OTTAWA – Secretary of State Colin Powell sought on Thursday to assuage sore feelings to the north, saying stricter security measures at U.S. borders “are not directed at Canada.” Powell paid a four-hour visit to Ottawa to meet with Foreign Minister Bill Graham and other… Read More
    If Stephen King is offering to “teach writing via this technology” (computer) don’t pass up his offer. Back in the ’70s he was my creative writing teacher at Hampden Academy for a couple of semesters. He wasn’t rich, famous and the world’s most read author at the time. Read More
    It took the most hard-fought midterm election in decades, a dramatic increase in President Bush’s clout and stunning reshaping of Congress to break months of stalemate over legislation to create a department of homeland security. Now comes the hard part. Just how hard it is… Read More
    To avoid a dreaded tax-and-match Medicaid funding plan that the governor’s office sought to help close the budget gap, Maine hospitals have offered simply to give the state the amount the state hoped to pry, indirectly, from the federal government. A straightforward solution, if the shortfall would be… Read More
    Early Monday morning, I put on my World War II Army uniform and my wife and I drove to Bangor. Myself, along with 200-plus WWII veterans, participated in the Bangor-Brewer Veterans Day parade. I was deeply touched all along the parade route by the applause,… Read More
    Jalbert affaire: arretez cette folie. Kafka is American? Ghislain Simard 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
    I was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. My grandfather worked on the railroad in Maine. My aunt was a captain in the U.S. Army and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. My sister worked at Children’s Hospital in Boston. My wife’s mother was born in… Read More
    The Bush administration has shifted the national focus from corporate crime to war, but they are not unrelated. Secretary of the Army Thomas White was an Enron executive, leading a department that was playing energy shell games. And former Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney parachuted out with millions before… Read More
    Misty Edgecomb’s article (BDN, Nov. 9-10) aimed a long overdue spotlight on the disgraceful rationale behind Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s coyote snaring program. Nosnare Task Force members know that when Maine citizens of conscience learn the facts, they will demand an end to snaring. Our… Read More
    ROCKLAND – A color guard, a gun salute, prayers and a splash of holy water were the ways community leaders dedicated a park Thursday in honor of a police officer shot down in the line of duty 64 years ago. The park, at the corner… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Senate Democrats successfully fended off a challenge to their single-seat majority Thursday evening when a ballot recount in western Maine’s District 24 affirmed the party’s candidate by a 12-vote margin. Before the daylong inspection of ballots, Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, appeared to have defeated… Read More
    GUILFORD – Two young local girls practicing “Pokemon” kicks are believed to be responsible for destroying or damaging 110 to 120 monuments at Elmwood Cemetery. Police said that one of the girls confessed Thursday to the vandalism that was discovered earlier in the day. She… Read More
    BANGOR – A forum to discuss the risks and benefits of biotechnology Thursday provided an opportunity for intriguing questions, complicated explanations and lively debate about genetic engineering. “We’re here to listen and learn,” said Maine Agriculture Commissioner Robert Spear, who has supported the use of… Read More
    ELLSWORTH – Hancock County Democrats have scheduled meetings to plan for the future and celebrate the recent past. The group will not hold a regular meeting in November. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
    BANGOR – A District Court judge on Tuesday threw out a temporary protection from harassment order taken out by one Bangor House candidate against another. In the order originally filed on Thursday, Oct. 31, Republican House District 118 candidate Jim LaBrecque stated that fellow Republican… Read More
    BANGOR – Allen Stehle can add chief deputy of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department to his resume, which thus far has included posts as a federal wildlife investigator, federal taxpayer specialist, educator, and president of two small colleges. Described by Sheriff Glenn Ross as a… Read More
    Bucksport High School First quarter honor roll 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
    ELLSWORTH – School and municipal officials have decided to seek state assistance with upgrading the city’s school facilities, but what specifically will be done will not be decided until after the city applies for help. Ellsworth City Manager Tim King said Thursday the city’s school… Read More
    WASHINGTON – The federal Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, has awarded a $149,447 grant to the Maine State Police to buy 30 in-car video cameras. Since 1995, Maine has received over $29 million in COPS grants to hire more… Read More
    SOUTHWEST HARBOR – A local man is facing an assault charge after he allegedly attacked his girlfriend on Wednesday, according to police. Stephen Riddle, 23, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he grabbed the woman by her hair, threw a box at her and kicked a… Read More
    SOUTHWEST HARBOR – One of Maine’s newest cutters, the Coast Guard’s Moray, was hauled out of the water Thursday for repairs. The repairs come after the discovery of a hole in the vessel’s stern tube while conducting homeland security operations. The leak was noticed when… Read More
    AUGUSTA – A new program that enables traffic law violators to pay their tickets online or by telephone with a credit card is being hailed as a success. The PayTixx program launched about three months ago had about 600 users last month, up from just… Read More
    Fort Kent Community High School First quarter honor roll 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
    PRESQUE ISLE – The Aroostook County Action Program will hold its annual meeting Thursday, Nov. 21, at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Gov.-elect John Baldacci will present the keynote address. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
    HARTLAND – Consumers Maine Water Co. is close to completing $2.6 million of improvements to its Hartland Division water system. On or around Friday, Nov. 15, a new groundwater source at Pittsfield Avenue, composed of two wells, a pump station and treatment facility, will replace the Starbird Pond… Read More
    BANGOR – The information superhighway took on a few new travelers Thursday afternoon with the opening of the computer learning center at Bangor’s Bradford Commons, an affordable-housing complex on Husson Avenue. About 50 residents and staff gathered to hear brief remarks from newly named Bangor… Read More
    EAST MILLINOCKET – A parent forum will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at Schenck High School cafeteria. The proposal of the Code of Conduct for students in Union 113 will be reviewed at 6:30 p.m., followed by a review of the proposed Mission Statement… Read More
    WALDOBORO – After a month of car accidents that seriously injured six Medomak Valley High School students, Mickie Jean decided to take some action. As a result, Medomak Valley students got a lesson Thursday on life – and death. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
    Rockland District High School First quarter honor roll 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
    DEXTER – The local board of appeals is expected to decide next Wednesday whether or not Ronald Hewes of Brewer violated a building permit and Dexter’s shoreland zoning ordinance. Hewes obtained a permit from the local planning board to construct a camp on Fire Lane… Read More
    ROCKLAND – Police and the Maine Warden Service seized stolen firearms Wednesday after executing a search warrant at a Meadow Lane home. The firearms and $2,000 in stolen jewelry were confiscated, Deputy Police Chief Wallace Tower said. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
    ROCKLAND – The Farnsworth Art Museum is asking Rockland businesses and adult groups to donate Christmas tree ornaments that represent city businesses and organizations. They will be used to decorate the museum’s “Rockland” Christmas tree. The tree will be displayed in the big window of… Read More
    SANGERVILLE – The local tax assessor submitted her resignation Tuesday to the Board of Selectmen. Marilyn Rohdin of Sangerville, who has served the town as tax assessor since the 1980s, said Thursday that she would retire effective the end of this year. She also is… Read More
    MACHIAS – Pine Tree Legal Assistance will hold an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at 1 School St. Lawyer Judson Esty-Kendall, longtime local advocate Lucy Preston and new staff lawyer Ross Gower will discuss Pine Tree’s services. Local legislators, lawyers,… Read More
    PERRY – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Passamaquoddy Tribe a $170,362 grant to fund its Head Start program for the coming year, according to an announcement by U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins earlier this week. The funding… Read More
    SANGERVILLE – Police are investigating vandalism to the former Abbie Fowler Elementary School. Vandals entered the school and discharged the contents of fire extinguishers into the rooms and spray painted a section of outside wall, according to Investigator Allen Emerson of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s… Read More
    BROOKS – Expanding Opportunities is seeking volunteers to go with the organization on a service journey to East Africa to work side by side with Kenyan construction workers and volunteers. The project will be next March. No special skills are required, though a strong back,… Read More
    ROCKLAND – A Rockland man was charged with receiving stolen property after police discovered tools at a Warren home, Deputy Police Chief Wallace Tower said Thursday. John Staples, 39, was charged after an investigation by the detective division, Tower said. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    PARKMAN – After more than three months, the state Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled that health-related problems caused the deaths of an elderly couple on July 4. Leon Melvin, 70, and his wife, Ruth Melvin, 76, were found dead in their older mobile home in… Read More
    As the holidays approach, many organizations are busily raising funds through projects that help make our surroundings much brighter and more festive. Joyce Given, president of the Millinocket Regional Hospital Auxiliary, wrote to tell me that organization is sponsoring its ninth annual Love Light Tree… Read More
    HOWLAND – A 60-year-old Howland man died after the pickup he was driving drove off Route 116 Thursday evening and crashed into trees. Raymond Thibodeau, the sole occupant of the 1992 GMC pickup, died at the scene, said Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Stone. The… Read More
    My grandmother was confined by a stroke to one room in our Old Town home. She loved baseball. When Ryne Duren pitched for the Yankees against the Red Sox, she laughed out loud when Duren, with the dark Coke bottle glasses, uncorked a warmup pitch to the backstop. Read More
    BANGOR – Jimmy Clark of Hermon bowled his eighth 300 perfect game on Thursday in the Pine Tree League at Family Fun Bowling Center. Clark, 23, had a 300 game last week at Heritage Bowling Lanes and another perfect game two weeks ago in Waterville. Read More
    The Husson College golf team has received a ranking of 18th by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the highest ranking ever for any team from the Northeast Region, according to the school. Coach Bruce MacGregor’s Braves of Bangor completed their season with a head-to-head… Read More
    PORTLAND – Veteran Minor League manager Ron Johnson has been named the new manager of the Portland Sea Dogs. Johnson led the Trenton Thunder last season to a fifth-place tie with the Sea Dogs in the Eastern League’s Northern Division. He has spent most of… Read More
    HIGH SCHOOL KVAC All-Academic Selections 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] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
    BREWER – Teams will be battling for playoff position when the World Team Candlepin Bowling Championships resume today at the Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes. Each team in the two, 12-team divisions have two matches remaining to determine the playoff positions for Friday afternoon’s rolloffs. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    Maine vs. Northeastern Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Matthews Arena, Boston 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
    Jessica Bloch earned her first Bangor Daily News Football Forecast staff title and the first ever by a woman by edging Pete Warner by a game over the course of the 10-week, 200-game challenge, while three people shared the guest crown. Linda Coan O’Kresik of… Read More
    GORHAM – Goals from Renee Heath and Sarah Dolley gave the University of Southern Maine a 2-0 victory over Worcester State in their ECAC Field Hockey Tournament quarterfinal Thursday afternoon. Heath scored the game’s first goal without an assist 15:20 into the game, and Sarah… Read More
    TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning rewarded coach John Tortorella on Thursday for a promising start, exercising options to keep the entire coaching staff under contract through next season. The Lightning (9-4-2-1) lead the Southeast Division with 21 points. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    Nowhere in any of the baby-advice books is there a chapter telling parents how to deal with wobblers and toddlers who become groupies before they are 3 years old. Nor should there be, at least if the band of affection is The Wiggles. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More