WASHINGTON – Millions of uninsured Americans could save money on prescriptions under a discount program that 10 major drug makers unveiled Tuesday. The Together Rx Access Card program allows those who meet income and age requirements to save 25 percent to 40 percent – and… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Faced with a near revolt from school superintendents who felt they were being shortchanged by next year’s education funding formula, the Joint Standing Committee on Property Tax Reform has recommended adding more money to the mix. The committee on Monday voted 12-3 to… Read More
    An article that ran in the Jan. 8 Aroostook County edition needs clarification. The article, “Oakfield man indicted on threatening charge,” should have stated that Mark T. Smith allegedly fired one round from a handgun inside his home before police arrived. — googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    BAILEYVILLE – Fifty people learned earlier this week that their jobs have been axed at Domtar Industries’ pulp and paper mill, and people in this mill town are shaking their heads wondering what this community of nearly 1,400 will do next. The layoffs will take… Read More
    A recent evaluation of the Maine Technology Institute’s award programs concludes that the organization is helping to grow jobs statewide. The evaluation, conducted by Charles Colgan, a professor of economics at the University of Southern Maine, evaluated MTI-funded companies that had completed their projects prior… Read More
    SCARBOROUGH – The U.S. Postal Service has approved $82 million for the construction of a new mail processing and distribution center on the Scarborough-South Portland line, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday. Construction will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by April… Read More
    BELFAST – Women, Work and Community will offer a two-week “Job Seekers Workshop” in Belfast and Thomaston in late January. The class is designed for job seekers from all backgrounds who are unemployed, underemployed, or just looking for a new job. There are no income… Read More
    It was encouraging to witness one of those rare moments of conviction and dedication to the democratic process that sometimes, once in awhile, actually takes place on the floor of the U.S. Senate. I applaud Sen. Barbara Boxer, and those who stood by her, for… Read More
    In the article, “‘Loyal’ Jane Muskie dies at 77” (BDN, Dec. 29), you reprint a number of erroneous statements concerning Ed Muskie’s tearful scene in front of the Manchester Union Leader office in February 1972. I was there that snowy morning, along with Tom Fenton… Read More
    Kenneth Ryan’s letter, “Better off with Saddam?” (BDN, Jan. 7), provides an excellent example of how the news media are part of the problem. If one listens primarily to the likes of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh then the world is as presented by Ryan. Read More
    Recently the Bangor Daily News and the city of Bangor celebrated the accomplishments of Samuel de Champlain (“Bangor event commemorates French explorer’s 1604 landing,” BDN, Dec. 30), negating once again, for whatever ethnocentric reason, the significant sacrifices and contributions of the “People” who bear the river’s name. Read More
    In a region too often wracked by violent attacks and violent reprisals for them, the pictures of jubilant Palestinians celebrating the victory of Mahmoud Abbas, who was elected Palestinian president Sunday, were refreshing. There was some shooting of guns into the air, but mostly Palestinians cheered and waved… Read More
    Three years ago, a local fisherman and boat builder stood up at a Southwest Harbor selectmen’s meeting and demanded that something be done about rampant drug abuse in the area. Weldon “Bunny” Leonard told of drug dealers operating openly around his boatyard and hypodermic needles littering the streets. Read More
    New England’s only cement maker, Dragon Cement Products, located in Thomaston, is an important regional employer and supplier of a product that is integral to modern society: cement. The company is thriving and has expanded its production in recent years. Dragon has recently begun reducing… Read More
    PORTLAND – Supreme court justices heard arguments Tuesday in a case that will determine whether the sender of an unflattering e-mail who purported to be someone else will have to reveal his or her identity. The case before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court stems from… Read More
    BANGOR – A proposed $50 million statewide public safety radio system should not come at the expense of communications improvements already under way locally, local and county officials said Tuesday. “A lot of great strides have been made in the last 21/2 years,” Bob Higgins,… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Legislation that would allow snowmobiles registered out of state to be ridden in Maine on special occasions without a Maine registration is expected to gain final approval Thursday. LD 89 will allow the commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife… Read More
    AUGUSTA – In a display of the old, the new and the yet-to-be, brand-new, state-of-the-art tractors sat across the aisle Tuesday from leather- and bell-covered draft horse harnesses at the 64th annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center. There also was a… Read More
    FORT KENT – The Fort Kent Town Council on Monday night approved a fund balance of $1.25 million and the carrying forward of a negative $88,480 in 16 individual accounts. Many of the negative accounts carried forward are grant projects where money has been spent… Read More
    BANGOR – City officials are considering taking another stab at a federal grant program that could expand treatment options for those addicted to opiates, a class of drugs that includes heroin, codeine and oxycodone, to name a few. Bangor applied for a grant under the… Read More
    BANGOR – It was only the first of four public forums to re-evaluate the city’s comprehensive plan, but east side residents made it clear Tuesday night that preserving their neighborhoods held sway over all other issues. “The residential fabric needs to be kept as sacred… Read More
    EAST MILLINOCKET – Schenck High School’s athletic teams will transfer to Class D this fall. The school board voted 4-0 Tuesday night to reaffirm the Maine Principals’ Association rule requiring the Wolverines to be moved from Class C because the school’s enrollment has fallen to… Read More
    Dover-Foxcroft District Court 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
    BANGOR – A report on the cost for repairing the bathhouse at Dakin Pool suggests the pool’s days could be numbered. During a meeting Tuesday night, members of the City Council’s government operations committee agreed with staff that the pool near Broadway Park should be… Read More
    HARRINGTON – Midway through an emergency meeting of more than 90 Washington County school officials, selectmen and taxpayers Tuesday evening, Steve Pagels held up a bumper sticker. “We’re rural, not stupid,” it read. As chairman of SAD 37, host of the open meeting at Narraguagus… Read More
    WARREN – SAD 40 voters gave the go-ahead Tuesday for the construction of a $12.7 million consolidated middle school, including all the frills. By a districtwide vote of 1,073 to 372, SAD 40 taxpayers approved building a school for seventh- and eighth-graders on the 80-acre… Read More
    Caribou District Court Cases Dec. 1-31, 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
    HOULTON – Town councilors dismissed the opinion of one local resident on Monday evening and reappointed each of the town’s department heads to his post. At the nearly two-hour meeting each of the six leaders was reappointed to oversee 10 departments. The officials must be… Read More
    HOULTON – Youth who want to shoot hoops or slug baseballs with a Parks and Recreation Department team this year will not see increased participation fees thanks to action from both the public and town councilors. At a Monday evening meeting, councilors opted not to… Read More
    ROCKPORT – The Mid-Coast Children’s Services’ 19th annual Fabulous Food Fare and Silent Art Auction will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. Food selections from 25 area restaurants and art from as many as 65 artists help make… Read More
    FRENCHVILLE – Irene Pinette Daigle, the oldest living St. John Valley alumna of the University of Maine at Fort Kent, turned 100 this month. Daigle, born Jan. 5, 1905, was feted at her 100th birthday party by family, friends and UMFK campus officials. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    FRENCHVILLE – Former Maine state Sen. and Rep. Judy Ayotte Paradis has been elected to the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame. She will receive the honor Saturday, March 19, at the annual induction ceremony at the University of Maine at Augusta. During her time in… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – Money is available to help individuals and families establish savings accounts through the Maine Family Development Account Program at Women, Work and Community. Orientation sessions for this program have been scheduled 6-8 p.m. Thursdays in three Aroostook County locations: googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – SAD 1 youths ages 10-14 are invited to participate in the 2005 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Skyway Middle School gym. For information or entry forms, call Bill Guerrette at 764-8068. Read More
    HOULTON – Town councilors backed off a proposal to increase ice rental rates at the Millar Civic Center on Monday evening after a handful of local residents branded the move as too severe. Bernie Reece, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, had advised increasing… Read More
    BUCKSPORT – Town officials are seeking state help in sprucing up commercial buildings along Main Street. The town’s economic development committee has prepared an application for a $125,000 state grant that would be allocated to property owners who want to make improvements to the exterior… Read More
    EAST MACHIAS – “Show me the money” could be the words of the East Machias Withdrawal Committee as it seeks to guide the town in its possible withdrawal from SAD 77. School districts statewide learned last week of funding appropriations for next year’s budgets, little… Read More
    Rockland District Court Cases Dec. 20-31, 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
    ELLSWORTH – The City Council voted Monday to remove, install or keep more than 20 streetlights but put off making a final decision on a few of them. The council voted to install two streetlights on Maddocks Avenue and one new light at the intersection… Read More
    CALAIS – A Passamaquoddy man who alleged that he was the victim of a “possibly racially motivated assault,” by a Calais police officer because he was an Indian has reached a settlement agreement with the city. Richard Sabattus’ attorney, John Mitchell of Calais, said Tuesday… Read More
    CHERRYFIELD – A 26-year-old Cherryfield men was charged Monday by the Maine Forest Service for his role in damaging blueberry fields with his Jeep. Roger Whitford is scheduled to appear in Machias District Court in April on charges of damaging a cropland with a motor… Read More
    BANGOR – Several Police Department command officers turned up at Monday night’s City Council meeting to air their grievances about the city’s negotiating style. During the meeting’s public comment period, Sgt. D. Ward Gagner expressed the officers’ objections to the city’s “same-size-fits-all” approach to contract… Read More
    BREWER – Several local coaches, school representatives and members from the arts community have created a visionary concept to build a multiuse fitness and wellness center. They presented their proposal to the Brewer City Council on Tuesday night. “The Brewer Community Wellness Center is not… Read More
    HOLDEN – Town leaders agreed Monday that it’s worth looking into regionalized fire coverage with Brewer, which already is an automatic-aid partner. Brewer, Holden and other co-applicants will submit their application for a $10,000 grant to create a regionalized fire service plan Thursday. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    DEXTER – A local man suffered a broken neck Monday in a two-car accident on Route 7. Matthew Grillo, 24, was injured while a passenger in a car driven by Christine Raneri, said Police Chief Art Roy. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
    GREENVILLE – Jonathan Pratt has resigned as executive director of the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce. Pratt, who began his job as executive director in May 2003, was actively involved at the board level as well as the committee level. He has been a… Read More
    BREWER – With the pending snowstorm predicted for today, personnel from Brewer Police Department want to remind residents about the winter parking ban within the city. “This is a significant public safety issue every year,” Sgt. Chris Martin said Tuesday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    CAMDEN – Members of the High Street Historic District Association will meet Thursday with Transportation Commissioner David Cole and other state officials, hoping to persuade the DOT to reconsider putting utility wires underground as part of its rebuilding of Route 1 north of downtown. In… Read More
    BELFAST – Waldo County commissioners have decided to investigate hiring an administrator to manage the county’s affairs. Chairman John Hyk on Tuesday assigned Commissioner Amy Fore, Sheriff Scott Story and budget committee member Grayson Hartley to look into the potential and ramifications of appointing a… Read More
    BUCKSPORT – Town officials are seeking state help in sprucing up commercial buildings along Main Street. The town’s economic development committee has prepared an application for a $125,000 state grant that would be allocated to property owners who want to make improvements to the exterior… Read More
    BLUE HILL – A Red Cross blood drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, in the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital cafeteria. Each day in Maine, hospital patients use about 300 units of blood. Blood is not transfused unless it… Read More
    ROCKLAND – Knox County commissioners have set a meeting for 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at the Knox County Courthouse to talk about air service to the Penobscot Bay islands. In December, Maine Atlantic Aviation announced it was dropping its island air service because costs… Read More
    ROCKLAND – Knox County commissioners decided Tuesday to form a committee to write a job description for the newly created post of county administrator. In November, county voters approved a county charter that calls for, among other things, the creation of a county administrator position. Read More
    DEER ISLE – Fire on Tuesday heavily damaged a home on Sunshine Road. The home was filled with smoke when Harry Davis and his wife arrived home about 11:45 a.m., according to Fire Chief Brent Morey. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
    Though many of us did not know him, personally, we knew of him through articles in this paper reporting on the long, brave struggle the spunky 10-year-old Tyler Wintle fought against a brain tumor that took his life in early November. Tyler was the only… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Game wardens arrested eight men on numerous violations including night hunting and hunting while under the influence after an investigation in the Damariscotta area, the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said. The men were arrested Monday night after six search warrants… Read More
    WINDHAM – A state game warden is recovering from a broken leg suffered while in pursuit of a snowmobiler on Little Sebago Lake. Jason Luce, a district game warden, underwent surgery in which screws were used to pin the broken bone back together on Monday, a day after… Read More
    PORTLAND – A Boothbay Harbor woman has filed a lawsuit against a Roman Catholic priest who she says molested her son from the time he was 3 years old until he was 5. The Rev. Thomas Lee, who stepped down voluntarily in 2002 while the… Read More
    CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire is expected to install cameras and build fences as part of security improvements on the Interstate 95 bridge connecting New Hampshire and Maine. A $100,000 federal grant for the work also would pay for alarms on the bridge, which crosses… Read More
    BANGOR – The mother of a teenager sexually abused by a former Pleasant Point police officer is seeking $6 million in damages from him and the tribe. Margaret Mitchell of Perry filed the lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court in Bangor less than one… Read More
    GREENBUSH – Investigators expect in about two weeks to wrap up their investigation of a November car accident that instantly killed a Burlington woman and seriously injured a Lincoln woman. “The investigation is winding down and will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for… Read More
    HOWLAND – A member of the SAD 31 board of directors will be the town’s new code enforcement officer, Town Manager Glenna Armour said Tuesday. The Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 Monday night to name Bruce Hallett to replace Theresa Thurlow, Enfield’s town manager, who… Read More
    Meat the competition Steaks are high at the National Beef Cook-off, where 20 national finalists will compete for more than $100,000. Last year’s winner, Grilled Steaks Balsamico, combines marinated beef, creamy cheese, pepper, balsamic vinegar and figs for a unique flavor. If your favorite beef… Read More
    Carl “Stump” Merrill isn’t sure what he will be doing for the New York Yankee organization this season. But the Brunswick native and former University of Maine football-baseball standout and assistant coach, who managed the Double A Eastern League’s Trenton Thunder the last two seasons,… Read More
    The absence of Jordan Heath from the Bangor boys basketball lineup for three to five weeks due to a bout of mononucleosis leaves the Rams not only without their starting point guard but also their top long-range shooter. Heath, whose natural position is shooting guard,… Read More
    BANGOR – Freshman Amy Hackett hasn’t started any games yet for the Bangor girls basketball team, but she’s certainly played some key minutes this season. Hackett’s offense and defense were critical Tuesday night as Bangor went up against Big East Conference rival Hampden at Red… Read More
    HIGH SCHOOL At Presque Isle, 3K 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
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    PORTLAND – A Massachusetts man was sentenced to six months in jail Tuesday for violating a federal law that makes it illegal to buy and sell fish that have been forbidden in certain bodies of water in Maine. Michael Zombik pleaded guilty to one count… Read More
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    HIGH SCHOOL Official standings for boys and girls basketball and 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
    Lawrence High School in Fairfield postponed its athletic events Tuesday night because of the death of a student who was killed in a car accident Monday night. Joseph W. Violette II, 17, was killed when the vehicle he was driving went off a slushy road… Read More
    BANGOR – Holly Gracie hit 6 of 12 shots en route to a team-high 17-point effort in leading the Husson College Braves to a 69-66 women’s basketball win over the Colby College White Mules at Newman Gym Tuesday night. Jodi Merchant helped Husson with 11… Read More
    ELLSWORTH – Kyle Staples scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as Mount Desert Island rallied for a 52-49 victory over Ellsworth in boys basketball action Tuesday night. Robin Daley also scored 17 points for the Trojans, and Andrew Veilleux added 12. Read More
    STACYVILLE – Jordan Anderson scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to lead Katahdin to a 50-45 schoolboy basketball win over Hodgdon on Tuesday night. Owen McCarthy scored 12 points for the Cougars. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
    BINGHAM – Ryan Yeo scored 24 points as Piscataquis Community High of Guilford defeated Valley 54-45 and handed the Cavaliers their first home-court boys basketball defeat since 1996. PCHS, which posted its fifth straight win since a 1-4 start, held a slight lead after each… Read More