The epidemic of drug addiction is on the rise, killing dozens of young Mainers every year and leaving scores of others incapable of leading normal lives. It ruins families, divides communities and drains millions of dollars out of the economy. A promising medication recently has… Read More
ORONO – Less than a week after being asked to step down, University of Maine President Peter Hoff resigned Friday. Hoff’s resignation takes effect Aug. 15. Nonetheless, the UM official isn’t gone for good, but will assume a professorship at the university. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said Friday that CIA analysts were not pressured by superiors to justify the invasion of Iraq, based on a long-awaited Senate Intelligence Committee report on prewar intelligence. “That’s not the conclusion of the committee report … that was unanimously agreed to… Read More
A photograph in Tuesday’s Bangor Daily News was credited incorrectly. The portrait of “The Secret Life of Lobsters” author Trevor Corson was taken by Peter Travers and was provided by the author. Read More
PORTLAND – Despite congressional pressure, questions about the death in Iraq of an Army reservist from Kennebunk more than a year ago remain unanswered. The wife and family of 1st Sgt. Christopher Coffin, a member of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, are still awaiting an… Read More
When 21-year-old Jamie Caron got serious about kicking his seven-year narcotic habit last summer, the help he needed wasn’t there. He had enrolled at a Bangor counseling-based treatment program and tried to quit “cold turkey” – but talk therapy wasn’t much use when he was constantly ill, craving… Read More
Tanya Clapp, 37, and a native of Eddington, started using methadone six years ago when she lived in Florida – not to manage her entrenched narcotic addiction, but to feed it. “I met a girl who was shooting coke while she was on methadone; it… Read More
The selection of Sen. John Edwards by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry was the correct one. The ticket seems energized by the addition of the enthusiastic senator from North Carolina. While the Bush-Cheney machine is already hard at work, challenging Edwards’ experience, I should… Read More
A long-awaited Senate Intelligence report released yesterday concludes that the CIA gave the White House inaccurate, inadequate and generally sloppy information about the military strength of Iraq in the months leading up to the war. The report, signed and supported by Republicans and Democrats unanimously, may be the… Read More
Months of trying to persuade the Bush administration that a cap on the number of workers it allows into the country is harming the logging and mill industries here has left the Maine congressional delegation without answers and quickly running out of time. A bill that would grandfather… Read More
Shame. Shame. Shame. On June 26, the Brewer Hometown Band hosted R.B. Hall Day in Brewer. 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… Read More
Regarding the article, “State park’s rustic retreat ‘endangered’/Planned demolition of Baxter’s cabins pits preservationist, authorities” (BDN, June 25). When Baxter State Park was purchased and established, the Daicey Pond camps and the Kidney Pond camps were operating as sporting camps and Gov. Percival Baxter included… Read More
In the article, “Clark blasts Bush, supports Kerry while in Bangor” (BDN, July 7), I’m afraid Maine Senate President Beverly Daggett misrepresented many Americans who serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom with just cause for the Iraqis, and not just based on “fabricated evidence.” I’m sure… Read More
The July 8 issue of the Bangor Daily News gave readers the pros and cons of the Mars Hill wind system. Yet, nothing was said about the contribution to the Maine utility grid. Maine uses about 12 billion kwh per year – what will the… Read More
Now that Sen. John Kerry has announced his running mate, one must be curious about the positions of Sen. John Edwards and where he stands on key issues. The frustrating aspect about the nomination is that we are, as voters, still unsure as to where Kerry himself stands. Read More
If you’ve been following the news stories about the forced resignation of University of Maine President Peter Hoff, which finally occurred yesterday, you’ve seen the same question posed in various forms: How could system officials push out a successful president just because this spring he challenged what he… Read More
The more I read the morning newspaper the more things seem like Yogi Berra’s “d?j? vu all over again,” especially when it comes to news stories about the cost of gasoline and home heating oil. Monday morning’s paper was a case in point. “Higher home… Read More
Somewhere in the distance, beyond earshot of Lori and Tim Jordan’s home in Lamoine, the processed, prepackaged world goes about its business. Here, life is a whirl stirred by a wooden spoon: Questions from kids, visits from friends and endless banter all revolve around a six-burner gas stove… Read More
Thousands of Maine entrepreneurs are using online auction services as a central part of their business models, competing with companies already using the Internet to entice customers. Small businesses are the “bread and butter” of eBay’s revenue, said Brian Dancause, manager of small-business assistance in… Read More
AUGUSTA – A Baldacci administration update of revenue collections through the June 30 end of fiscal 2004 indicates a General Fund revenue surplus of nearly $61 million. Substantially higher than previously estimated, the all-but-final figures would reflect unanticipated revenue of 2.3 percent. The full year’s… Read More
AUGUSTA – An executive order signed Thursday by Gov. John Baldacci formally establishes a six-member Homeland Security Advisory Council that will continue to report directly to Baldacci and also defines state agency roles in homeland security.The order “formalizes an existing system” to continue addressing homeland security at the… Read More
SKOWHEGAN – A father whose son is accused of murder pleaded not guilty to hindering apprehension Friday in a Somerset County Superior Court arraignment, according to a state prosecutor. Arthur D. Belanger, 45, of Madison was indicted in June on the charge, which is a… Read More
BANGOR – A man wounded 18 months ago in a shootout with police in downtown Ellsworth pleaded guilty to most of the charges Friday and was sentenced in Penobscot County Superior Court to 13 years in prison. Rodney Williams, 29, faced up to 80 years… Read More
VASSALBORO – The supervisor of the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force has been reassigned after funding cuts eliminated his position. State police Sgt. Glenn Lang was in charge of investigating computer-related crimes in Maine. In his absence, only one officer will be left to investigate… Read More
In the barbering business, the old will eventually become new again, provided you have the patience to hang in there and wait out the change. Gene Spearrin has witnessed a few tonsorial evolutions over a 40-year career in which he’s owned 17 barbershops from South… Read More
HOULTON – Police are trying to solve a mystery that unfolded early Thursday morning and that left them in possession of two ATVs. The investigation into who was operating the ATVs and what exactly they were doing in the craggy wooded area on Bangor Road… Read More
MACHIAS – Machias voters will be asked Monday at a special town meeting to approve the sale of the Colonial parking lot to the Machias Savings Bank and to support the bank’s plan to pave over a half-acre of open space downtown for conversion to a second parking… Read More
EASTPORT – A veteran educator has been named superintendent of School Union 104. Arthur Wittine, 62, has been on the job for the past three days. Most recently Wittine was superintendent of SAD 56, which includes Searsport, Frankfort and Stockton Springs. He has been an… Read More
HODGDON – The SAD 70 school board Thursday evening refused bite at a state Department of Education proposal that would have the district rent Apple laptop computers for high school students. At the meeting, the board voted unanimously to reject the suggestion, which Superintendent Deborah… Read More
Thalia is a fun and forthright 12-year-old girl with a quick smile and an inquisitive nature. She loves computers, computer games and robots and recently became interested in evolution. She is the youngest child in a foster home of several children. She loves one-on-one time with her foster… Read More
The following divorces were granted in 4th District Court in Calais in the past few months on the grounds of irreconcilable differences: Orene M. Clark-Seavey, Princeton, and Kenneth L. Seavey, Perry; married at Perry on Sept. 2, 2000. Orene M. Clark-Seavey granted the right to… Read More
Two 15-year-old girls were arrested at an Orono supermarket Friday after an off-duty sheriff’s deputy said he spotted them with alcohol. The deputy detained the girls in their car at 5:45 p.m. and called police after he saw one of the juveniles leave Bell’s Orono… Read More
BANGOR – A panel of municipal and emergency services officials in Penobscot County will meet Monday to review more than $275,000 in requests for federal Department of Homeland Security funding. The review committee will meet at 6 p.m. at the Penobscot County commissioners meeting office. Read More
LUBEC – A Lubec man awaiting trial for robbery was returned to the Hancock County Jail on Thursday night after officers from two counties recovered merchandise in his house acquired from the use of a stolen credit card in Ellsworth, police said. A search warrant… Read More
CALAIS – The city manager announced Thursday she does not plan to abandon this community for a job as town manager in neighboring Baileyville. Linda Pagels told the councilors at their regular meeting Thursday night that she had been invited by the Baileyville Town Council… Read More
ADDISON – Town residents are looking forward to their annual Addison Days today, starting with a breakfast at the town hall and finishing with fireworks. “Hopefully it will be a clear day because a lot of people have done a lot of work for this,”… Read More
ADDISON – Today’s Addison Days coincides with another annual event, the Phillip Farren Gift of Sight Walk-a-thon. Farren, 66, is a blind resident who is organizing the two-mile walk for the fourth year. On each previous walk, the nonprofit foundation has raised as much as… Read More
HODGDON – Last month, a decline in enrollment and a lowered level of student need conspired to eliminate three education technicians from SAD 70. And now, after hearing that a customary pool of grant money unexpectedly dried up, the school board on Thursday evening once again opted to… Read More
BANGOR – Making its first visit of the year to its summer port, the American Cruise Lines ship American Glory was welcomed Friday with open arms by city officials, who presented a key to the city to a representative of the cruise company. City Councilor… Read More
CARIBOU – A Fort Fairfield woman was indicted by the Aroostook County grand jury Friday for aggravated furnishing alcohol to a minor in a case that involves the death of a 19-year-old man and the serious injury of a juvenile. Laurie D. Hafford, 44, was… Read More
OAKFIELD – The Oakfield Smokey Haulers Snowmobile Club will hold its Community Yard Sale 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today at the new clubhouse on Smyrna Street. The club plans to make the yard sale an annual event. All proceeds will benefit the club’s building fund. Donations are welcome. Read More
HAMPDEN – A new building is going up in Hampden, but it’s not for sale or rent – and local officials wouldn’t mind if it never opened for business. As part of Penobscot County’s efforts to prepare for disaster, Hampden has acquired a portable decontamination… Read More
BANGOR – A tractor-trailer truck belonging to KB Corp. of Bangor snagged a low-hanging power line on Thursday evening, causing a utility pole to snap and fall into the street near the corner of Buck Street and West Broadway. Officers blocked the road for about… Read More
ORRINGTON – Bluegrass music, home-cooked meals and an old-fashioned country fair will highlight this year’s 12th annual Olde Home Week celebration July 24-31. One thing missing is a grand marshal for the parade that ends the annual weeklong rendezvous, created as a way to bring… Read More
AUGUSTA – The state police detective who was behind the wheel of Gov. John Baldacci’s sport utility vehicle when it crashed last winter retired Thursday after 20 years on the force and said his departure was unrelated to the accident. James Trask, 42, said he… Read More
What a grand adventure third-, fourth- and fifth-grade pupils at Brooksville Elementary School are planning. With your support and their hard work, commitments have already been made for about a third of the funds they need to take a multicurriculum trip to Alaska in March… Read More
BUXTON – An abandoned filling station could become the site of Maine’s third memorial to veterans of the Korean War. The York County town has memorials to World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War, but only a small marker commemorates the Korean… Read More
BANGOR – Three-year-old Raven Hatch of Clifton, a victim in a June 22 automobile accident on U.S. Route 1A in Ellsworth, was released from Eastern Maine Medical Center on Friday. Raven, her sister, Ashlynn Hatch, 2, and their mother, April Hatch, 25, were critically injured… Read More
AUGUSTA – Bill Reid stepped from a plane onto the hot tarmac in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, tired but eager to return to the country where he had been a Peace Corps volunteer almost 30 years earlier. Widowed, financially secure and restless, the 66-year-old… Read More
MADAWASKA – Sen. Susan Collins is attempting to ease manpower problems in the logging and tourism industries by attaching an amendment allowing bonded workers into Maine onto a bill on the Senate floor. Allowing an increased number of H-2B temporary worker visas would ease a… Read More
ROCKLAND – People who love lobster but hate traffic have a new option for travel to this year’s Lobster Festival. Maine Eastern Railroad will operate a passenger train from Brunswick to Rockland beginning Aug. 5, the second day of the festival, through the celebration’s end… Read More
PORTLAND – A Standish man was listed in critical condition after he shot himself in the head early Friday while being questioned by police in connection with a drug investigation. Richard Cook, 39, was pulled over on Congress Street at about 3:35 a.m. after officers… Read More
STOCKTON SPRINGS – The Congregational Church of Sandy Point celebrated its plans for an addition with a groundbreaking ceremony last month. The church plans to add a meeting room, Sunday school space, kitchen and restroom to its 164-year-old building. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
BANGOR – Beacon of Hope Church of God, 1612 Ohio St., is celebrating the 14th anniversary of the arrival of the Rev. David Bean and his wife, Phyllis, at the church with a special service at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 11. The Rev. Billy Washington… Read More
BELFAST – Members of the First Church in Belfast UCC voted unanimously in late June to call the Revs. Kate Winters and Joel Krueger to serve as co-pastors. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Winters holds a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies from Fairfield… Read More
PORTLAND – Maine’s Roman Catholic bishop has announced more reassignments or additional duties for priests from around the state. In most cases, the changes were effective July 1. The Rev. Louis Phillips, administrator of St. Joseph’s Parish, Ellsworth, will become pastor of St. Augustine and… Read More
CALAIS – They will tell you it was their faith that helped them rebuild their church. Out of that faith grew the $1.2 million Second Baptist Church. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false;… Read More
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe will play key roles in protecting Thomas Paine’s republic. As they have often showed, the Maine senators’ common sense is needed more than ever in stopping an ill-conceived proposal: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has scheduled debate… Read More
Belfast District Court Cases June 14-25, 2004 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… Read More
PORTLAND – The clock is ticking on preparations for a 43-year-old sailing enthusiast planning to sail a 60-foot sloop around the world alone. Bruce Schwab’s boat, the Ocean Planet, will be lowered into the water next Wednesday for testing before November’s start of the Vende… Read More
SKOWHEGAN – Activists opposed to the Poland Spring bottling company’s plan to draw up to 80 million gallons of water a year from an aquifer near Flagstaff Lake took their case to court Friday. Opponents challenged last month’s decision by Maine’s wilderness zoning board to… Read More
FALMOUTH – A wealthy widow who claims the town is waging “war” on her by restricting development of her property is gathering enough signatures to force a zoning ordinance referendum on the November ballot. “I’m like on top of the world because I think I’m… Read More
ORONO – The Region 1 Junior Olympic Track and Field meet is much different than the typical meet run in Maine. Such events as the decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon and triathlon are offered. Youngsters ranging from northern Aroostook County to New York City and upstate New… Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor Lumberjacks shook off a frustrating Thursday loss by combining solid starting pitching with standout long relief and timely hitting Friday night. The result was 7-1 victory over the North Division-leading North Shore Spirit at a soggy Winkin Complex and the Lumberjacks’… Read More
Jones begins title defense Monday Thirteen-time champ Plummer thinks five-day tournament is too long
Ricky Jones will open defense of his title against 125 challengers when the 85th Maine Amateur Golf Championship begins Monday at Sanford Country Club. After 18 holes of stroke play Monday and 18 more on Tuesday, the field will be trimmed to the low 32… Read More
The Boston Red Sox Alumni-Bangor FireFighters baseball game has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 31st at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. Game time is 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for kids under 12, and will be available at the stadium on game day. Tickets that were… Read More
SUNRIVER, Ore. – Jesse Speirs of Bangor finished tied for 26th in the American Junior Golf Association’s Rolex Tournament of Champions. Speirs, 17, shot a 2-over-par 74 Friday at Sunriver Resort’s Crosswater Course to post a four-day total of 3-over-par 291. Jamie Lovemark of Rancho… Read More
Two tickets to watch NASCAR Busch Series racing at New Hampshire International Speedway will be given away as part of a blood drive being held at the Bangor Daily News. The drive, sponsored by the Eastern Maine Medical Center Blood Donor Program, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20,… Read More
HOLE-IN-ONE Bob Stevenson 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
LOCAL At Sebec Lake, Sunday 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
Four members of the University of Maine football team have transferred to other schools this summer after being dismissed from the team for violations of UMaine’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct. Dante Fusco, Kendrick Ballantyne, Maurice Garlic, and Tom Labenski will pursue their careers elsewhere. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
BREWER – Pat Moran allowed two hits and struck out 12 over six-plus innings and helped his own cause with an RBI double and a run-scoring single Friday night to pace the Brewer Falcons to an 11-5 victory over Orono in Zone 1 American Legion baseball action at… Read More
BANGOR – Ian Edwards rapped two doubles and a single and collected five RBIs to power Bangor to an 18-2 District 3 Junior League (ages 13-14) Baseball Tournament victory over Glenburn at Mansfield Stadium on Friday. Edwards also held Glenburn to two hits and recorded… Read More
It’s construction season here at 491 Main St. Plumbers are busy installing piping for climate control. Glaziers are busy sealing up the windows. Workers are sheet-rocking a new lunch room. Outside we’re completing a facelift. And electricians are hanging new fixtures in the newsroom guaranteed to make our… Read More
During July and August, when hot weather raises water temperature and lowers stream levels, fly fishing can become a very frustrating endeavor. I’ll admit just being out wading a wood-lined brook, relaxing in nature and casting about with a favorite dry fly is soothing and pleasant, but when… Read More
Tom Hennessey’s three-part series on the bear referendum was shamelessly biased in what was more subjective editorializing than an attempt at balanced reporting. The proponents of this referendum have three main issues in the killing of close to 4,000 Maine black bears each year with the use of… Read More
Ban won’t halt hunts Tom Hennessey’s attempt to convince Maine hunters that the bear referendum is the end of bear hunting in Maine and is the first step to end all hunting and fishing is the most unethical aspect of the bear hunting issue that… Read More
A recent rain after a dry spell gave me a glimpse into the life of birds that I had never quite seen before. It had been at least a full week, if not more, without a drop of rain. I ran the sprinkler for my… Read More
Ashley Bryan’s life is a multidimensional performance. Painter, sculptor, writer, storyteller, performer, and full embracer of life, Bryan is one of those inspirational figures for whom creativity suffuses every activity. Knock on the door of his home on Little Cranberry Island and he beams an enveloping smile. His… Read More
There are few words more delightful to the avid shopper than “clearance.” And this time of year, clearance sales abound as stores make way for their early fall collections. It’s a double blessing for Mainers – not only are we getting everything at drastically reduced… Read More
Some days you get the bear. Some days the bear gets you. Last week, I got the bear. This tale, like most of mine, goes back to the Red Sox. Sorry. It also involves an anonymous credit-card company which recently fled Camden for greener pastures. Read More
From year to year in the garden, only one thing is for certain, really: No matter what the vegetable and floral harvest, the ground offers up an abundant new crop of rocks throughout the growing season. In this regard, the earth’s yield seems overly generous, abundant beyond all… Read More
Parents looking for a wide variety of family entertainment while vacationing should consider heading south – about 800 miles south. That’s where Virginia lies. The former heart of the Confederacy is the perfect location for history buffs to visit. But the temperate state is also… Read More