PRESQUE ISLE – The Maine Potato Board on Wednesday approved proposed changes to Maine bonding and licensing statutes governing the purchase and payment for potatoes by processors. The changes included several language differences to make the statute clearer and more enforceable. The language includes responsibilities… Read More
    AUGUSTA – With the heating season here once again, Maine’s attorney general is reminding consumers of regulations pertaining to the sale of firewood. Under state law, firewood must be sold in one of three allowable units: standard cord, cubic foot, or loose-thrown wood. A standard… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Marden’s Discount, known as a place for bargain hunters, is apparently a bargain hunter itself. The 13-store chain recently looked at ways to save energy costs. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
    CALAIS – For about a year it looked as though the boat building program in Eastport had sunk, but Washington County Community College officials launched a more buoyant curriculum on Thursday, in line with industry demands. Boat building has been part of this state’s economy… Read More
    Millions of television viewers watched “Saving Private Ryan” on Veterans Day. Viewers in 20 cities, including Portland, did not have the opportunity because affiliates there worried that showing the movie would run afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s prohibitions on airing violence and profane language. While the stations’… Read More
    An investigation of insurance company practices, including possible bid rigging and payments for steering business to certain companies, launched by the New York attorney general has spread to Maine and other states. That could be good news for consumers and businesses that have been paying rates that are… Read More
    I spent a good part of Election Day at my local polling place, talking to the voters about the proposed water tax referendum. Unlike the people who were collecting signatures for the tax, I was there to ask people to please read the proposal carefully before signing something… Read More
    My father, as well as both of my grandparents, served this country during wartime. As such, Veterans Day is very special for us, and we appreciate ABC network’s annual airing of what is perhaps the greatest American war movie ever made, Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan.”… Read More
    When I received my tax bill on my home in September, I was furious. The evaluation had risen $11,700 over the previous year, up $28,200 since the 2000-2001 fiscal year. My mind was made up, I would vote for the Palesky tax cap! After thinking… Read More
    Sen. Kerry is calling for President Bush and the Republicans to “reach out to the Democrats” and create a more bipartisan atmosphere in Washington. Bush reached out to the Democratic Party big shots when he was first elected. Sens. Ted Kennedy and Tom Daschle, the Clintons – they… Read More
    If one really wants to know the true meaning of “moral values” they should reflect on the life of Margaret Hassan. All the deaths in the Iraq war are senseless but her death is particularly tragic. Dublin born, Ms. Hassan went to Baghdad with her… Read More
    The votes are in. The political pundits agree that the Democratic ticket lost this election because it could not appeal to a religious base across this nation. Although the economy is tepid at best and the nation is at war, the majority of voters believe that the country… Read More
    In an interview about his recent book, “Making Good,” I asked Howard Gardner about the state of mentoring in the lives of the young professionals he was studying. “Credentialing is replacing experience,” Gardner said. He was lamenting our societal preoccupation with shortcuts to wisdom. The… Read More
    PORTLAND – The Maine Turnpike will convert on Feb. 1 from Transpass to E-Z Pass, the electronic toll collection system used along much of the eastern seaboard. Under the change, Maine motorists will be able to breeze through toll plazas in Massachusetts, New York, New… Read More
    Thanks go out today to the following people who most recently sent contributions to the Santa’s Helper Fund, which is used by The Salvation Army to help families in need around the Christmas holiday: Brice E. Gould, in loving memory of his wife, Edith H. Read More
    Canada’s environmental minister told a Saint John, New Brunswick, paper this week that he would protect the country from the risk of huge tankers filled with liquefied natural gas from using the Head Harbor Passage near Campobello Island. But Minister Stephane Dion stopped short of… Read More
    PORTLAND – A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that leaving five Hispanic men at a Portland homeless shelter – rather than leaving them to fend for themselves on the streets – was “a humanitarian gesture.” “We determined that they were neither… Read More
    HERMON – An unexpected bill prompted the Town Council Thursday to approve a contract with the owners of a local animal shelter who will appear in court today for violating the town’s noise ordinance. Dora and Michael McCarthy, owners of Syna Kennels on Swan Road,… Read More
    GLENBURN – After working on the document for more than a year, councilors on Thursday accepted the town’s subdivision ordinance. There has been a moratorium on subdivision development in the town since July 2003. A public hearing was held earlier this month on the proposed… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – Center Theatre on Main Street has installed its new marquee and will host a marquee lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1. Gov. John Baldacci will make an address via video, and other state and federal officials will be in attendance. The… Read More
    MADAWASKA – The Aroostook County Democratic Committee will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at 322 Heritage Place, Suite 109, on Main Street. Newly elected legislators will be present, as well as Rep. Michael Michaud. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… 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
    LINCOLNVILLE – Selectmen will discuss legal strategy in a closed session before their regular meeting Monday night. Town Administrator David Kinney said Thursday the board will meet with attorney Terry Calderwood to discuss how to proceed in an action against Richard Rosenberg and Dawn Bragg. Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – City officials are taking preliminary steps to convert an old airplane hangar into a public works garage after getting a green light from the City Council. The Public Works Department received direction on Monday night from the council to begin looking into… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – A dog-pet ordinance that has been criticized for being too specific and at the same time for not being specific enough will have a public airing at the next City Council meeting. After reviewing the ordinance, which was examined in early November… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – Some Aroostook County potato growers may get involved, through a Canadian intermediary, in a fact-finding mission to Cuba later this winter. There is some interest in Cuba about acquiring Maine potato seed, according to Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato… Read More
    EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Two Wal-Mart stores opened in the St. John Valley last week, but both of them are north of the border – one in Edmundston and the other in Grand Falls. The closest U.S.-located Wal-Mart for Maine’s St. John Valley shoppers is… Read More
    MADAWASKA – The school committee Wednesday night approved the efforts of the department’s superintendent and extended his contract through June 30, 2007, with an increase in salary of $2,500 a year starting July 1, 2005. Danny R.P. Michaud started work in Madawaska last July 1. Read More
    Rockland District Court Cases Nov. 8-15, 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
    PITTSFIELD – Tickets are still available for the Pittsfield Kiwanis Club Celtic Concert, to be held 7 tonight at the Pittsfield Community Theatre on Main Street. The tickets are $10 and are available by calling 277-4678. They will not be available at the door. Proceeds… Read More
    BANGOR – The Good Samaritan Agency will host its annual adoption reunion in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the agency’s Bangor office at 100 Ridgewood Drive. The event will feature clowns, crafts, games and refreshments… Read More
    BANGOR – Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe will speak at the regular meeting of the Greater Bangor Area NAACP at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 120 Park St. Rowe is expected to give an update on the work being done… Read More
    MILFORD – The school board meeting for November has been canceled due to scheduling conflicts. The meeting, which was originally scheduled for Nov. 4 and then postponed until Nov. 23, will resume at its normal date in December. Read More
    BANGOR – The Bangor Area Homeless Shelter is joining more than 100 organizations to take part in Maine Ending Hunger Month starting today and running through Monday, Nov. 29. The shelter is teaming with Partners in Ending Hunger in hopes to secure matching funds available… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Piscataquis River watershed has been selected as one of 202 watersheds across the nation that will receive funding to recognize farmers who are caring for their lands well. The Casco Bay watershed also received the funding. The new Conservation Security Program, part… Read More
    DEXTER – Santa Claus will make an appearance starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, at the P&L Country Market on Corinna Road. The event is sponsored by the North Country Riding Club, the market and the Travis Gould Farm in Ripley. Santa will arrive… Read More
    BANGOR – The Warren Center for Communication & Learning’s Regional Hearing Aid Bank, or ReHAB, recently received a $9,000 grant from the Rite Aid Foundation to provide hearing aids to members of the community who could not otherwise afford them. Mary Poulin, Warren Center administrative… Read More
    EAST MILLINOCKET – The town is looking for as much as $50,000 in state funds to help build a new pool and is using a survey mailed to 700 residents to do it. East Millinocket joins Millinocket and Medway in using the Low To Moderate… Read More
    Dover-Foxcroft District Court Cases Oct. 19-Nov. 12, 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… Read More
    PORTLAND – A proposal targeted at recreational boaters would make Casco Bay the state’s first no-discharge area in which all dumping of sewage from boats is banned. The state will seek permission from the Environmental Protection Agency to make the entire bay a no-discharge zone,… Read More
    BANGOR – A former X-ray technician has been sentenced in Penobscot County Superior Court to 18 months in jail with all but nine months suspended for stealing drugs from a patient about to undergo a medical procedure at the Bangor hospital where he worked. James… Read More
    WASHINGTON – A bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine to help protect funds for veterans’ health care has been passed by Congress. This legislation clarifies the Department of Veterans Affairs rules for distributing funds for state veterans homes. The legislation was drafted… Read More
    LEWISTON – University of Maine System trustees gave the go-ahead Monday to the University of Southern Maine to proceed with a $25 million fund-raising campaign, the largest in the school’s history. Funds raised during the two-year campaign would come from both private and public sources,… Read More
    PORTLAND – Police Chief Michael Chitwood is concerned about a Web site that showed pictures of youths with guns, saying it must be taken seriously and echoes an atmosphere that led to the Columbine High School tragedy. Pictures on the Web site showing Portland High… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Three Maine soldiers, including a man from Indian Island, suffered minor injuries Wednesday when they came under mortar fire in the Iraqi city of Mosul. The three members of the 133rd Engineer Battalion were injured while working on a project, said Maj. Peter… Read More
    Shirley resident Jeannette Morrill knows what it is like to live with a rare disease in rural Maine and have no local support group, so she is doing something about it. November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, she wrote of the disease she has had… Read More
    WASHINGTON – The United States Business and Industry Council gave its Legislative Leadership Award for Domestic Manufacturing on Wednesday to U.S. Rep. Michael H. Michaud of Maine. Michaud received the award for being one of the organization’s top ten legislators in the 108th Congress. He… Read More
    BANGOR – Early Thursday in the transit lounge at Bangor International Airport, two dozen people were preparing for the worst. And that’s a good thing. Representing local, state and federal emergency agencies, local hospitals and other organizations, the group is planning for next year’s disaster… Read More
    ORONO – Two Maine firms have been awarded the $16 million contract for the University of Maine’s new student recreation and fitness center. OEST Associates of South Portland and Terrence J. DeWan & Associates of Yarmouth will be working with the Boston-based Cannon Design to… Read More
    BANGOR – A Canadian man was detained temporarily Thursday on federal charges of smuggling more than $100,000 in cash into the United States. Nhu Phong Nguyen, 25, was arrested early Wednesday in Fort Kent after a local police officer found him sitting in an idling… Read More
    AUGUSTA – On the eve of a state forecasting panel’s review of revenue trends, the Baldacci administration told legislative budget writers Thursday an October dip still left the General Fund ahead for the fiscal year by $38.2 million or 5.1 percent. “Taxable sales increased significantly… Read More
    AUGUSTA – A request for an additional $4.7 million in public financing for legislative and gubernatorial candidates is raising eyebrows in Gov. John Baldacci’s office and among some lawmakers concerned about a pending budget gap. The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices is seeking… Read More
    PORTLAND – A banner that hung at a reunion of the Civil War regiment from Maine that turned the tide at the Battle of Gettysburg is destined for a museum to be built at the Gettysburg National Military Park. Joshua Chamberlain told veterans of the… Read More
    ORONO – The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has named University of Maine professor Kevin Boyle the 2004 Maine Professor of the Year. There is one award winner from each state, along with four national award winners. Recipients are selected based on outstanding… Read More
    Newburgh’s Ricky Craven will be named the driver of the No. 50 Craftsman Truck Series Ford for Jack Roush Racing this morning at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, according to published reports in the ThatsRacin.com. and jayski.com Web sites. Craven will replace Jon Wood in the unsponsored… Read More
    To Hell With Him.” That was the headline this week in the New York Post under a picture of Pedro Martinez in his Boston uniform with devil’s horns sticking out of his head and the three-pronged devil’s fork in his hand. The Post asked readers… Read More
    It has been a difficult three weeks for University of Maine sophomore center and 2003-2004 Hockey East Rookie of the Year Michel Leveille, who has missed the last six games due to a separated shoulder. But Leveille will return to the lineup Friday night when… Read More
    BANGOR – Brian Hackett has thrived in the background during much of Bangor High’s run toward Saturday’s Class A football state championship game. Such is the role of a quarterback in an offense geared toward a punishing push of the football up and down the… Read More
    COLLEGE Cait Cleaver 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 slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
    Maine Maritime Academy linebacker Chris Tracy has been named the 2004 New England Football Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Westbrook native led the Mariners this season in tackles for loss (13.5-51 yards) and sacks (4-19 yards). He was also third on the team in total tackles… Read More
    The University of Maine-Farmington women’s basketball team was voted first in the North Atlantic Conference preseason poll, while the UMF and Husson men tied for second in their poll. The UMF women received eight first-place votes and 174 points total, edging Husson which had three… Read More
    Brittany Howe of Columbia was one of four University of Maine volleyball players to be named to the America East all-conference team. Carmen Morgan, Shannan Fotter and Kaili Jordan were also honored. Howe was fifth in the conference in hitting percentage (.313) while Morgan is… Read More
    Men’s Ice Hockey MAINE vs. MASSCHUSETTS 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
    BANGOR – Katie Harris hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points to power the Eastern Maine Community College women’s basketball team to a 73-43 victory over Unity Thursday. Jessica Fitzmaurice added 12 points for the Golden Eagles of Bangor and Stephanie Kennedy chipped in with… Read More
    INDIANAPOLIS – Olympic gold medalists Mark Johnson and Joan Benoit Samuelson joined former Southern Cal quarterback Paul McDonald as recipients of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Awards. The awards are presented to former athletes who have distinguished themselves in the 25 years since their graduation. They… Read More
    BREWER – MacLaughlin Truck & Trailer of Nova Scotia moved ever-so-closer to clinching the top seed in one division, while Maria’s Subs of Massachusetts maintained its lead in the other division during the third day of action at the World Team Candlepin Championships at the Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes… Read More
    If you take a tour of downtown Rockland, it’s hard not to stop in at the Time-Out Pub. Overlooking Rockland Harbor, the two-story pub is a slightly salty but thoroughly friendly spot for beers, some traditional pub grub and a game of pool. It’s also a great place… Read More
    In theaters SEED OF CHUCKY, written and directed by Don Mancini, 85 minutes, rated R. 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
    BANGOR – Newman Gymnasium in Bangor has been a lively place over the past week or so. The sound of 13 pairs of sneakers running up and down the floor can only mean one thing: the Husson College women’s basketball team is hungry for another… Read More
    ORONO – Playing hockey wasn’t really an option growing up in the Desmet household in Strathmore, Alberta. It was a way of life. So Leonard and Sandra Desmet’s only daughter and the second of their four children gladly laced up her first set of hockey… Read More
    MISSY TRAVERSI (No. 5) 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 slot_sizes… Read More
    GREG MOORE (No. 15) 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 slot_sizes… Read More