thursday at the State House in Augusta to formally launch his bid for the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Democrat John Baldacci. Young, a 35-year-old Republican,… Read More
ENFIELD — An elementary school principal who ordered 10 fourth-grade boys to clean human excrement from a school bathroom in November has resigned citing a no-confidence vote from his staff. “What choices did I have?” Edmund F. Paul, principal of the Enfield Station School, asked… Read More
BAILEYVILLE — A Baileyville man has been indicted and others may be charged in connection with a burglary at the Woodland Elementary School last year during which several computers and a soft-drink machine were shot at with a gun. Adam L. Goggin, 18, of Baileyville… Read More
GUILFORD — Paul Stearns of Guilford has been named part-time assistant principal at Piscataquis Community High School for the remainder of the school year. Stearns, who has been employed with SAD 4 for 19 years as a physical education teacher, will serve in the position… Read More
ORONO — U.S. Rep. John Baldacci will address the sixth annual Maine Agricultural Leadership Institute at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at the Black Bear Inn. Baldacci will discuss legislative strategies for agricultural issues as a member of a panel that includes representatives of Maine… Read More
Referring to the Dec. 9-10, Maine Weekend review by John Ripley of Patricia Ward Wallace’s biography of Margaret Chase Smith; I heartily concur with his appraisal of the book being sadly wanting of a true account of Sen. Smith. Obviously the author lacked a thorough… Read More
AUGUSTA — In his first State of the State speech as governor, Angus S. King said Maine must join the global economy to secure a better quality of life for its people in the next century. Speaking Tuesday evening to a special convention of the… Read More
BAR HARBOR — An $850,000 capital campaign to establish Camp Beech Cliff as a permanent lakefront resource for children and families of Mount Desert Island has begun with a $200,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor. The challenge grant will pro- vide funds to match… Read More
BREWER — The Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registrations for the annual Valentine Father-Daughter Dance, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at the Brewer Auditorium. The dance is for girls in kindergarten through grade six and will feature a video dance, pictures, treats, door prizes… Read More
BREWER — The Eastern Maine Soap Box Derby will hold its first car assembly clinic at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at Bean and Conquest’s car dealership, 40 Summer St., Bangor. Areas covered include steering and braking systems, weight distribution, decals and paint. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
ROCKLAND — The public will have the opportunity to weigh in on where development will occur during the next decade in the unorganized towns of northern Maine, at a public hearing in Rockland. The Land Use Regulation Commission, which acts as a planning board for… Read More
GUILFORD — A fire that was started by a boiler caused minimal damage at Pride Manufacturing Co. in Guilford early Tuesday morning. Guilford Fire Chief David Cookson said mill employees were starting up the boiler at about 5:30 a.m. when it flashed back through the… Read More
ROCKLAND — The Knox County Flying Club will award two “Take Off” scholarships to students in Knox County school systems. Each scholarship will provide the student with initial flight training through the first solo flight in the Knox County Flying Club’s Piper Cherokee 140. Any… Read More
HOULTON — The town’s new nudity ordinance got its first test at Monday’s Town Council meeting, and it passed. Frank Draus, who operates Dance and Eat, a club that features exotic dancers, applied for the permit, which was unanimously approved by the council after a… Read More