AUGUSTA – There are now just two spots on the planet – the jungles of Vietnam and the demilitarized zone in South Korea – where exposure to Agent Orange is officially recognized as the presumed cause of a host of devastating illnesses in American military personnel. Read More
AUGUSTA – Gay rights opponents submitted more than 57,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office on Tuesday afternoon to force a November referendum on the new state law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination. “Today we are witnessing a miracle,” Susan Madore, wife of… Read More
FORT BRAGG, N.C. – President Bush on Tuesday rejected calls for a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq or sending more troops, counseling patience for Americans who question the war’s painful costs. “Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it and it is vital to… Read More
LIMESTONE – Gen. Lloyd W. Newton could not be pinned down Tuesday on whether Defense Finance and Accounting Services in Limestone will be taken off the Department of Defense list for closure, but he promised employees and northern Maine they would receive a fair hearing from the nine-member… Read More
A Los Angeles Times obituary for lobbyist and political insider Fred Dutton that ran in its entirety on page B6 in the State edition incorrectly stated that Edmund G. “Pat” Brown was California’s first Democrat governor in the 20th century. Democrat Culbert Olson served from 1939 to 1943. Read More
WASHINGTON – The Labor Department is providing more than $28 million to 35 states, the District of Columbia and Guam to help civilian workers affected by a massive restructuring of military bases. Illinois, which stands to lose 737 civilian jobs, and Indiana, which could gain… Read More
WASHINGTON – Congress never intended for Indians to build Nevada-style casinos away from their reservations, and tribes risk a backlash by pursuing the trend, Sen. John McCain said Tuesday. “None of us ever anticipated that there would be casinos in the Catskills,” McCain, chairman of… Read More
WASHINGTON – The House on Tuesday agreed to a $3,100 pay raise for Congress next year – to $165,200 – after defeating an effort to roll it back. In a 263-152 vote, the House blocked a bid by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, to force an… Read More
TORONTO – Canada’s House of Commons voted Tuesday to legalize gay marriage, passing landmark legislation that would grant all same-sex couples in Canada the same legal rights as those in traditional unions between a man and a woman. The bill passed as expected, despite opposition… Read More
BREWER – Though DHL denies union activity played a role in its decision to hire a Pennsylvania firm to run its local operations, a supervisor with the subcontractor allegedly told prospective employees this was the case, according to a complaint issued last week by federal labor regulators. Read More
Robert W. Daigle, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Corp., has announced that the bank has declared a 20 cents per share dividend payable July 29 for shareholders of record July 15. The stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange. Read More
The Advertising Club of Maine elected officers at its recent annual meeting. Dennis Gears, senior account executive at MaineToday.com was elected president. Also elected were Kim Laramy, vice president, Kim Ferrell of Portland Radio Group, treasurer, and Liz Phillips of WVII TV, secretary. The club exists to promote… Read More
Bangor area employers expect to hire at a steady pace during the third quarter of 2005, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. According to the survey conducted by the employment agency, 20 percent of employers expect an increase in hires, while 10 percent expect to reduce their… Read More
Paul and Laurie Stevenson have opened a pet-sitting business that offers in-home care of pets, daily walks, play time, and customized service for people who need to be away from home for work or vacation. The Stevensons are experienced with all types of animals and can be reached… Read More
Robert “Bob” Baldacci, a longtime Bangor developer and most recently with Pierce Atwood Consulting of Portland, has recently joined Ocean Properties Ltd. of Portsmouth, N.H., and Delray Beach, Fla., as vice president for development. Baldacci has more than 25 years experience in real estate development. Ocean Properties, a… Read More
The median sales prices of Maine houses increased to $192,000 in May. The figure a year ago was $170,000. The national figure was $204,600 for May. The median sales price indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less. A sampling of… Read More
WASHINGTON – A physicians group contends that the dairy industry and several food companies are falsely claiming that dairy consumption can help people lose weight. In class action lawsuit documents obtained Monday by The Associated Press, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine takes aim at… Read More
I was sorely disappointed to learn of the city council’s decision to stop the transportation money to Bangor’s three fine private schools. These schools are more than just schools; they are businesses that bring revenue to the city. They employ city residents, many of whom own homes and… Read More
Maine’s budget forecast looked slightly less dismal this month, providing an opportunity to do something besides make desperate cuts to fill budget holes. The year-end numbers put Maine about $43 million up in fiscal year 2005, a tiny amount compared with the sudden surpluses other states are experiencing… Read More
Studies released recently that differed by a factor of 10 in estimating the cost of cleaning up MTBE are further evidence that more information is needed before making a decision on who should pay for the cleanup and how much money will be needed. It is also good… Read More
The op-ed, “Not-so-gloomy Maine” (BDN, June 24), by Rep. Charles Fisher, misrepresents the facts about the recent budget battle in the Legislature. The battle pitted two plans: The Republican plan to fill a $250 million budget hole without raising taxes; and the Democratic plan to cut $109 million… Read More
On June 21, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas met to talk about Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank. Sharon offered to withdraw from two towns, one of which was Bethlehem, and allow preparations for reopening Gaza’s airport and harbor to begin. Read More
For weeks now, Maine’s two Republican senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, have insisted unequivocally that the proposed closures of the defense facilities at Portsmouth, Brunswick and Limestone have nothing whatsoever to do with Washington politics. Democratic governor John Baldacci has joined this chorus along with many others… Read More
After reading the article titled, “To spare their babies, women opt to abort” (BDN, June 13), we were compelled to respond. The article so clearly demonstrated the hopeless despair indicative of the culture of death threatening our society. Several points need to be challenged. We… Read More
Am I the only one who sees the tragic, Kafkaesque irony of a president of the United States, who ducked the front-line fighting of the objectionable war of his era by joining a National Guard unit, and now sentences his fellow Guard and Reserve brothers and sisters to… Read More
LEE – Shane Michael Severance crawled along the living room floor of his grandfather’s home, almost instantly gravitating to an enlarged picture of his late father, a former Air Force staff sergeant whose portrait memorializes him in a stoic pose. As the 9-month-old reached up… Read More
KENNEBUNKPORT – Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton teed off Tuesday for a round of golf on the second day of a get-together by the one-time political foes at Bush’s summer home along the Maine coast. Chatting briefly with reporters near the first… Read More
Most residents of the small towns that surround Moosehead Lake would like to see a little more development. However, they’re not entirely convinced that the massive development plan proposed by Plum Creek protects the natural landscapes and close communities that keep them living in this… Read More
INDIAN ISLAND – The Penobscot Indian Nation intends to be providing limited pharmacy mail-order services to Maine residents by late summer. PIN Rx, Maine’s first pharmacy mail-order distribution center, is located in a renovated warehouse on Indian Island and will allow Mainers to purchase their… Read More
FORT FAIRFIELD – An Aroostook County man who escaped twice from a mental institution after he was found not criminally responsible for two slayings in 1973 is asking for four-hour outings into the community as part of his treatment, according to documents released this week by court officials. Read More
PORTLAND – One of Maine’s most violent career criminals was sentenced Tuesday to more than 34 years in prison – a virtual life sentence because of his health problems. Lionel Cormier, 52, formerly of Boston, was sentenced for robbing an Orland couple of narcotics in… Read More
FRANKFORT – By a vote of 80-64, residents of SAD 56 approved the additional local share portion of the proposed 2005-2006 budget via written ballot in a meeting at the Frankfort Elementary School Tuesday night. The additional local share article, which raises $2,196,759, was defeated… Read More
HOULTON – Although one town councilor pegged it as a “joke,” the panel voted on Monday evening to enact an ordinance that will force animal owners to take care of the waste that their pets leave behind in their travels. The new edict mandates that… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – City councilors Monday night approved a 26.7 mill tax rate, the same rate the city had last year, but some city officials worry about how the move will affect the municipality’s budget in future years. Following a discussion that took about an… Read More
HOULTON – More than a year after the incident began unfolding, the case against a former SAD 29 superintendent who was accused of making personal use of the district credit card is over. Susan Johnson, 51, was granted an unconditional discharge Tuesday in Houlton District… Read More
ROCKLAND – City councilors found a way Monday night to keep the property tax impact at zero for the 2005-2006 municipal budget. Adjustments to an earlier draft of the budget resulted in a $241,000 shortfall late last week. An earlier draft called for charging commercial… Read More
Waldo County Superior Court Case June 27, 2005 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 () { //… Read More
CASTINE – Marine science for the masses. That’s what two Maine Maritime Academy students hope to achieve this summer at the academy’s new Marine Science Interpretive and Information Center. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
Any Holden resident interested in filling the vacancy on the SAD 63 school board, created when board member Richard “Dick” Perry resigned, can contact Holden Town Manager Larry Varisco. “Usually as soon as we get notification from the school that there is a vacancy, we put a notice… Read More
A Detroit man was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated assault after he turned himself in to authorities. Michael Brann, 18, is accused of striking a Palmyra man with a pipe on Monday night during a four-person brawl on West Street. Pittsfield police Officer Michael Cote said Brann… Read More
Joe Friedman was re-elected Monday as chairman of the Town Council. This is Friedman’s third year as chairman. He has been involved in town politics since 1973. In other business, the council decided to start working on the budget process sooner than usual, Town Manager Bill Reed said… Read More
BANGOR – Patrons of downtown bars and pubs who use parking lots for spontaneous gatherings, not to mention brawling and other rowdy behavior, have been put on notice. In response to a growing number of complaints from downtown residents about noise, city councilors who attended… Read More
ORONO – He has tried retirement before, but Police Chief Bob O’Halloran said Tuesday he is retiring for the last time this week. With more than 25 years of experience, O’Halloran has worked for the Veazie Police Department, was a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency field… Read More
Orono High School Fourth 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
BREWER – Summer construction projects are under way, and development in the outer Wilson Street sector of the city has given the area a complete makeover, Drew Sachs, Brewer economic development director, said Tuesday. “That whole area around Wilson Street, and with Dirigo Drive coming… Read More
BANGOR – Friends, relatives and other admirers packed the council chambers at City Hall on Monday to pay tribute to a well-known and highly regarded civic leader and volunteer. Kay Lebowitz, who turns 90 on Thursday, continues to live her life with a vigor that… Read More
Two juveniles were arrested Tuesday evening after Brewer police received a tip that one of the youths, who was wanted on a probation violation, may have been at a downtown residence. The 16-year-old male from the Greenville area was seen entering a Center Street apartment. Read More
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ROCKPORT – Selectmen approved an agreement between the town and the Five Town Community School District to keep a police officer at Camden Hills Regional High School. But the board refused Monday night to include a clause in the agreement that would let the school… Read More
STONINGTON – The board of Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House announced that Linda Nelson, its executive director, has been accepted to the 2005-06 class of Leadership Maine. Leadership Maine was instituted with the goal of creating and supporting a diverse group of… Read More
Wisdom High School, St. Agatha 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
HOULTON – Town councilors decided Monday evening that residents will not see ATVs operated on streets in Houlton. At least not yet. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0;… Read More
MADAWASKA – A Van Buren man escaped serious injury Tuesday morning when his vehicle struck a moose. Steve Poitras, 33, of 18 Violette St. suffered minor injuries on his head when the weight of the moose smashed the windshield and partially collapsed the roof of… Read More
OLD TOWN – Superintendent Matthew Oliver has resigned, but he said he will stay on as long as the school board needs him to. Oliver said he has enjoyed the two years he has spent at Old Town, but he wants to be able to… Read More
Jonesport-Beals High School Fourth 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] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
BANGOR – A Carmel man seriously hurt last year in a motorcycle-car accident testified Tuesday in Penobscot County Superior Court that even more than one year later, he continues to suffer from his injuries. Barri Babcock, 35, was called as a witness in the trial… Read More
BANGOR – Her eyes still welled up with tears of pride when she recounted the high school graduation of her wheelchair-bound student who refused to be pushed across the stage and instead took courageous steps to receive her diploma. As Grammie Lawson’s eyes filled Tuesday,… Read More
One of the highlights of the Milo High School Reunion Weekend is a coffeehouse hosted by Three Rivers Kiwanis of Milo and Brownville. Ethelyn Treworgy, Kiwanis events chairwoman, wrote that doors open for the show at 6:15 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Milo Town Hall. Read More
ALBANY, N.H. – A 45-year-old Gardiner, Maine, man was arrested after a teenage girl found him staring at her from below an outhouse seat, police said. Police said they pulled Gary Moody from the waste tank under a log cabin outhouse off the Kancamagus Highway… Read More
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Operations to recover the wreckage of a small plane that went down in Long Island Sound have been put off until at least Wednesday morning. Fog continued to blanket the area where the plane crashed Monday afternoon, killing all four people… Read More
Renee Pottle started cooking early in life. At age 10, when her mother was hospitalized with a blood clot in her leg, the Eastport native helped out in the family’s kitchen. She rustled together hot dogs and Minute Rice and other simple meals for her… Read More
Bangor: European Farmers Market, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, year-round, Sunnyside Florists & Greenhouses, 117 Buck St. 947-8464. Bar Harbor: Eden Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays, through October, YMCA parking lot, Main Street. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
Berry thoughtful As Mainers await a still-ripening strawberry crop, Betty Jacobs of Brewer was kind enough to send a favorite recipe for Strawberry Tossed Salad from Sargento, which she describes as “M. M. Good!” To make it, Mix 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/3 cup sugar,… Read More
While the McLaughlins have enjoyed their time as owners of Green Valley Golf Course in Enfield, they have decided it’s time for a change. “We’ve been here 10 years,” said Kim McLaughlin, co-owner along with her husband Andrew. “We want to do something different now. Read More
This spring the Lee Academy senior class took a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Last weekend recent Lee graduate Shelby Pickering found herself at the theme park again, although this time under different circumstances and in much different accommodations. “It was like VIP… Read More
Cassie Hintz of Stillwater, who recently completed her junior year at Old Town High School, recently ran to a fifth-place finish in the junior women’s 5,000-meter run at the 2005 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships held in Carson, Calif. Hintz, running unattached after… Read More
In a four-day span, the University of Maine lost its athletic director (Patrick Nero) and baseball coach (Paul Kostacopoulos). It was certainly a blow to the university. But, realistically, can you blame them? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
Three Maine racewalkers all earned berths in the World Track and Field Championships with their performances in the U.S. Outdoor Championships in Carson, Calif. over the weekend. Ben Shorey of Ellsworth, Kevin Eastler of Farmington and Lauren Forgues of Boothbay will all compete in the… Read More
FARMINGTON – University of Maine-Farmington president Theodora Kalikow recently won a bronze medal in her first Senior Olympics triathlon in Pittsburgh. The Senior Olympics are sponsored by the National Senior Games Association. The triathlon event, in which 150 people participated, included a 400-meter swim, a… Read More
HERSHEY STATE MEET At 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 (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
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PORTLAND – Craig Stansberry and Carlos Maldonado each collected three hits, pacing the Altoona Curve over the Portland Sea Dogs 10-7 Tuesday. Altoona (42-34) scored seven runs in the second inning off Portland (39-34) starter Kason Gabbard (6-7), with Ray Sadler and Maldonado getting RBIs… Read More
BELFAST – Nye Gifford and Andrew Patterson each smacked a two-run home run as the Brewer Falcons capitalized on walks to plate eight runs in the eighth inning and earn a 13-5 American Legion baseball victory over the Waldo Wildcats onTuesday. Pat Moran singled twice… Read More
BANGOR – The strength of Bangor’s American Legion baseball team resides on the mound, a depth of righthanded talent perhaps no Zone 1 rival can match. In Josh Young, Anthony DeRosa, Keith Nason, Brian Hackett, and Eric Anderson, the Comrades boast a veteran rotation that… Read More