AUGUSTA – The Maine State Harness Racing Commission demonstrated its own approach to slimmed down government this week when it issued race dates in less than a day of hearings. Issuing race dates is a process that in the past has taken as long as… Read More
Jack Cosgrove has spent most of his professional life as a football coach at the University of Maine. That trend is likely to continue. Though he still has one year left on his coaching agreement, the 39-year-old Cosgrove is expected to receive an extension in… Read More
High School All-State CLASS A Biddeford: Michelle Ouellette, Sr., Katie Willett, Jr.; Bonny Eagle: Hannah Larrabee, Soph.; Cony: Janet Riese, Jr.; Deering: Vi Do, Sr.; Edward Little: Kris Neuswanger, Sr.; Gardiner: Jody Mertzel, Sr.; Messalonskee: Christine Bragg, Sr., Catherine Henrick, Sr.; Morse: Amanda Shorey, Sr.;… Read More
PITTSFIELD – Lamar Odom scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Christian Redemption Academy of Albany, N.Y., to a 77-65 victory over the Maine Central Institute Postgrads in men’s basketball action Thursday afternoon. University of Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun and associate head… Read More
NEW ORLEANS – Buddy Teevens, who upgraded his players’ graduation rate but could not upgrade Tulane’s football record, was fired as coach Thursday. The announcement came about six hours after he left a meeting with the school’s board of administrators. Teevens was on the practice… Read More
ORONO – Bryan James and the Black Bears are going to school, but they don’t know it yet. The freshman forward, more limber and athletic than the new 34-year-old coach, is taken to task for a defensive lapse, and his new mentor has stopped early-season… Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor YMCA and Hoops, Inc. have announced that nationally regarded clinician Bob Bigelow will conduct his seminar entitled “Youth in Sports” to area coaches and parents. The former University of Pennsylvania standout and Boston Celtic will speak on Sunday, Nov. 24 from… Read More
The winding, perilous road to back to the NCAA Tournament begins Friday for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, whose journey begins today with a much-anticipated, non-conference game against George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Charles… Read More
College LAWAUN CURRY Sophomore running back Lawaun Curry of Colby College was named NESCAC Co-offensive player of the week. 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;… Read More
Shawn Wansborough compared it to “driving a long distance really late at night. I was run down. I’d feel like I was going to faint in practice.” The University of Maine’s junior right wing has been afflicted by a virus containing symptoms similar to that… Read More
BATH — A 71-year-old man was killed Thursday when a 32-ton trash compactor backed over him at a landfill where he used to work. The victim, Francis Lebel, often visited the Bath landfill to watch the machines and socialize with former co-workers over coffee. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Federal environmental regulators are considering allowing International Paper Co. to self-police its mill operations, something that was unthinkable just five or six years ago. At that time, IP’s mill in Jay was at the center of controversy, being battered on all fronts for its environmental practices. Read More
FORT KENT — The University of Maine at Fort Kent is holding its second annual Campus and Community Talent Review at 7 p.m. Friday,. Dec. 13, in UMFK’s Fox Auditorium. A $150 cash prize will be awarded to first-place winners in both UMFK and community… Read More
FORT KENT — The experience of growing up in a Catholic school is the focus of a musical, “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?” being performed at the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Fox Auditorium at 8 tonight and Saturday night. The… Read More
AUGUSTA — House Republicans elected a three-term Presque Isle representative as their new caucus leader Thursday and chose an East Holden legislator to serve as assistant floor leader. James O. Donnelly, 29, is believed to be the youngest Republican leader ever elected in the House… Read More
AUGUSTA — Thousands of jobs, more money pouring into the budgets of dozens of Maine cities, and cleaner, cheaper energy to boot. A Boston-based consortium that wants to build a 729-mile system of natural gas pipelines stretching from Canada to Massachusetts unveiled a rosy report… Read More
EASTPORT — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two urchin fishermen Wednesday afternoon who were clinging to the hull of their capsized 37-foot vessel, the Four Sisters. The men had been in the water about 15 minutes when the Coast Guard vessel happened upon them. John… Read More
GOULDSBORO — Come next spring, lobster fishermen, recreational boaters and the public will have access to a proper ramp for launching their boats in Bunkers Harbor. In recent days, Gouldsboro Harbor Master Dana Rice and fishermen Frank Miller, Avery Scott and Carl Guyton have been… Read More
BAR HARBOR — After six months of intensive laboratory testing, the cause of a Bar Harbor toddler’s death, which was the subject of media attention when it occurred last May, has been ruled natural. Dr. Kristin Sweeney, the state’s deputy chief medical examiner, recently determined… Read More
GLENBURN — The Glenburn School Committee has agreed that it wants to assess the pros and cons of withdrawing from Union 34 when it meets with the Hermon School Committee at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Hermon High School. “This is not to be… Read More
BAR HARBOR — The state Department of Transportation is seeking permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fill part of Northeast Creek, adjacent tidal wetlands and several unnamed streams along Route 3 to bring the route up to current design standards. The Army… Read More
CAMDEN — The Mid-Coast Soap Box Derby will be held here again next year. The 1997 race date has been set for Sunday, June 15, with registration and trial runs to take place on June 14. This year’s race will feature two divisions of race cars — the… Read More
MADAWASKA — The Madawaska Recreation and Parks Department will have two preholiday programs for children. On Wednesday, Junior Holiday Chefs will be held for kindergarten through second grade 10-11:30 a.m., and for third- through fifth-graders 1:30-3 p.m. at the Madawaska Safety Complex. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
BANGOR — U.S. District Court Judge Morton A. Brody heard a question Thursday that he has heard many times before in the past few months. Is a state term limits law, enacted by voters three years ago to rein in long-serving legislators, constitutional? googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
NEWPORT — Premier FastTrac Business Development Programs will be part of education offerings in Central Maine through a Rural Business Enterprise Grant. FastTrac consists of two learning programs, including entry strategies for start-up ventures. FastTrac II works with existing business owners to plan, research and… Read More
BANGOR — One-half of the alleged burglary team that looted homes in three counties this past summer and fall pleaded not guilty Thursday in Penobscot County Superior Court. Jamie Sowerby, 26, faces a long list of charges in the rash of daytime break-ins, including 15… Read More
CALAIS — Two full-time city employees have been laid off and the hours of a full-time secretary have been cut as a result of a belt-tightening directive. Last week, newly elected Mayor Mike Sherrard displayed his fiscal conservatism when he directed City Manager Mark Ryckman… Read More
NEW SWEDEN — Three people escaped serious injury Thursday morning when the cars in which they were riding collided head-on on Route 161. The accident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. when Herman Tracy, 52, of Stockholm, who was driving south, attempted to pass a tractor-trailer,… Read More
CARIBOU — After three days of hard work, Aroostook County commissioners have come up with a county budget for 1997 that won’t show an increase. At their meeting Wednesday night, commissioners approved a recommendation to the County’s finance committee for a gross appropriation of $4,442,426… Read More
Buffered and specially coated brands of aspirin may be no better than cheaper, regular aspirin in reducing the risk of severe — but quite rare — gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a new Boston University study. The study does not challenge claims that enhanced brands of… Read More
NEW YORK — Physicists have generated antihydrogen in the world’s most powerful particle collider, demonstrating that mass production of the bizarre antimatter atoms will likely be possible, Fermilab announced Thursday. Encountered more often in science fiction than in real life, antimatter is nevertheless a real… Read More
WASHINGTON — Researchers have found evidence for a genetic link to prostate cancer, proving for the first time that people can inherit a tendency for a disease that kills more than 40,000 American men annually. In a closely coordinated research effort, scientists at the National… Read More
PORTLAND — A former University of Maine football player argued that losing his athletic scholarship for allegedly assaulting a teammate was punishment enough. But Maine’s highest court ruled Thursday that the player can still be criminally prosecuted. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court reversed a lower… Read More
A 12-year-old girl died Wednesday. Family and close friends knew the death was imminent. It was expected. Unpredictable a dozen years ago was the impact of one child’s life on her community. Arian Haghkerdar didn’t live to finish grammar school, but her personal experience eventually… Read More
Your editorial, Reform Party disarray (BDN, Nov. 15), was right on the mark. As someone who willingly signed the Reform Party petition on campus last fall, primarily because I believe everyone should have a shot at the ballot, I now count myself as a “reformed Reformer.” I mistakingly… Read More
BANGOR — The Bangor-Pine Tree Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dance Association-East will hold a ballroom dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Bangor Community Center on Davis Road. No dance experience is required and demonstrations and dance mixers will… Read More
ROCKLAND — Find art galleries a tad stuffy? Ever suspect openings are some kind of secret more-arrogant-than-thou contest between patrons and artists? Think it’s time the surgeon general looked into the pomposity-inducing side effects of Chablis and brie? Well, then, slip on some sensible shoes… Read More
WINTERPORT — Kids were playing basketball in the gym, and a theater group was rehearsing in the auditorium at the Samuel Wagner School Thursday night, but no one came to the middle school for a public meeting. SAD 22 administrators and board members had their… Read More
BANGOR — Taxpayers can expect to pay slightly less toward their 1997 county taxes than they did last year, based on the $7.5 million budget approved Thursday night by Penobscot County’s budget committee. Residents will be responsible for $5,108,144, down $33,100 from last year’s levy… Read More
ROCKLAND — The SAD 5 board Thursday night took two major steps forward in the planned construction of a $4.8 million middle school. The board agreed to advertise for an architect, and approved a citizens advisory committee to assist in the construction of the school,… Read More
I would like to address the new tree stand law and to clarify the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s position regarding it. There have been numerous articles written reference to this and, unfortunately, all the articles I have read, except one, have contained incorrect… Read More
I am surprised that the Bangor City Council has not considered a simple solution to rid itself of the flock of pigeons. It is similar to what a farmer friend of mine uses to protect his crop of corn by having a blank gun that goes off automatically… Read More
There is an old truism that goes something to the effect that the more things change, the more they remain the same. A recent article in New Scientist by Oxford writer Helen Saul is yet another example of the reality that often gives rise to folksayings of this… Read More
BALTIMORE — The mother of a graduate student from Maine killed during a robbery in east Baltimore was returning home Thursday, after visiting the scene of the crime to mark the third anniversary of her son’s death. “I feel a big weight lifted off of… Read More
Twenty years ago, just two states had some form of legalized gambling. Today only two states don’t. Communities should know that business loss, crime and family breakdown often accompanies legalized gambling. Young people are now feeling the effects. As an example, the current investigation of… Read More
Steve Smith’s letter in defense of his daughter’s parking problems at the University of Maine (BDN, Nov. 8), does not sound like he has checked out the other side of the story. First of all, there are plenty of parking spaces all over campus for students with student… Read More
This is in response to the letter by Jim Koritzy (BDN, Nov. 14) titled “Mitchell for president.” I must disagree with Mr. Koritzy’s thinking. It is about time that both George Mitchell and Joe Brennan went into the private sector and got themselves a job. Read More
Bangor District Court: Shawn E. MacNevin, 24, Kenduskeag, theft by unauthorized taking, continued for sentencing. 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())… Read More
Mandates in politics are bandied about a lot, but in essence, rarely occur. With 72 percent of the vote, I would say John Baldacci got just that — a rare mandate. The nice thing about this is that the party lines were crossed big time. Republicans, Democrats and… Read More
BARING — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will allow Christmas tree cutting and beaver trapping in the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, according to a USFWS spokesman. Trapping of nuisance beaver will be allowed on parts of the refuge from Dec. 15 through Feb. 28,… Read More
Physicians, law enforcement officials and pot activists debated this fall the merits of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes in California. The addictive nature of nicotine in cigarettes was discussed in the presidential campaign. The country now has been startled by a surprise marketing offensive of another regulated and… Read More
PITTSFIELD — Jacky Willhoite, pastor of the Truth Tabernacle, a Pentecostal church on Grove Hill in Pittsfield, stood by Thursday afternoon as his church went up in a mass of flames and smoke. “I was just in there 15 minutes ago,” Willhoite said several times,… Read More
BOSTON — A lawsuit brought by two brothers against a Hingham priest imprisoned on a rape conviction has been settled out of court. The Rev. John Hanlon was sued by William and Matthew Wood, who sought compensation for emotional trauma and $100,000 in therapy fees. Read More
BANGOR — Two men were hospitalized Thursday after a high-speed chase ended with their car wiping out two utility poles and striking a tree off Essex Street. Rodney Barnett, 19, of Bangor and Jeremy Wheaton, 19, of Exeter were traveling on State Street near Broadway… Read More
NEWPORT — Newport selectmen on Wednesday night directed Town Manager Arthur Ellingwood to organize a session with elected officials in the towns of SAD 48 to discuss property tax concerns and the school funding formula. SAD 48 Superintendent William Braun also will be asked to participate. Read More
PORTLAND — The first of two Lewiston police officers charged in an August assault in Brunswick has pleaded innocent. Officer Michael Murphy pleaded innocent through his lawyer Wednesday in Cumberland County Superior Court. Because he faces a misdemeanor assault charge, he was not required to… Read More
BREWER — Two nude exotic dancers who allegedly were performing an illegal sex act for the entertainment of a group of out-of-state hunters Wednesday night realized quickly they were busted when the hunters flashed their badges. The night of fun and frolic was the result… Read More
MONTREAL — An extraordinary government study of the problems plaguing Canada’s 810,000 native people urges that Indians be recognized as an independent nation, with their own parliament, and that spending on Indian programs increase by billions of dollars over the next 20 years. Indian leaders… Read More
BANGOR — Floyd Burton Jr. was found guilty of arson and attempted murder Thursday for an elaborate scheme to reap $17,000 willed by his elderly benefactor. After four hours of jury deliberations, the gaunt and sobbing Burton hugged his mother and was ushered out of… Read More
BANGOR — A 7-year-old Garland girl was raped on several occasions by a man who lived in the house she shared with her grandmother, according to proceedings Thursday in Penobscot County Superior Court. Unkempt, with a long beard of silver hair, Peter Roderick pleaded guilty… Read More
Bangor District Court: Richard E. Wight, 55, Vero Beach, Fla., operating motor vehicle after suspension of license, $100, $25 suspended. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i… Read More
WINTERPORT — Open Stage will present the play “Inspecting Carol” at 7:30 tonight and Saturday night, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Samuel Wagner Middle School. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for students and senior citizens. For information, call 223-2501. Read More
AUGUSTA — Maine ranked fourth nationally in female participation in elections and politics, according to a report released Thursday by a liberal research group. But the report by the Washington-based Institute for Women’s Policy Research also says many Maine women still get only 69 cents… Read More
BANGOR — A Bangor woman arrested in September for allegedly offering to perform an illegal sex act on an undercover police officer pleaded guilty to prostitution Thursday in 3rd District Court in Bangor. Buffy Plourde was arrested during the undercover operation that occurred inside a… Read More
JONESBORO — The former Babcock Ultrapower electrical generating plants in West Enfield and Jonesboro are a step closer to reopening. The state Department of Environmental Protection expects to transfer all environmental permits needed for the operation of the wood-to-energy plants to the new owner within… Read More
HOULTON — After declining for two weeks, the price of home heating oil jumped back up 2 cents a gallon this week to $1.04. The increase is being attributed to the onset of cold weather in the Northeast, according to the State Planning Office. As… Read More
CONCORD, N.H. — New England dairy farmers hope a new milk-pricing deal will help them keep cereal topped and cookies dipped without going bankrupt. Against a backdrop of tumbling milk prices, an interstate commission composed of farmers, milk processors, consumers and retailers hopes to set… Read More
New England groundfishermen and scallopers will test a new satellite system this winter that automatically records the number of days their vessels are out fishing, the National Marine Fisheries Service said Thursday. Federal fishing regulations allow groundfish and scallop vessels to spend only a certain… Read More