WEST WARWICK, R.I. – Great White was rocking through its first song, “Desert Moon,” and the fans were cheering as fireworks sprayed the stage with sparks. They kept cheering even as flames shot toward the ceiling. Within three minutes, many of them were dead. At… Read More
As a steel door marked “Intake” slams shut behind them, two handcuffed men walk down a narrow hallway in the Washington County Jail, escorted by two officers. Arrested five hours earlier in Baileyville, they have been driven an hour south to the Machias jail. Each… Read More
BANGOR – The band whose pyrotechnics triggered a deadly fire in Rhode Island used the special effects in its show two nights earlier in Bangor, according to state investigators and fans who attended the performance. An estimated 250 people turned out Tuesday night at Russell’s… Read More
AUGUSTA – After nearly five hours of testimony Friday that revealed a deeply divided farming community, the Legislature’s joint standing committee on agriculture voted to approve the nomination of Robert Spear to remain in the post of agriculture commissioner, which he held in Gov. Angus King’s administration. Read More
A headline and story published in some editions of Thursday’s State section erroneously indicated that U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud was in Aroostook County for the first time since his election in November. Michaud has visited The County several times since the election, most notably the annual meeting of… Read More
A Reader’s Digest from February 1967 gleaned a fallen seed from the pages of The New York Times and planted it in the “Humor in Uniform” section. It reads, “U.S. Seventh Air Force planes spray chemicals to defoliate Vietnamese jungles and thus reduce cover for guerrillas. The spray… Read More
Ever since Maine voters passed the Clean Elections Act in 1996, this state has been held up nationwide as a leader in election reform. For the last five years, as director of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, William Hain III has had a front-row seat… Read More
Maine health officials were proud a couple of years ago to report that the rate of teenage births in the state had dropped to among the lowest in the nation, suggesting that the state and non-profit programs that teach birth control and abstinence were unusually effective. Now a… Read More
The need for a new pledge of allegiance became clear at the Bangor Government Operations Committee meeting Feb. 12, where councilors couldn’t grasp the relevance of a resolution urging our government to stay with the U.N. multilateral approach to disarming Iraq. In fact, our mayor expressed disappointment that… Read More
I am responding to the article on Reiki in the Jan. 18-19 Bangor Daily News. I was pleased to read such a well-written piece. As a Reiki master practitioner, I continue to be humbled and awed by the powerful effects of Reiki in people’s lives,… Read More
After reading Meg Haskell’s article titled, “Single-payer plan still touted for state” (BDN, Feb. 14), I can only wonder why the media continually perpetuate the myth of the health insurance industry, insisting Maine wants to adopt a health system like Canada’s. Maine’s quest for universal… Read More
I’m ashamed of the protest marchers I’ve watching lately. What’s the difference between Hitler and the Holocaust and Saddam? Hitler killed six million people and Saddam has killed one million of his own people. Does this mean we should wait until Saddam kills five million more?… Read More
As a career paramedic and a parent, I was again saddened by the news of another young child killed in a motor vehicle crash not properly restrained in a child safety or booster seat (BDN, Feb. 15-16). My own EMS service handled a similar tragedy two weeks ago. Read More
Thank you, Maine Democrats, for sponsoring the “anti-obesity” bill. I had no idea a cheeseburger and fries was not a healthy meal. With our increasing budget deficit, raising the cost of doing business in Maine through more regulations on restaurants sounds like a great idea. Read More
The best thing to do when you find you may be wrong about something you always thought you had nailed is, I suppose, to just admit it and hope those you’ve pestered with your erroneous beliefs either have short memories or better things to do than gloat. Wisdom… Read More
Where to go when things fall apart? With life on the brink of chaos last week – NATO discord, U.N. Security Council split, new rants from North Korea, and the latest bin Laden audiotape – I felt in need of structure and went to a mosque. The whole… Read More
If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought that the basketball game I was listening to on the car radio recently was a soccer game, so often did the participants “kick it out” or “knock it down.” Turns out that “kicks it out” in sportscaster-speak means to pass… Read More
Closing the remaining state liquor stores is just one facet of a proposal that, if approved, will end once and for all the state’s hands-on control of the sale of alcohol. Along with shuttering the last 13 Maine State Liquor Stores, Gov. John Baldacci’s proposal… Read More
BANGOR – Georgia-Pacific Corp. in Old Town announced Friday it will shut down a tissue machine for two weeks in March because of a sluggish economy. The No. 2 tissue machine will be down for the week of March 3 and the week of March… Read More
FORT KENT – Officials with Dead River Co. said Friday their company will honor all heating oil and service contracts held by former Irving Oil customers. Earlier this week it was announced that Irving Oil had sold its home heating fuel business in northern and… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Maine Council of Senior Citizens has joined in the call for a boycott of over-the-counter products including Tums antacids and Aquafresh toothpaste manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. Senior citizens nationwide have been protesting the drug company’s decision to cut supplies to Canadian pharmacies… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Five low-volume ports of entry from Canada will be closed and locked during hours when the stations are not staffed by customs agents and are closed to traffic starting next month. The measure, which stops drive-through policies of the past, have come… Read More
CLAYTON LAKE – Zero four seven three seven, the ZIP code that the U.S. Postal Service wanted to shut down in the northwestern Maine forest, lives on – with a few changes. A plan to continue mail service to this forest community, 65 miles west… Read More
BANGOR – In response to the threat of bioterrorism, the state says it’s moving forward with plans to inoculate health care professionals against smallpox, even though it has moved back its schedule. But given the vaccine’s high rate of deadly complications, frontline workers have serious… Read More
AUGUSTA – Mainers have been dumping pesticides into lakes and ponds to kill invasive plants such as milfoil and hydrilla that form a thick mat, clogging the water and destroying recreational opportunity. This type of pesticide use is illegal, but few people know the law,… Read More
The two-Maine division has been around so long now that it’s probably naive to think that a single act of kindness could begin to fuse the state into one. Yet the news that businesses, organizations and individuals throughout southern Maine will be gathering at the… Read More
BANGOR – The Penobscot County commissioners will hold a hearing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, to discuss the application for a special amusement permit and a liquor license by the owners of Club La Casa, a strip club in the unorganized township of Dolby. Read More
Officer Thomas Adams was on routine patrol at about 6 a.m. Wednesday when he noticed a Honda Civic weaving across Route 2 near the Georgia-Pacific mill. He pulled the car over. The driver, Michael Ulrich, 19, denied he had been drinking. Ulrich had bloodshot eyes,… Read More
BANGOR – The Esther Eayres Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, March 3, at the Maine Veterans Home, Hogan Road. For information, call 866-3309. Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor Theological Seminary will host a panel discussion titled “Good Jobs for Maine: A Justice Issue” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Wellman Commons. The Commons is on the Bangor campus at 300 Union St. The event is free and the public is encouraged… Read More
ORONO – Kindergarten registration in Orono will be by appointment from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4. Parents of children who will be 5 years old on or before Oct. 15 should register. A legal state birth certificate, or a copy of the birth record, and… Read More
DEXTER – The Dexter Water District has issued an order that all users boil all drinking water for five minutes. This would include water for ice cubes, washing foods, brushing teeth as well as drinking. Because of leaks from frozen pipes in distribution lines and… Read More
ETNA – The town of Etna is planning to submit an application to the Department of Economic and Community Development for a $10,000 grant to complete a Housing Needs Assessment. Increasingly over the past few years, the town has received calls from residents seeking information… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A felony charge filed against a Blue Hill boy accused of sexually assaulting a mentally handicapped classmate has been reduced to a misdemeanor. Adrian Leach, 16, was in Ellsworth District Court on Friday morning to plead guilty to the reduced charge as part… Read More
ROCKLAND – A Cushing man was recognized Friday as Rockland Police Department Officer of the Year. Officer Kenneth J. Smith, 29, was presented with a plaque by Chief Alfred Ockenfels, honoring his work in 2002. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
MONROE – Law enforcement officers in Belfast were joking Friday that whoever stole a van from the parking lot at Monroe General Store on Thursday night picked the wrong vehicle. The van is owned by Greg and Julie Stearns. Greg Stearns is a detective with… Read More
MATINICUS ISLE – The superintendent of SAD 65 is one of 20 school-system leaders being honored this week for the introduction of education technology to their schools. Jerry T. White is being recognized at the American Association of School Administrators’ annual conference in New Orleans. Read More
WARREN – A South Thomaston woman was injured Wednesday in a one-vehicle accident when her sport utility vehicle slid across the road and rolled onto its roof. Noel A. Corder, 35, was taken by Warren Rescue to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. She was… Read More
SULLIVAN – Two cars were demolished, but no one received significant injuries Thursday morning in an accident on North Sullivan Road, according to police. Katharine Thompson, 62, of Sullivan was driving a 1999 Subaru north when she turned left to enter the post office parking… Read More
LUBEC – Questions about whether the town will have to repay more than $200,000 in federal and state grants have been circulating since late last month when harbor trustees ran out of money and closed the town’s $1.5 million floating marina. Acting Town Administrator Vernice… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Officials at Maine Public Service are concerned about the public’s safety because high snowbanks are making it possible to come into contact with low-hanging power lines. Officials at MPS are urging parents and teachers to remind children to stay away from snowbanks… Read More
Caribou District Court Cases Jan. 1-31, 2003 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… Read More
There was a malfunction in the runway lights at Bangor International Airport Friday night. Lights went out at about 7 p.m. and remained off for about 20 minutes, according to airport officials. A couple of airplanes were unable to land and maintained holding patterns above… Read More
BANGOR – A former employee of the Springfield Terminal Railway Co. called his victory Friday in U.S. District Court “bittersweet.” David Higgins, 47, of Hampden won his personal injury lawsuit against his former employer, but was awarded only $25,000 – an amount equal to the… Read More
CALAIS – It’s a new group with an old purpose: to pull all of Washington County’s resources together to battle the substance abuse problem. The Washington County Drug Action Team is composed of state, county and local officials who plan to hold a substance abuse… Read More
Beddington The annual town meeting and election of officers will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Town Hall. 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
MEDWAY – The Katahdin Tourism Committee is asking residents of the region to identify existing and potential places and activities that will draw visitors to the area. The first in a series of public meetings will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at… Read More
INDIAN ISLAND – Carrying on traditions was the theme at the Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club on Thursday and Friday. Children learned native crafts, games and customs as part of a two-day event organized by John Neptune, the club’s recreation director. “We just wanted… Read More
BELFAST – The films of Big Mouth Productions, a New York-based social-issue documentary production company, are coming to the Colonial Theater in Belfast on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22-23. The special series showcases the five award-winning, feature-length documentaries Big Mouth has produced since it began… Read More
The Challenger Learning Center of Maine has received $750,000 through a federal omnibus appropriations bill passed last week, according to organizers for the middle school space simulation center. Due to open this fall at the Dow Air Force Base theater in Bangor, the center is… Read More
Following are divorces granted in 6th District Court in Rockland during January on grounds of irreconcilable marital differences: Michael Lea, Camden, and Stephanie Lea, Searsmont, married May 19, 2001, at Warren; Stephanie Lea to change name to Stephanie Sue Viens-Booth. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
CAMDEN – With diminishing state funding for next year all but guaranteed, the Five Town Community School District is diving into its budgeting. The district is looking at a $9,907,124 spending plan for next year, up 5.4 percent from the 2002-03 budget of $9,366,647. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
SULLIVAN – Union 96 superintendent Harvey Kelley said he still plans to be seen around town after he retires from his position at the end of June. Kelley, a Bar Harbor native, lives only a few miles from his office at Sumner Memorial High School… Read More
AUGUSTA – A plan to replace the Waldo-Hancock bridge took another step through the legislative process Friday as the Transportation Committee approved a bill to have the Maine Department of Transportation study options for the 71-year-old bridge. The committee unanimously approved an amended bill that… Read More
ELLSWORTH – Alleged possession of heroin led to a Gouldsboro man’s indictment earlier this month, but it was alleged possession of cocaine that led to his arrest Thursday. Michael Cronin, 51, was arrested Thursday afternoon at a local motel after police found him with 2… Read More
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Five Maine students will perform in the All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, organized by the Music Educators National Conference. In the concert band: googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the snowmobiler who ran down a Maine dog sledder last week keeps growing. Stephen Hessert, 51, of Cumberland, remains at Maine Medical Center in Portland where he has undergone several surgeries… Read More
WINTHROP – A police officer has been fired from the department after being charged last fall with hunting without a license and false registration of a deer. Aaron Chandler, who had been on the department three years, was dismissed by Chief Joe Young for “conduct… Read More
SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Friday’s warm weather was a welcome reprieve for the U.S. Coast Guard, which broke up more ice in the last week than it has in a past decade, according to a spokesman. The Southwest Harbor group was gearing up for a potentially… Read More
GREENE – A woman was in critical condition Friday after going back into her burning home to retrieve something, authorities said. Patricia Stevens, 59, escaped from her home around 3:30 a.m. with three family members after the smoke detector sounded, according to Stephen McCausland of… Read More
STARKS – Residents will vote in two weeks whether to repeal a mass gathering ordinance that was created in reaction to an annual festival held by advocates for the legalization of marijuana. The ordinance, approved in 1995, regulates sanitation, noise, security and other health and… Read More
ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland – Canadian prosecutors will appeal a decision to allow three Russian sailors facing manslaughter charges in the United States to return to Russia. Judge Keith Mercer ruled Thursday that the men could go home pending a decision on their extradition to the… Read More
PORTLAND – The Interstate 295 connector across Portland, an extension of Interstate 95 and a proposed east-west highway from Calais to New Hampshire are among the road projects at stake as Congress debates how to divvy up billions of dollars in funding for the next six years. Read More
EXETER – Children’s book author Lynn Plourde of Winthrop will read from some of her books March 3 at the Exeter Consolidated School. Plourde also will lead pupils at the school in a dramatization of one of her books with pupils playing parts using simple… Read More
Following are divorces granted in 4th District Court in Machias in January on grounds of irreconcilable marital differences: John F. Gaddis, East Machias, and Ann H. Gaddis, Machias, married Aug. 15, 1970, in East Machias. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
Machias District Court Cases Jan. 1-31, 2003 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… Read More
Something old and something new have been added to the 20th Great Caribou Bog Wicked Winter Ski Race on Saturday, March 1, from Bangor to Old Town, reports Penobscot Valley Ski Club member Pat Cammack. The additions are intended to encourage all cross-country skiers, young… Read More
CAPE ELIZABETH – Members of the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church are helping female former jail inmates rejoin the world after being behind bars. Three women are now in the mentoring program, called My Sister’s Keeper. The church hopes to expand its program and get… Read More
A pioneer in Maine’s winter sporting scene died Feb 19 in Lewiston. John A. Millar II, 85, died at a Lewiston health care facility. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
BANGOR – Standing at the free throw line meant an entirely different thing Friday afternoon to the George Stevens Academy and Piscataquis boys basketball teams. For George Stevens of Blue Hill, it was a comfortable place to be. For Piscataquis of Guilford, it was chamber… Read More
BANGOR – Offense hasn’t come easily for the Calais girls basketball team this year, but solid shooting in Friday afternoon’s Eastern Maine Class C semifinal boosted the No. 3 Blue Devils over No. 2 Central of Corinth at the Bangor Auditorium. Danielle Feck scored 20… Read More
At the risk of sounding like an old, washed-up fool at the age of 38, I’ll begin the meat of this column with two words I never thought I’d utter: Kids today … Boy. I feel older already. Read on, and you’ll find that it’s… Read More
AMHERST, Mass. – Yet another streak came to an end Friday night as the University of Maine Black Bears continued their downward spiral. The University of Massachusetts received a pair of goals from freshman right wing Stephen Werner and snapped a 14-game losing streak against… Read More
The Bangor Lumberjacks have added two pitchers to their staff by signing former Tampa Bay prospect John Vigue and acquiring Eric Moore in a trade with the Central League’s San Angelo Colts. The Northeast League team, which begins play this season, sent two pitchers, righthander… Read More
Hampden teenager Tessa McCue finished fourth among 12 competitors in the junior level short program at the Bay State Invitational ice skating competition Friday in Williamstown, Mass. The 17-year-old will compete in the long program Saturday. The top three advance to the nationals. Read More
Women’s Basketball MAINE vs. STONY BROOK 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
A pair of teams that are very familiar with each other will meet Saturday in the Eastern Maine Class B boys tournament championship game at Bangor Auditorium beginning at approximately 4 p.m. Erskine Academy of South China and Winslow have played each other twice during… Read More
BANGOR – Playing at night and wearing white is a nice goal, but the Calais girls basketball team proved it can wear blue, play in the afternoon, and still win big games. The lower-seeded No. 3 Blue Devils knocked off No. 2 Central of Corinth… Read More
The matchups are halfway set for the Class B state championship basketball games now that Western Maine has crowned its regional titlists. The Greely girls of Cumberland Center and Mountain Valley boys of Rumford will take on the winners of Saturday afternoon’s Eastern title games. Read More
Three of last year’s Eastern Maine girls basketball champions have a chance to defend their regional titles in Saturday’s EM final games. And that means two of those teams are a game away from defending state titles, too. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
BANGOR – Dexter’s Travis Patterson felt the Tigers would win their Class C Eastern Maine boys basketball tournament semifinal encounter with Penquis Valley of Milo. Forget the seedings. Forget that Penquis was the top-seeded team and that his Tigers were ranked number four. He felt his team would… Read More
BANGOR – The Dexter girls basketball team didn’t get much going on the perimeter during Friday night’s Eastern Maine Class C semifinal against Hodgdon, but with two post players towering over the rest of the players on the court, the No. 1 Tigers didn’t need many big jumpers. Read More
It was bitterly cold the day we took the Maine State Ferry out to Vinalhaven Island. Several days of below-zero temperatures had created sheets of ice that stretched far out into Rockland’s harbor and strong winds blew freezing spray and mist from the surface of the Atlantic. The… Read More
For the past few years I had been waiting for just the right “weather window” to attempt a winter ascent of Mount Washington in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. But the right combination of days off and good weather conditions never happened simultaneously. This winter, however,… Read More
Coyote snaring is getting a lot of publicity lately, and concerned parties on both sides of the issue will head to Augusta on Tuesday for a public hearing. Discussion at the hearing will revolve around LD 237, a bill which would prohibit coyote snaring and… Read More
My most important lesson regarding ice fishing techniques is one that I still utilize every outing, almost 30 years later. The basic theory is simple: change is crucial to assured consistent success for winter anglers. Some days, especially early in the season, fishing action is wild and wooly… Read More
Aroostook County Benedicta 2/21: ITS 81, Sherman, Mattawamkeag Cutoff is groomed, good to excellent conditions. Will be groomed Friday night 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
There’s something a touch romantic and mysterious about the idea of a loggers’ bunkhouse nestled deep in the north Maine woods. To the dozen or so men who call it home four nights a week, however, it’s simply a warm, dry place to eat a… Read More
It began innocently with just a seed catalog and me. Then I saw it. 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
There comes a time in every shopper’s life when she says, “Enough.” Enough of the cookie-cutter outfits, enough of the overpriced purses, enough black pants to last a lifetime. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
Driving along our gravel road in subzero weather this week, my girls and I came upon a ruffed grouse. Ordinarily, it is rare to get a close-up look at the slow-moving specimen. Usually the only sign of the creatures is the rapid beating sound of their wings and… Read More
“Guinness is good for you,” is the traditional legend on Dublin buses and billboards. Turns out that it is true, according to the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More