Westbrook and Saco residents soundly rejected referendums Tuesday that would have allowed Scarborough Downs to build a harness racing track with slot machines in their cities. In Westbrook, residents voted down a proposal to allow a “racino” in the city by a vote of 3,168… Read More
    HAMLIN – Thirteen horses perished in a fire early Tuesday at a stable and losses were said to be $200,000 or more. Eight other horses at the same farm were saved through the efforts of the owner, Gene Desjardins, a friend, Jeff Mechalko, and a… Read More
    A spokeswoman for Las Vegas developer Shawn Scott denied Tuesday a published report that he has sold the company trying to install slot machines at Bangor Raceway. The sale – lacking only a signed agreement – signals that Scott “has vacated his attempt to develop… Read More
    WASHINGTON – The Bush administration is banning the sale of ephedra early next year, and urged consumers Tuesday to immediately stop using the herbal stimulant that has been linked to 155 deaths and dozens of heart attacks and strokes. It was the government’s first-ever ban… Read More
    The name of a Plymouth man who arranged to have his loose horses shot last weekend was spelled incorrectly in a story on Page B1 in Monday’s editions. The man’s correct name is Peter Beatham, according to Newport police logs. Read More
    BREWER – The Northeastern Technical Division of the Forest Resources Association has scheduled an Industrial Forestry Forum for Thursday Jan. 8, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Jeff’s Catering. The event, titled “Big Picture Challenges,” will include a social hour followed by a buffet dinner and… Read More
    PORTLAND – Maine’s merchants are reporting strong sales during this year’s holiday season. L.L. Bean’s December sales were up 8 percent over the same period last year, said spokesman Rich Donaldson. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
    SANFORD – Tom’s of Maine is considering moving some operations into a vacant plant in the Sanford Industrial Estates. The personal-care products maker has reached a preliminary agreement to buy the former Millrock building on Route 109, Tom’s chief administrative officer Davey Scoon said. Tom’s… Read More
    Stay out of drafts, mother always said, but this time, as last time, there isn’t much hope of doing so. Two reports on Nov. 3, one in the United States and the other in England, pointed out a Web site, since removed, from the Pentagon… Read More
    Smoking, as has been widely reported apparently because so little else is happening in Maine this holiday season, will be banned in bars here starting Jan. 1. Putting a law into effect, however, should not be confused with having an effective law. For that, expect time and public… Read More
    The Land for Maine’s Future program has spent all its money, as it was supposed to, on land conservation projects throughout Maine. So, the time has come to replenish the worthy program’s coffers. It is unclear how many proposals will be considered by the Legislature… Read More
    During the past days we have witnessed a “march” for a new level of accountability at the Department of Human Services. We have all heard the horror stories. More than $100 million has been lost due to incompetence (and lack of accountability). Anyone in the accounting department of… Read More
    A few comments on Moorhead Kennedy’s column, “Terrorists and resistance fighters” (BDN, Dec. 23). The army that left Boston in 1775 to march on Concord was a British Army stationed on British soil, charged with enforcing British law on British subjects, not all of whom… Read More
    It would be nice if someone could explain in layman’s terms why gas prices in Bucksport are, on average, 12 cents a gallon higher than Searsport to the south, Ellsworth to the east, and Bangor to the north. Let someone involved come forth and enlighten us with a… Read More
    On Dec. 25 this paper carried an article from The Washington Post which stated that President Bush will be proposing a plan to allow “immigrants to work legally in the United States.” Bush hasn’t provided the details of the plan but he says it will help “match any… Read More
    While our northern neighbors conceived the Canadian Boreal Forest Initiative, a bold new conservation plan for their pristine forests, the Bush administration conceived a bold new destruction plan to sell off our nation’s pristine rain forest. Just before Christmas, President Bush announced that he was eliminating protections for… Read More
    On Christmas Eve 1984, Bethlehem’s Manger Square was crisscrossed with Christmas lights and a banner welcoming the choir of Brewton-Parker College. That Dublin, Ga., institution gave its annual open-air concert before thousands of Christian pilgrims packed in front of the Church of the Nativity. The major problem the… Read More
    CORINTH – Eight years of planning and $30,000 later, a new multipurpose recreational bridge across Kenduskeag Stream is ready for use. The Powerline Prowlers Snowmobile Club of Corinth began building the new Grant Bridge in 1995 when organizers applied for and were granted their first… Read More
    BANGOR – As voters in two communities went to the polls to vote on a racino in southern Maine, the operator of the Bangor Raceway was sued over a decision to allow a Las Vegas developer to create a racino in Bangor. The lawsuit by… Read More
    GUILFORD – Perhaps distraught over spilled milk, someone on Sunday tossed a bottle of coffee brandy through a window in the town office. The bottle broke a combination window, and the contents were scattered about the office of Town Manager Tom Goulette, according to investigator… Read More
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has maintained her perfect voting record in the Senate through 2003, ending the year with her 2,376th consecutive roll call vote since being sworn in to office in January 1997. “Much of my dedication to public service… Read More
    RUMFORD – A Rumford woman died from injuries she suffered in a collision at the end of a driveway on Route 108, authorities said. Marjorie Coulombe, 79, was pulling out of the driveway when her car was hit broadside Monday morning by a van driven… Read More
    MOUNT DESERT – Two Main Street businesses in Northeast Harbor were damaged by vandalism Christmas Day when someone shot holes through two storefronts with a BB gun, police said Tuesday. Similar incidents occurred in the village about a month ago, according to Patrolman Kevin Edgecomb. Read More
    CUSHING – Potential development of the Cushing Nature and Preservation Center into numerous house lots has sparked a petition seeking a six-month moratorium on subdivisions in this growing peninsula town. The petition, which had more than 100 valid signatures, was presented to the town clerk… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – The two Foxcroft Academy students arrested last week in connection with a break-in at the school have been placed on indefinite suspension from school pending further review. Ryan Porter, 18, of Dover-Foxcroft and a 16-year-old male juvenile each were charged with burglary and… Read More
    ORRINGTON – The HoltraChem Manufacturing Site Corrective Measures Study will be the topic of discussion during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Center Drive School. The 162-page revised Corrective Measures Study was submitted to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and… Read More
    BANGOR – An Old Town man was arrested on charges of drunken driving and resisting arrest Monday evening. Officers Edward A. Mercier and Wade Betters of the Bangor Police Department followed a white truck out of the Miller’s Restaurant parking lot at 10:38 p.m. The… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – Piscataquis County employees who were required to work when county offices were closed because of a snowstorm earlier this month will not receive any extra pay. Some members of the Sheriff’s Department and jail had asked to be paid time and a half… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – Piscataquis County commissioners on Tuesday approved the 2004 budget for the county after a few last-minute revisions. Those changes included a one-time adjustment in the salaries of the registrars of probate and deeds and of the sheriff to increase their wages relative to… Read More
    MOUNT DESERT – Property owners will be asked to raise $1 million more this year to fund municipal services, and the tax increase could go higher still, Town Manager Michael MacDonald said Tuesday. “I hate to be the person to give [taxpayers] all this news,”… Read More
    MOUNT DESERT – A former police officer who quit abruptly in September after being passed over for the job of police chief is running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen. Jason Lovejoy has returned his nomination papers to the town office, a clerk… Read More
    SULLIVAN – A local man faces charges that he raped an Otis girl a week before Christmas while the girl was being given a ride home, according to court documents. Charles Gibson, 23, has been charged with gross sexual assault for allegedly forcing the 15-year-old… Read More
    PITTSFIELD – Carmen Lessard, a special education teacher at Warsaw Middle School in SAD 53, recently received a $3,000 state minigrant from the Maine Support Network, Superintendent Michael Gallagher announced this week. Lessard’s program is called “Bag-A-Book” and was funded at $1,000 with an option… Read More
    ROCKLAND – The new year will be special for residents with the celebration of the city’s 150th birthday on June 3. The sesquicentennial committee is plotting a number of events throughout the year to recognize the city’s rich history. Rockland was incorporated June 3, 1854. Read More
    ATKINSON – Residents here have become familiar with the process of deorganization, so few questions were asked during a public hearing on the town’s latest attempt to become an unorganized territory. Voters will decide at a special town meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15,… Read More
    You are invited to attend one – or both – of two upcoming Twelfth Night concerts. Bill Shook contacted me last week to suggest you join the New Renaissance Singers and stretch the holiday music season out a little longer. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    BANGOR – A recent Sunday was a special day for the Marine Corps League, Greater Bangor Area Detachment 1151. The veterans group was presented its charter during a ceremony at Miller’s Restaurant. “The members range from World War II to the Persian Gulf,” explained William… Read More
    CONCORD, N.H. – The state Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the conviction of Chad Evans in the beating death of 21-month-old Kassidy Bortner. Evans, the boyfriend of Amanda Bortner, Kassidy’s mother, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 28 years to life in prison. Read More
    NORTH BERWICK – A 13-year-old girl was killed Tuesday morning after the car she was in, driven by her older sister, collided with a pickup truck. The accident happened at the intersection of Valley and Oak Woods roads. The sister drove through a stop sign… Read More
    Let it snow There’s nothing better on a wintry morning than a big, warm breakfast. The folks at Wilton have a few tips to add a touch of whimsy to your morning meal. To make Snowflake Pancakes, place a snowflake-shaped copper cookie cutter on a… Read More
    BANGOR – While Bangor offered significant evidence of improvement Tuesday, visiting Oxford Hills of South Paris showed why it is considered one of the state’s top schoolboy basketball teams. Senior forward Corey Tielinen displayed the versatility within his game, and the Vikings shot 54 percent… Read More
    The year 2004 is almost upon us. New England sports fans have, as always, had to deal with the highs and the lows during 2003. The Red Sox collapse in game seven against the Yankees would have to be the low and the surprising 14-2… Read More
    The Friends of Maine Women’s Basketball is offering fans a chance to see the Black Bears play at Albany and then see a Broadway show in New York City. The trip departs Friday, Jan. 16, for Albany, where UMaine plays the Great Danes on Saturday, Jan. 17. After… Read More
    University of Maine football fans are invited to honor the achievements of the 2003 Black Bear football team during the annual awards banquet scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Black Bear Inn in Orono. A 6 p.m. social hour will precede dinner and the… Read More
    HIGH SCHOOL At Lonesome Pine Trails, 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 Wallace Pool, Orono 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 Pittsfield 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 Official standings for boys and girls basketball and ice hockey as reported by the Maine Principals’ Association. Boys and girls basketball points compiled by Bob and Gertrude Butler of York, respectively. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
    PHOENIX – Sophomore Tiffany Jones scored a game-high 17 points and Meg Cressler added 10 points to improve her career scoring total to exactly 1,000 points as Southern Maine rolled to a 76-52 women’s basketball triumph over Gordon in the Grand Canyon Classic. Donna Cowing… Read More
    OLD TOWN – Tyler Tracewski’s 17 points led five players in double figures as the Old Town High School Indians improved to 4-1 with a 71-64 schoolboy basketball victory over Lawrence High of Fairfield Tuesday. Matt Curtis and Mike Thurston had 12 points apiece and… Read More
    HODGDON – Jimmy Griffin scored 14 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and made seven steals as the Hodgdon High School boys basketball team remained undefeated with a 56-47 victory over Van Buren Tuesday evening. Jeff Condon also scored 14 points, hitting four 3-pointers, for the 7-0… Read More
    ROCKPORT – Kayla Gushee scored her only field goal of the game to open overtime and Camden Hills added four free throws to edge previously unbeaten Belfast 44-39 in a schoolgirl basketball game Tuesday evening. Belfast’s Katelyn Ross had made one of two from the… Read More