WASHINGTON – Four months after one of the most destructive tsunamis in history killed thousands of people along the Indian Ocean basin, Congress is taking steps to try to prevent similar devastation in the United States. The United States has a system to detect tsunamis… Read More
    An Aroostook County Superior Court listing published April 27 contained two errors. The listings should have read: Hal A. Foster, 46, Presque Isle, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, and forgery, both filed, defendant paying court costs totaling $200. Jeffrey W. Zercie, 37, Fort Fairfield, acquiring drugs by… Read More
    WASHINGTON – The government has opened an investigation of more than 1.2 million General Motors Corp. pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles in 21 states, including Maine, amid questions about the vehicles’ antilock brakes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that stopping distances… Read More
    About 150 people gathered in Brewer on Sunday to support 23 workers laid off by the local DHL affiliate. DHL is a delivery service that competes with UPS and FedEx. According to Jack McKay, president of the Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the… Read More
    TURNER – In the past six years, Cooper Brothers apple farm has bought or leased land from five other apple orchards and grown to 800 acres on which it has apple trees. Apple farms in Maine are adapting to a changing business climate to remain… Read More
    Cesar Chavez would roll over in his grave. Chavez founded the United Farm Workers and spent his life organizing migrant labor to improve their horrendous working conditions and their lousy wages. He was also an adamant foe of illegal migration. Illegals were the scabs, hired by the employers… Read More
    Rep. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has a simple solution to the imminent closure of Bangor’s Flight Service Station, slated for shutdown along with 37 others. His bill would identify the jobs at these stations as “inherently governmental,” precluding them from a competitive bidding process and maintaining their role… Read More
    Last year Congress failed to agree on an energy bill partly because of a proposal to protect makers of MTBE from liability for water contamination caused by the gasoline additive. The House recently passed its version of the massive bill, which again contains the MTBE waiver. For this… Read More
    Barbara Boxer, Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton are examples of what the Democratic Party has to offer the country. If they cannot have it their way, they just want to obstruct, obfuscate or threaten to filibuster. If they are so hot to have it their… Read More
    The Christian Civic League and others may be focusing on preventing “gay marriage” and on disallowing “special privileges” by repealing the new equal rights amendment. These inflammatory tactics have proven to be effective in Maine. There is no doubt that enough signatures will be collected… Read More
    Regarding the column by Sen. Paul Davis titled, “Better budgets than Baldacci’s” (BDN, April 23-24): First, I would like to clarify that nothing was hidden in the budget. The Maine State Employees Association was in the process of bargaining a contract and got it completed… Read More
    Substantial majorities of Americans now lack confidence in the president’s ability to handle the economy, retirement security and health care. Yet even some Democratic pollsters acknowledge that the president’s difficulties have not translated into gains for the Demo-crats. Perhaps that is because many working-class Americans justifiably lack confidence… Read More
    For years, alcohol has been virtually synonymous with college life. Indeed in all likelihood, the first graduates from this country’s original universities held raging parties every Friday night. Most people think that drinking and college simply go together, and from my experience, most students feel… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Karl Dornish waited 50 years to be called for jury duty. The 72-year-old Winslow resident finally served last year on a jury in a trial in Kennebec County. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
    Science tells us that matter is never really lost in the universe, that it just kind of changes form and continues forever as something else. As far as I can tell, the theory is borne out every year at this time, when winter-weary homeowners get… Read More
    BANGOR – Amid recent polls suggesting tepid support for President Bush’s effort to reform Social Security, a flatbed truck rolled into this city Monday carrying boxes of signatures opposing his plan to allow workers to invest part of their benefits in private accounts. “Social Security… Read More
    Sixty percent of Mainers favor the state’s newly signed gay rights law, according to a poll released late last week. “It does appear to have broad support among the general public,” said Curtis Mildner of the South Portland-based firm, Market Decisions, which conducted the April… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Maine’s Dirigo Health program is expanding to provide coverage to thousands of more families, Gov. John Baldacci announced Monday. Parents whose incomes are up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level now qualify for health coverage, up from the previous maximum of… Read More
    BANGOR – Hurricanes don’t reach Maine often, but when they do, the common reaction is to head in the opposite direction of the powerful storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s “hurricane hunters” are a little different from the average weather watchers: They fly toward… Read More
    CAMDEN – A proposal to borrow money to demolish buildings at the former Apollo Tannery site will go before residents at the annual town meeting on June 15. The Select Board sought bids for the demolition work, and last week decided that if voters support… Read More
    MILLINOCKET – John Merrill has moments when he feels success is a million miles away and moments when the president of Brims Ness Corp. feels it’s just at arm’s reach. “For some time now, we have been 90 days away from getting product in the… Read More
    BANGOR – After hearing from people on both sides of the issue, city councilors Monday decided to see if a problem-solving session would resolve the conflicts between a Lincoln Street couple and the owner of a pub in that vicinity. City Manager Edward Barrett said… Read More
    VEAZIE – Three suspects have been summoned for criminal mischief and theft for allegedly vandalizing and stealing signs last week at Penobscot Valley Country Club and for allegedly damaging mailboxes along State Street. Peter Whitney, 22, of Jonesboro, Anthony Jacques, 20, of Chelsea and Greg… Read More
    BANGOR – The city is taking some tentative steps into the world of “paperless government.” Effective Monday, the staff at City Hall no longer will provide paper copies of agendas and supporting documents for City Council and committee meetings. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
    BANGOR – City councilors have decided to throw their support behind a downtown parcel that state court officials picked as the next home for Penobscot County Superior Court and 3rd District Court. In addition to city officials, the site at the corner of Exchange and… Read More
    BANGOR – The Maine Department of Education appears to be taking some – but not all – of Bangor’s advice about adjusting the high school diploma to reflect achievement of the state’s academic standards, Superintendent Robert Ervin said Monday. He told the Bangor school board… Read More
    FORT KENT – Three families have been marooned on Pelletier Island in Long Lake since Saturday, but they are all right, according to one of the residents. The half-mile long, one-lane causeway from the mainland to the 285-acre island was underwater Monday, and a leaning… Read More
    ST. STEPHEN, New Brunswick – The Calais police chief Monday praised the efforts of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to get prescription drugs that are being diverted to Maine off the street after Mounties executed several raids in this border community. The raids occurred over… Read More
    MACHIAS – Some 230 years ago, 40 settlers in what became known as Down East Maine used pitchforks and axes to board and capture the British schooner Margaretta in Machias Bay. The British captain was mortally wounded and the ship was surrendered. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    FORT KENT – The owner of the Chrysler-Jeep dealership destroyed by fire Saturday night did not know Monday whether he would rebuild the business established 50 years ago by his father Gilman Bouchard. Lester Bouchard said that no cause has been established for the fire. Read More
    ROCKLAND – The stately, graceful Knox County Courthouse is getting a younger, more fashionable roommate. Finishing touches are still being made on the $4.5 million annex, and evidence of a few leaks was apparent Monday, but much of the 25,000 square feet is already occupied. Read More
    LEVANT – Suzanne Smith first came to town in 1963 as an elementary school teacher. That was when the Levant Consolidated School still existed where the post office now stands, and most of the school’s graduates went on to work and raise families right in town. Read More
    WARREN – An alleged gun plot at Warren Community School last month is still drawing concern from parents, who continued Monday to press SAD 40 officials for answers and to demand changes in handling crisis situations. Moms and dads of pupils at the kindergarten through… Read More
    BAILEYVILLE – They may have a petition and a plan of action, but advocates of a third bridge being built near this community do not have the ear of the state. That was evident Monday night when the “Friends of Magurrewock” held a meeting and… Read More
    BUCKSPORT – The Bucksport Bay Early Childhood Network has inaugurated a call-in information service to help parents of preschool children find answers to their questions about childhood development. Working with a variety of area service providers, the TOTLINE offers “one-stop shopping” for information about the… Read More
    HARRINGTON – While working through the budget for 2005-2006, members of the SAD 37 board also must settle another matter: finding a new superintendent. George Kiley last week informed the board of his plans to return to his native New York state. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    PITTSFIELD – SAD 53 administrators said Monday night that educational standards will not be compromised with next year’s proposed $9.6 million budget, even though their “wish list” items – which were not funded – were as basic as additional teachers. Warsaw Middle School principal Arnold… Read More
    HERMON – The school committee stood firm Monday night on its decision to move the town’s fifth-graders from the elementary school to the middle school this fall, despite a strong local petition effort against the relocation. The committee in January voted 3-2 in favor of… Read More
    Bad weather in Boston caused an Icelandic Air aircraft, carrying 196 passengers, to be diverted on Saturday evening to Bangor International Airport while on the way to Boston. While the Boeing 757 airplane was on the ground, a small mechanical problem was fixed that had nothing to do… Read More
    Jacob “Jack” Palmer III of Unity has been elected chairman of the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems board of directors. Palmer, who was the unanimous pick of directors at their April 28 meeting, takes over for Irving Kagan, who has stepped down as chairman after 15 years in the… Read More
    A Texas woman who is a suspect in the death of her Lee-born husband passed at least one of two polygraph examinations she was administered. Police in San Angelo, Texas, confirmed Monday that they administered a test to Wendi Davidson within a few weeks of… Read More
    Everyone associated with Center Drive Middle School in Orrington must be bursting with pride at the success of its Destination ImagiNation team, which won the state title and is competing in the Global Finals May 25-28 in Knoxville, Tenn. This program is just 2 years… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The Legislature’s Agriculture Committee went to the dogs on Monday, kenneled for hours on five bills that would substantially affect canines and their owners. One bill took nearly two hours to debate, with legislators bogged down in the details of a proposal that… Read More
    BANGOR – A Brewer woman who served four months in jail for stealing from an employer 2 1/2 years ago was sentenced Monday in Penobscot County Superior Court to 3 1/2 years in prison for a similar crime and for welfare fraud. Katie L. Rosenberg,… Read More
    ROCKLAND – The city’s fire chief warned Monday of a fund-raising scam seeking donations for the “Fire Department Charity.” Fire Chief Charles Jordan Jr. said “we know of no such campaign under way that is officially sanctioned by the city of Rockland Fire Department or… Read More
    SEARSMONT – A show of the work of two Searsmont siblings will be at the Searsmont town library from May 10 until the end of June. Prints and paintings by Carolyn Bennett and photography by Russell Bennett will be on display during the library’s hours:… Read More
    ROCKPORT – The Five Town Community School Board has voted to hire Nick Ithomitis as principal of Camden Hills Regional High School. Ithomitis is principal at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, N.H., a private school with about 3,300 students. Camden Hills, which serves Camden, Rockport, Hope,… Read More
    BREWER – The last time U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud was inside the Eastern Fine Paper Co. mill, it was operational and filled with workers going about the business of making paper. On Monday, he toured the empty and stripped-clean facility with city officials and Minnesota-based… Read More
    CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy will work with The Landing School in Kennebunkport to revive a boat design degree at the college. MMA trustees last week approved an articulation agreement with The Landing School in Kennebunkport that will allow students to earn credits at both… Read More
    BANGOR – A Hampden man was indicted Monday by the Penobscot County grand jury for a March 15 break-in at Miller Drug and a Brewer church. Steve J. Ellis, 35, was arrested shortly after 3 a.m. March 15 behind Miller Drug on State Street in… Read More
    AUGUSTA – A leading supporter of a proposed ban on assault weapons warned Monday that it was only a matter of time before someone is killed with one of the targeted guns. But gun rights advocates told lawmakers that Sen. Ethan Strimling’s bill, LD 1579,… Read More
    Age: 37 Resident: Islesford 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
    Seams rip out with no warning. Holes happen with alarming frequency. Scissors slip and gash for no sane reason. The fruit punch always lands on the whitest fabric. There are a million ugly stories in the naked sewing rooms of Maine. These, my friends, are… Read More
    Sacred monuments Innumerable medieval Christian sites were constructed to include both religious and astronomically significant events. Many churches were aligned in an east-west direction with the altar in the east and facing west into the rising sun, the direction from which it was commonly believed… Read More
    CAMDEN – A cinematographer from Maine hopes to bring a state-of-the art film and television production facility to the midcoast that would rival such big silver-screen players as DreamWorks. Rob Draper, who has been director of photography on films such as “The Spitfire Grill” and… Read More
    When first-year Narraguagus High School of Harrington baseball coach John DeRaps looked around the gymnasium the first night of tryouts, he realized one thing: He needed help. Not at shortstop; not at pitcher; not even in the outfield; but at coach. DeRaps, considered by all… Read More
    Talk to a veteran hunter for more than a few minutes and the conversation will likely turn toward the past. Memorable hunts will be relived, remote places revisited, and once-and-forever traditions recounted for the thousandth time. On Saturday, young hunters from across the state headed… Read More
    COLLEGE Curt Smith 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
    Kenduskeag Golf and Country Club will be opening on Saturday. All holes are open to walkers only. The Monday Sunset League meeting is also scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
    PHILADELPHIA – The University of Maine men’s and women’s track teams turned in two school-record performances at the 111th annual Penn Relays, but did no better than a ninth-place finish. The men’s distance medley relay team of Paul Rupprecht, Scott O’Connor, Portland’s Donald Drake and… Read More
    HIGH SCHOOL At Bangor Indoor Tennis 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
    HOLE-IN-ONE Kyle Nicholson 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 coaches love senior leadership, but this year the Big East Conference Class A softball skippers have to be pleased with how their freshmen are performing. For Bangor, players like Amy Hackett, Alex Fahey, and Amy Wadleigh have had an immediate impact. At Brewer,… Read More
    STANDISH – Brian Schools hit a home run, a double, and two singles to drive in two runs and help lead Saint Joseph’s College to an 8-2 baseball win over Salem State College Monday. Andy Exley had a double and two singles with two RBIs… Read More
    FORT KENT – Monique Labbe and Ashley Bouchard each drove in three runs to lead the Fort Kent Warriors to a 14-2 high school softball win over the Van Buren Crusaders Monday in the mutual opener. Labbe tripled, doubled and singled and Bouchard had three… Read More
    SEARSPORT – Righthander Matt Nickerson beat lefty Danny Hilts to lead the Searsport Vikings to a 3-1 high school baseball win over the George Stevens Academy Eagles, the defending two-time state Class C champs. Searsport scored a pair of second-inning runs on Sean Johnson’s squeeze… Read More
    MILLINOCKET – Jordan Burleigh allowed just two runs and four walks through five innings while striking out 10 to lead the Stearns Minutemen to an 11-5 high school baseball victory over the Sumner Tigers Monday. Ryan Bouchard hit three singles and drove in a run… Read More
    Poor decision made on state’s turkey hunt I have long been a staunch supporter and fan of Gov. John Baldacci, even before he became our governor, and I will continue to be so. However, I was extremely disappointed to read the article by John Holyoke… Read More