News of the sale Thursday of MBNA Corp., which in the late 1990s was one of Maine’s top employers, left town officials in Belfast scratching their chins about what the deal will mean for their community, home to the credit card giant’s largest Maine facility. Read More
    A story in Thursday’s paper about Caribou’s tax rate should have explained that a home with a net valuation of $100,000, after the homestead exemption, will pay $200 a year more in taxes. A $100,000 home, reduced by the homestead exemption, will pay $33 more in taxes next… Read More
    KITTERY – The nation’s oldest federal shipyard, targeted for closure by the Pentagon, received bittersweet recognition of its work Thursday: a commendation from the Navy acknowledging the shipyard’s performance. The Meritorious Unit Commendation was given to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for its “phenomenal record” of… Read More
    Officials with Bank of America Corp. said Thursday’s acquisition of MBNA is an opportunity to grow the combined company’s marketing savvy. The deal is a pricey one for Charlotte-based Bank of America, but “not a shocker,” said Andrew Collins, an analyst at Piper Jaffray in… Read More
    BANGOR – Osram Sylvania completed its last day of production on Thursday, the company announced. As of today, the facility near the Hogan Road and Interstate 95 is officially closed for business. The Bangor plant first announced plans in November 2002 to shut down the… Read More
    WASHINGTON – Saying they tried to balance New England’s energy needs with public safety concerns, federal regulators Thursday approved plans for a liquefied natural gas terminal in Fall River, Mass., but rejected a proposed expansion of an LNG facility in Providence, R.I. It was the… Read More
    Below, in descending order, are the 25 summer tourist destinations with the worst traffic bottlenecks, according to a report by AAA, TRIP and the American Highway Users Alliance. Oregon coast googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
    Federal rules on mercury pollution are too lenient and need to be overturned. Members of Congress this week took an important step in scrutinizing the flawed rules. Sen. Susan Collins was the first Republican to sign on to a Joint Resolution of Disapproval and a petition to require… Read More
    No area of life is more charted, graphed and tabulated than education yet in at least the recent past state reports of their graduation rates have been, to be polite, a crock. Even as broad state policies were established based on these numbers, they were plainly suspect –… Read More
    I would like to thank Gov. Baldacci for his continued support of Maine’s cultural agencies. Maine’s libraries, unlike other educational institutions, receive no state funding. There isn’t any “formula” to provide assistance of any type to local communities that often struggle to provide the materials… Read More
    I am outraged that the government will once again be using our tax dollars to clean up toxic chemical spills when Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt and funds are being cut from essential programs. This time MTBE’s manufacturers will more than likely gain protection from liability… Read More
    In the Down East section of the Bangor Daily News, we learned of Gov. Baldacci’s plan for Washington County. Immediately upon vetoing and existing, realistic and presumably “funded” economic opportunity for us, he appointed a southern Maine member of CasinosNo! to solve all of our problems. The executive… Read More
    More and more Americans are coming to believe Congress must set up a timetable for bringing our soldiers home. We have accomplished the major goal of removing Saddam Hussein and we have supported an open election and the establishment of a new government based on law and order. Read More
    A June 28 article in the Bangor Daily News on the formation of a Moosehead region citizens group forming to work on pro-active solutions and revisions to Plum Creek’s application to develop its high-value lands in the region did accurately portray a common goal. Many people in this… Read More
    On June 22, I found out some disturbing news about a chemical toxin called Agent Purple used in Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, New Brunswick. Readers are probably asking why this should affect us. This is serious because for more than 30 years the Maine Army… Read More
    As we celebrate our nation’s independence this July 4th, it’s a good time to evaluate our democracy. Unfortunately, our democracy ends for millions of Americans just as soon as they punch the time clock. At that moment we walk into a world where someone else controls the “what,… Read More
    OLD TOWN – Children arrived Thursday from around the world to participate in the Children’s International Summer Villages program being sponsored in Old Town by the organization’s Maine chapter. Forty 11-year-old children from 10 countries, including the United States, will live at the Leonard Middle… Read More
    TOWNSHIP 16 RANGE 4 – One woman died and three others were injured early Thursday morning when the car they were in went off the road and ended up on its roof. Nicole Philbrook, 20, of Caribou died of her injuries at Cary Medical Center… Read More
    Few homicide cases have affected me as deeply as the 1993 death of 5-year-old Tavielle Kigas, who was starved to death by her mother in the family’s Bangor apartment. The subsequent trial of Tonia Porter Kigas was one of the most painful events I have… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Maine law enforcement agencies will be out in strength this weekend in the air, on the water and on the roads. While most Mainers enjoy the long weekend, nearly every available officer, deputy sheriff, trooper and warden will be working. “We [will be]… Read More
    HOULTON – Someone out there apparently thinks that some property in town needs to be spiced up. Houlton police are seeking a condiment bandit who made a significant mess earlier this week. The unknown assailant sprayed salad dressing on a number of cars, a dooryard… Read More
    VAN BUREN – A settlement has been reached in a nearly 5-year-old civil lawsuit in which the fired public works director for the town of Van Buren sought compensation for breach of contract, defamation, civil conspiracy and tortious interference with his contract. While the paperwork… Read More
    FORT KENT – The Fort Kent Recreation and Parks Department will offer a kayaking program to teenagers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 7-8 and another to adults from 6 to 8 p.m. July 14-15, with a river run all day on July 16. Read More
    FORT KENT – The University of Maine at Fort Kent will offer two French courses this summer. French Review I will be offered July 18-22 and French Review II July 25-29. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
    FORT KENT – The University of Maine at Fort Kent will offer a weeklong French immersion summer program from Monday, Aug. 1, to Friday, Aug. 5, at the SportsCenter in Room 118. The morning session from 9 to 11:30 a.m. is designed for children ages… Read More
    Following are divorces granted in 13th District Court in Dover-Foxcroft during April on grounds of irreconcilable differences: Warren J. Brasslett Sr., LaGrange, and Sally A. Brasslett, Orneville, married at Bangor on Sept. 27, 1986. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
    GREENVILLE – Selectmen will ask a Superior Court judge to rule on the validity of the municipal elections held June 7. A former selectman who lost the election by one vote asked the board to reconsider because of an irregularity in the polling hours. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
    BANGOR – A Brewer man led police on a high-speed chase Thursday that began in Bangor and ended when the motorist crashed in Dedham. Speeds reached 85 mph during the chase, and the driver, Kirk Davis, 33, nearly struck a Bangor police officer on a… Read More
    HOULTON – Besides the interminable thanks from the state and the nation, local soldiers who returned from serving in Iraq earlier this year will be getting another token of thanks today – a free pass to the Houlton Fair. The Houlton Fair Association will be… Read More
    SOLDIER POND – Last Friday night more than $2,000 was reported stolen from the Sly Brook Snowmobile Club. Police are investigating. The money – between $2,200 and $2,500 – was from ticket sales for a lobster-steak meal the club holds as an annual fund-raiser. The… Read More
    BELFAST – An arrest warrant has been issued for a local man who entered a dwelling at Keene’s Trailer Park early Thursday and attacked the couple sleeping in it. Police Chief Jeffrey Trafton said the victims identified Shawn Merrill, 35, of Belfast as their attacker. Read More
    OLD TOWN – A local landmark near the intersection of Center Street and Stillwater Avenue soon will become a condominium complex. The property once was known in the 1960s and 1970s as The Anchorage Hotel-Motel and later was transformed into several different restaurants. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – The annual homecoming celebration will be held Aug. 5-6 with activities held throughout town. The festivities include a parade, fireworks and a street dance. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for… Read More
    CORINTH – Corinth United Methodist Church will hold its annual Strawberry Festival today, with settings at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. The cost is $7. Call ahead for reservations to 285-3557. Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – Patrons of the Living Word Community Food Cupboard were treated like royalty Thursday at an appreciation day hosted by about 10 food cupboard volunteers. There were colorful balloons for the children, free hot dogs and hamburgers, drawings for gift certificates donated by businesses… Read More
    Fraser Timber Ltd. of Ashland will pay $2,000 in fines for not documenting buffer zones between its clear-cuts, the Maine Forest Service announced Thursday. The company violated the portion of the Forest Practices Act, which allows clear-cuts provided they do not exceed a certain size… Read More
    The famed 100-Mile Wilderness portion of the Appalachian Trail has been selected by the Sierra Club, as one of 52 irreplaceable natural resources in need of protection, the environmental group announced Thursday. Stretching from Monson to Baxter State Park, the 100-Mile Wilderness offers some of… Read More
    PEMBROKE – The St. John’s Biennial Quilt Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Hersey Road. A $3 donation admission fee will benefit the church’s building fund. Free refreshments will… Read More
    MACHIAS – Downriver Theatre Company’s summer production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” continues tonight and Saturday, July 1-2, as well as July 7, 8 and 9. The shows start at 8 p.m. at the University of Maine at Machias’ Performing Arts Center. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    BREWER – A chili cook-off, other food including grilled organic lamb, live music and performances, and camaraderie are all part of the fifth annual July 4th Solidarity Celebration at the Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council, planned for 3:30-8 p.m. on Independence Day. “The focus… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Penquis Higher Education Center, along with five other sites in the Penquis region, will offer 200 distance learning courses this fall. Including Dexter, Greenville, Guilford, Jackman and Newport, PHEC will offer daytime and evening courses by interactive television, two-way videoconferencing and online. Read More
    The following is a list of events for the Fourth of July weekend. All events Monday, July 4, unless otherwise stated. BANGOR – The city’s Fourth of July parade, led by the Maine Troop Greeters as grand marshals, will begin at 11 a.m. at the… Read More
    MONSON – Faced with a mill rate of about $20 per $1,000 valuation, Monson residents last week reduced spending by rescinding five funding articles initially approved at the annual town meeting in March. From action taken on those articles last week, the mill rate is… Read More
    ETNA – The Etna-Dixmont School’s newest administrator can’t wait to start working directly with her young charges. Cynthia Alexander, former curriculum coordinator for both SAD 23 and 38, officially assumes responsibilities as the new principal for the school today, although she has been operating as… Read More
    FREEPORT – Two people were killed and two injured in a crash Thursday morning that tied up traffic on Interstate 295, authorities said. Four young men from Greater Portland were in the car that hit the guardrail along the median, turned sideways and skidded across… Read More
    CASTINE – Last-minute gifts from Maine Maritime Academy trustees on Thursday helped the college to meet its $150,000 goal for the annual fund. That was the largest amount ever raised for the academy’s annual fund appeal, but Chairman William Haggett warned that in the face… Read More
    Having another event, such as the Piscataquis River Festival, occur on the same day as the Guilford High School-Piscataquis Community High School Alumni Association Annual Banquet has been the wish of association president Phil Bullard for some time. Bullard believes such an event not only… Read More
    KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. – USS Boston shipmates and crew members of all U.S. Navy ships named Boston are planning a reunion July 14-17 in King of Prussia. All USS Boston officers and crew, Marine Corps and flag personnel are invited. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    The Maine Forest Service has announced that the public can now obtain open burning permits online at www.maineburn permit.com. 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++)… Read More
    PORTLAND – A Texas prosecutor says he plans to seek capital murder charges against five suspects linked to the fatal stabbing of a Biddeford man last February. The body of James Junkins, 21, was found in a roadside ditch in Wharton County, about an hour’s… Read More
    SACO – A search was to resume Thursday for a Sanford man who disappeared after parking near a public boat launch on the Saco River. Searchers were working on the premise that Ron Fernald, 63, and his pet Chihuahua climbed aboard his 6-foot aluminum skiff… Read More
    PORTLAND – The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday upheld the murder conviction of Olland Reese, who was convicted of the 2002 bludgeoning death of a Brunswick teenager. Reese, of Bowdoin, was sentenced in 2003 to 47 years in prison for killing 16-year-old Cody Green… Read More
    Let’s begin with one declaration – this missive wasn’t penned by a member of Generation X, or Generation Y, for that matter. No, this is a product of Generation XXXXV, if you get the Roman numeral drift. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
    Ten years ago, when the University of Maine was seeking a baseball coach to replace John Winkin, Black Bear alum Ed Flaherty wasn’t even granted an interview even though Flaherty had guided the University of Southern Maine to an NCAA Division III national championship in 1991. Read More
    OLD TOWN – Tyler Desjardins pitched a one-hit shutout and recorded 10 out of 12 outs on strikeouts to lead the Bangor East 11-12 All-Stars to a 15-0 District 3 tourney baseball win over Old Town Thursday. Ellis Throckmorton hit a double and two singles… Read More
    ELLSWORTH – Dan Hilts tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out six and walking only two as the Trenton Acadians earned a 7-0 American Legion baseball victory over the Orono Twins Thursday. Trenton broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the first. Read More
    Former Maranacook High School and University of Maine baseball standout Greg Creek has signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves and has been assigned to Rookie League affiliate Orlando in the Gulf Coast League. Creek helped lead the UMaine Black Bears to two… Read More
    Adema has gone through a lot of changes since its self-titled debut album came out in 2001: going from being unknown to selling nearly a million records, landing on the main stage at Ozzfest after just one album, getting a new record label and then a new singer. Read More
    LAND OF THE DEAD, written and directed by George A. Romero, 94 minutes, rated R. The new George Romero movie, “Land of the Dead,” is a lark. In a cinematic climate littered with sequels, prequels and remakes, the film continues the “Dead” series without feeling… Read More