BANGOR – Down 2-1, Bangor used a four-run sixth innning to surge ahead and hold on for a 5-2 victory over Orono in American Legion baseball action Wednesday night at Mansfield Complex. Josh Johnson tripled in a run and scored on a wild pitch, Willy… Read More
The impending sale of Skowhegan all-sports radio stations WHQO (107.9 FM) and WSKW (1160 AM) is not expected to drastically affect either station’s format. Although the sale, which is part of a four-station transfer from Mountain Wireless to Midwest-based Cumulus Media, is not yet closed,… Read More
CLEVELAND – Around Gund Arena, the locals call guard Michelle Edwards “Ice.” So far this year, after a stint on the disabled list nursing a partially torn plantar fascia, she’d admit she’s been playing more like “Slush.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
Brewer enjoyed a trio of wins, two at Coastal’s expense, in all-star baseball action Wednesday as the 11- and 12-year-old Little League, Junior League (age 13) and Senior League (14-15) teams won their tournament openers. Other 11-12 action saw Bangor West edge crosstown rival Bangor… Read More
BRUNSWICK — Maine has enough medication to reduce the risk of radiation-induced thyroid cancer for every resident who lives around the Maine Yankee nuclear power plant. Acting on a decades-old proposal, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced last week that it wants potassium iodide stockpiled around… Read More
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher D. Pelkey, a 1988 graduate of John Baptist Memorial High School in Bangor, has reported for duty aboard the aircraft carrier Precommissioning Unit Harry S. Truman, based at Newport News, Va. He is the son of Terrence L. Pelkey… Read More
AUSTIN, Texas — Two administrative law judges have recommended that a license not be issued to a low-level nuclear waste facility which is to accept waste from Maine. However, the state official in charge of the project called the latest setback “just a bump in the road.”… Read More
“Dateline NBC” is being honored by the National Press Club with a 1998 Journalism Award for excellence in consumer reporting, it was announced by the National Broadcasting Company on Wednesday. The award-winning newsmagazine is the only network news program to receive an award. The National… Read More
WALDO COUNTY — A record number of travel writers is slated to tour this county in September as part of the Waldo County Marketing Program. Twenty-five writers have signed up already, according to Jim Lovejoy, the program’s coordinator. The program’s aim is to generate interest… Read More
BANGOR — A federal jury Wednesday dealt a blow to the media by siding with two Maine truckers who sued NBC and staff of the “Dateline NBC” television news magazine over a program on tired truckers that aired three years ago. Truckers Peter Kennedy of… Read More
PORTLAND — Motorists have their chance this month to sound off about proposals to increase tolls to pay for the widening of the southernmost part of the Maine Turnpike. The Maine Turnpike Authority has scheduled three public hearings to get views on how to cover… Read More
The vote of the crafters participating in the Asticou Art Festival was definitive: Their charity of choice this year is Hospice of Hancock County. The festival is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the lovely Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor. Read More
PITTSFIELD — Two Pittsfield teen-agers fishing in a gravel pit misjudged the stability of the pit walls Wednesday and ended up stuck in muck — one up to his hips, the other up to his neck. “I thought we were going to die,” Peter Boucher,… Read More
An elderly Washington County woman’s death has been linked to a batch of tainted ground beef that was recalled last month by Shaw’s Supermarkets, officials of the Maine Bureau of Health said Wednesday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Atlanta confirmed the… Read More
AUGUSTA — Liquor enforcement officers from Maine will step up their efforts to stem the flow of alcohol transported from New Hampshire, authorities announced Wednesday. Throughout the summer months, officers will patrol roadways leading into Maine from New Hampshire, said Lynn M. Cayford, director of… Read More
Bangor District Court Joseph A. Conlon Jr., 35, Jersey City, N.J., speeding, 77/55, $90. 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
THOMASTON — Betty Robinson has been selected by the Weymouth Grange as the recipient of its annual Community Service Award. Robinson has been involved in community affairs since she and her husband, Miles, moved to town in 1988 from Waynesville, Ohio. Robinson served as president… Read More
WINTER HARBOR — U.S. Navy Cmdr. Michael Rogers assumed command of Naval Security Group Activity in Winter Harbor in a ceremony Wednesday at the base on Schoodic Peninsula. Rogers replaces U.S. Navy Capt. Steven Tucker, who is reporting to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in… Read More
Fort Kent Community High School Fourth quarter honor roll Seniors, high honors: Cindy Bourgoin, Sonya Caron, Andrea Nadeau, Jessica Saucier, Katheryn Selva, Denise Simard, Rebecca St. John and Leah Theriault; honors: Trawn Boucher, Andrew Dumond, Kara Jandreau, Matthew LaBonte, Robin Lamarr, Trista LeBlanc, Seth Lovley,… Read More
BOSTON — The region’s older oil- and coal-burning power plants sent more pollution billowing into the air in 1997 than the year before, according to a new report. The study, conducted by the Northeast Clean Power Campaign and released Wednesday, details emissions by the 14… Read More
With its heart in Maine and its soul sweeping an international canvas, the first Maine International Film Festival opens Friday night at the Waterville Opera House with the premiere of Bill Chinnock’s “Forgotten Maine.” The documentary explores Maine’s changing face in an increasingly corporate world. Read More
Here is a transcript of the verdict form used by the jury in the “Dateline NBC” civil lawsuit: Raymond Veilleux: 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
A symphony of natural sounds — the high-pitched chirping of birds, hum of mosquitoes, deep guttural croaking of bullfrogs and soft breeze sweeping through tree branches — soothes a person walking in the Holbrook Island Sanctuary. Ducks, beavers, ospreys and other creatures put on an… Read More
The Supreme Court’s landmark 1976 ruling on campaign finance reform has been abbreviated to the terse, “money is speech,” enabling lobbyists to continue to spread their speech lavishly among politicians. When it comes to paying a fee for oversight of their trade, however, free speech takes on a… Read More
Think of the money health insurance companies would make if nobody got sick or injured. Or, more realistically, think how much they could make if they could choose to cover only the healthy and strong. A law passed two years ago prevents insurance companies from doing that, but… Read More
In an environment where politicians extol the virtues of welcoming new businesses under the guise of bringing in “good jobs,” is it any wonder that aside from environmental issues, few businesses would be refused at the border? What hasn’t been defined, however, by either the political or corporate… Read More
“Welcome to Lubec:” It’s a sign of summer some folks just don’t get. Just ask Mike Manicone from Barnegat, N.J. 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
It was with both interest and amusement that I read the article titled, “Report lists improvements needed at UM,” in the June 26 edition of your newspaper. Because I worked at the University of Maine for more than 30 years, I was curious to discover… Read More
A funny thing happened on the way to banning personal watercraft on certain ponds and lakes in Maine. It’s called, I think, the politics of compromise, or it could be called the compromise of politics. Today, when all the measures approved during the past sesson… Read More
PORTLAND — Advocates for Maine’s mentally retarded say it would be premature for a judge to dissolve a landmark consent decree that requires the state to provide community-based services to former residents of the Pineland Center. The Bureau of Mental Retardation last month asked U.S. Read More
AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Public Health has released a list of facts regarding E. coli 0157:H7. This particular strain of bacteria has been known to cause bloody diarrhea, and frequently occurs in the summer months. Frequently asked questions are listed below: Who can… Read More
ELLSWORTH — The Smithsonian Institution in Washington will send a professional conservator to inspect a Depression-era mural that was relocated during the renovation of Ellsworth City Hall. The mural, which depicts the bustling Ellsworth waterfront of the mid-1800s, was removed from the back wall of… Read More
WATERVILLE — When the Maine International Film Festival opens Friday in Waterville, the event will be more than an extravaganza of hot screenings and buttery popcorn. Past the cultural and junk food considerations, the festival comes with a promise to the city of Waterville. With… Read More
BAR HARBOR — For the second day in a row, passengers trying to take the ferry to Nova Scotia were turned away at the ticket gate. The Cat remained dockside while engineers tried to fix a motion sensor that broke away from the vessel and sank Monday. Read More
OTISFIELD — A 48-year-old New York man drowned Wednesday in Thompson Lake, the Maine Warden Service said. The victim’s wife found him floating face down about 9:45 a.m., a half-hour after he left their lake-front camp for his morning swim, Warden Norman Lewis said. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
ABBOT — The newly formed Abbot Historical Society is sponsoring Old Home Day, to be held Sunday, July 26, at the Abbot Town Hall. They ask that participants bring a covered dish or dessert, and beans, coffee and table settings for the noon meal will be provided. Read More
MACHIAS — The brother and sisters of a Machias man who died in World War II have become the first donors to take advantage of an opportunity to name part of a proposed 56-acre multipurpose entertainment complex for Washington County. Construction of the first phase… Read More
LEVANT — The mothers of two teen-agers injured last month in a rollover on Pine Tree Road and three of the road’s residents pleaded with town officials Wednesday night to take steps to improve safety at a curve blamed for at least 10 accidents in 10 years. Read More
FORT KENT — Rep. Duane J. Belanger has announced his appointment to the Select Commission to Study the Opening of a Discount State Liquor Store in Fort Kent. This commission has been established as a result of LD 341, “An Act to Open a Discount… Read More
GREENVILLE — The state Department of Transportation has begun improvements to four sections of the well-traveled Lily Bay Road in Greenville. “People traveling the Lily Bay Road can expect to encounter work zones between now and early October,” said Ervin Kirk, DOT construction manager for… Read More
BANGOR — The Missing Children Alert Program will hold a fingerprint and photo identification session from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Wal-Mart store, 70 Springer Ave. The nonprofit program provides a photograph and fingerprints of children, with important information that parents… Read More
BANGOR — Kneisel Hall Young Artists will hold a children’s concert at 4:30 p.m. and a chamber concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at the Bangor Public Library, Harlow Street. Kneisel Hall Young Artists is a group of advanced music students seeking careers in… Read More
VEAZIE — Firefighters from Veazie and Orono fought a fire at the Olive Street home of William and Linda Aldrich on Wednesday afternoon. Reported at 2:40 p.m., the fire apparently started in a shed adjacent to the house. The fire was contained to the shed… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE — Crown Ambulance, a service of The Aroostook Medical Center, marked its 10th anniversary July 8. Ambulance employees will be honored at a dinner on Thursday, July 16. From noon to 4 p.m. Friday, July 17, the public may tour the ambulance service,… Read More
NEWPORT — Marilee Levensailor of Guilford on Wednesday denied that she stole from a Christmas giving program coordinated by the Department of Human Services in Piscataquis County during the past holiday season. Levensailor and her husband, Brian, were in Newport District Court, charged with theft… Read More
CARIBOU — A silent alarm at a local smoke shop did in two Caribou men who had broken into the business Wednesday morning. Two Caribou police officers, Craig Peterson and Kevin St. Peter, answered a silent alarm at Habeeb’s Smoke Shop on Herschel Street. Arriving… Read More
The credit card scam is on the go in Maine, so beware. On July 3 at 4:40 p.m., I received a telephone call from a young woman calling from out of state telling me my credit card was not activated. I questioned why and demanded… Read More
Why the apparent interval and delay between Memorial Day, when the fires began, and July 3, when Maine began sending trained forest fire fighters to Florida? Has Maine so quickly forgotten the out-of-state help we received so quickly in January? Robert B. Virtue Orono… Read More
I want to compliment the Bangor Daily News for a well-written article (July 2) regarding the impact of the new instant background check system for purchasers of long guns. I support the sunsetting of the Brady law in favor of an instant background check system, as proposed originally… Read More
In a letter to the editor (BDN, June 15), Malcolm L. Norcross of Troy challenged my record in support of gun owners and questioned my work in this area in the Congress. In fact, I am a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, and Mr. Norcross’ inaccurate depiction… Read More
I wholeheartedly agree with Tom Weber’s (July 4) commentary regarding the “creep named Vincent Robinson.” Although we, society, feel this crime is heinous, nasty, despicable, etc., ad nauseam, we enable individuals like Robinson to continue this behavior by not putting teeth in the criminal justice system. Read More
While this is nominally a letter to the editor, it is actually an inquiry posted to the members of the Legislature and the individuals responsible for the operation of the University of Maine System. Why must the school insist on jettisoning the student body onto the streets at… Read More
BREWER — The city will soon be home to two brand-new drugstores, both of which will offer a drive-up prescription-drug window and expanded merchandise lines. Under simultaneous construction here are a 10,000-square-foot Brooks Pharmacy and a 10,752-square-foot Rite Aid. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Southern Piscataquis County Chamber of Commerce will hold a countywide yard sale on Saturday, Aug. 1, with concurrent yard sales throughout the Piscataquis County area. The sale will connect the Dover-Foxcroft Homecoming Celebration and the Dexterfest, held on Aug. 1. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
ORLAND — Sheriff’s deputies arrested four area teen-age boys on charges that they vandalized 17 gravestones in the Back Ridge Road Cemetery in Orland just before Memorial Day. Hancock County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Richard Bishop said Tuesday that four juveniles, all of whom are… Read More
ROCKLAND — Four juvenile pirates led the U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Patrol and area police on a chase over land and water Wednesday. Two brothers from South Thomaston and two girls from Rockland were picked up in the woods off Waldo Avenue after allegedly stealing… Read More
Fairfield garage back on track> Tests of soil uncover no problems at planned site off Western Avenue
FAIRFIELD — Plans for a new $700,000 public works garage are back on track, town councilors learned Wednesday night. Soil tests conducted late last week at the proposed site off Western Avenue have revealed no problems, Chairwoman Dawnalysce Clifford told councilors. The town was awaiting… Read More
SKOWHEGAN — A civil lawsuit filed by three men who were shot nearly five years ago at the Red Garter Bottle Club in St. Albans finally will be heard this month in Somerset County Superior Court. The hearing was prompted last June by a high… Read More
An elderly Florida couple was injured on Interstate 95 in Alton on Wednesday afternoon when the car they were in ran off the road and rolled over several times. The car’s passenger, Edward Campbell, 94, of Hollywood, Fla., was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center,… Read More
DEXTER — The Town Council tonight is expected to adopt a 1998-99 municipal budget that reflects nearly $65,000 in cuts made during the annual budget review. The proposed budget stands at $2,627,875, which represents a net increase of 3.8 percent over the current year’s spending… Read More
AUGUSTA — Capping a 10-year battle, Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection on Wednesday approved a dredging plan for Wells Harbor that is designed to provide mooring space for 150 boats. Under the plan, about 180,000 cubic yards of sand will be pumped from the harbor… Read More
GREENVILLE — Residents will be called to a special town meeting later this summer to decide whether they want the town to lease and maintain public bathrooms at the Moosehead Marine Museum. Selectmen were told Wednesday evening that directors of the museum want to build… Read More
HOULTON — A Superior Court justice invited the mother and the minister of a man charged with two brutal beatings to view pictures of his battered and bloodied victims. For his part in the two unrelated beatings, Jesse Dumais, 22, of Houlton was sentenced Wednesday… Read More
BANGOR — Even though Rite Aid’s rezoning application of several properties at Union and Hammond streets is in the city pipeline, some city councilors found themselves learning of another idea for redeveloping the neighborhood on Wednesday. The council is due to take action on the… Read More
CHERRYFIELD — Town officials are searching for the best interest rates on a $400,000 loan package to construct a municipal complex after last week’s special town meeting. Town Manager Vance Merritt said voters gave the green light to plans to construct a 2,000-square-foot municipal office… Read More
AUGUSTA — The Baxter State Park Authority has set a token fee of $1 a year for the only two camp leases in the 200,000-acre wilderness. The token lease fee recommended by Park Director Irvin “Buzz” Caverly Jr. won the unanimous support of the three-member… Read More
BRUNSWICK — Relentless rain that has ruined vacations, washed out crops and caused disastrous floods this summer has at least one good side: Forest fire danger is as low as it gets. During the spring, as forest fires in the state burned unusually deep because… Read More