WASHINGTON – A shake-up of dozens of Air National Guard units has emerged as the most contentious part of the Pentagon’s proposal to close or restructure hundreds of military bases across the country. States are suing over the issue. Lawmakers in both parties are griping. Read More
AUGUSTA – Maine’s general population has been getting older in recent years, but when it comes to farmers, Mainers are getting younger. The average age of farmers in the United States rose steadily since the late 1970s, but in Maine, farmers’ average age has declined… Read More
WASHINGTON – More than 150,000 Kawasaki Motors Corp. all-terrain vehicles are being recalled over safety concerns, the government said Tuesday. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the 2001 through 2005 models of the Kawasaki Prairie and Brute Force ATVs can develop steering-control problems that could… Read More
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has proposed reorganizing U.S. military bases to save money and streamline services, including 54 Air Guard locations. Some are slated for closure or downsizing. Others would grow. A look at the bases in the Northeast and how many net jobs, military and civilian,… Read More
BROWNVILLE – A company that makes bullets has been working since May 16 from a leased facility on Route 11 but now wants a permanent home. To help X-Ring Industries of Maine, an offshoot of MDM Muzzleloaders Limited of Maidstone, Vt., Brownville officials are hoping… Read More
GUILFORD – With about 60 jobs at stake, municipal officials are hoping to secure a federal block grant to help Maine Wood Turnings Inc. of New Vineyard secure Pride Manufacturing Co.’s plant in Guilford. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at… Read More
CARAQUET, New Brunswick – Preliminary results from lobster restocking efforts off northern New Brunswick have researchers and fishermen alike excited. A team with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans spent a month painstakingly counting thousands of young lobsters in waters near this fishing community on… Read More
SKOWHEGAN – Four months ago, on her first visit to a Maine maple sugarhouse, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was fed some complaints along with the pure syrup and maple candy. Skowhegan maple producers Jeremy Steeves and Robert Smith told Collins that adulterated syrup was being… Read More
Thanks to the Bangor Daily News for a great article (July 26) on our plans to conserve for all time the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands – 4,200 prime acres of undeveloped land roughly equidistant from Bangor, Ellsworth and Belfast. With the Bucksport area blooming and… Read More
Much has been written and said about Doug Brown who died last week. Many know of his accomplishments, his leadership and generosity, but I had the good fortune of being the beneficiary of Doug’s kindness. Twenty years ago, my car broke down in front of… Read More
We are in a vacation rental up in Eastport enjoying all the charms the area offers. The Bangor Daily News is our news source, and we are pleased that the international news and the latest from Washington, D.C., is given fair coverage. So, we thought the mention of… Read More
Regarding the article, “Estate tax backers press Maine senators” (BDN, July 27). Sen. Susan Collins knows just enough about the taxation of estates to be dangerous. She says: “As a general matter I don’t like the idea that death is a taxable event.” Yet she… Read More
I hesitate to ascribe any nefarious motives to the Bush administration. Yet, I think the trade policy coming from the White House over the past few years does have some sly political aims far beyond any economic arguments made by either his supportersor his detractors. Read More
Traipsing through a grocery store in Europe may not sound like a vacation, but for Bangor grocer Doug Brown even a trip abroad was an opportunity to improve his local stores. That’s why generations of area residents referred to grocery shopping as simply a trip to Doug’s. Mr. Read More
The seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery have to be among the bravest people from Earth. They willingly allowed themselves to be sent into space in an aged vehicle that NASA scientists, after two years and $1.4 billion worth of study and work, could still not protect… Read More
Some ideas seem so dumb they make my ears just about burst into flames when I first hear them. Then I remember there are smart people who support the idea and I am forced to reconsider. So I reconsidered, really, but the idea that a pharmacist should be… Read More
On May 30 the BBC reported: “The Latinization of California is nothing short of a revolution. California will become a predominately Spanish-speaking state within the next few years. And as the majority population, there is really no need, or incentive, for them to assimilate into mainstream American society… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Maine Bureau of Health is proposing new regulations that would prohibit people who are seeking donations of human body parts from being paid on a per-organ basis. The preliminary rules were written in response to concerns about a brain-collection program that has… Read More
CORINNA – For three generations, the Peavey family has farmed vegetables in the rich soil along the Sebasticook River at Thunder Road Farm. But peas and pumpkins just don’t make it anymore in a competitive market, so this year, Charlie and Barbara Peavey have decided… Read More
BANGOR – A Belgian horse died in the middle of a pulling event on Friday evening at the Bangor State Fair from what staff members believe to be a heart attack. “It had a heart attack and was dead before it hit the ground,” Maine… Read More
Tucked inside the $286 billion transportation bill that cleared Congress last week is the first federal designation of the long-planned “east-west highway” from Calais, Maine, to Watertown, N.Y., as a “high-priority corridor,” a congressional staff member said Monday. That does not mean any new highway… Read More
BANGOR – A Bucksport woman has filed the state’s first federal lawsuit against the maker of Vioxx. Carol Lally, whose lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in Bangor, is seeking to become part of a class-action suit against Merck & Co. Inc.,… Read More
If you’ve ever been the parent of a college student, you might have experienced the joys of outfitting your young scholar’s simple little dorm room with enough stuff to fill a modest-sized house. You might also have wondered why it is that only half of… Read More
Severe thunderstorms rolled over much of the state on Monday night and hail fell in some areas in the late evening. Scattered power outages were reported as a result of the storms, many of which featured frequent flashes of lightning and strong wind gusts. The… Read More
CROSS LAKE – While the original report was that sewage, human waste and toilet paper were floating on Cross Lake on Saturday night, it turned out that the material was from an insect hatch. Residents along the lake’s Cyr Road were concerned about the waste… Read More
Police are still searching for the operator of a vehicle who fled a traffic stop on Sunday evening on Elm Street. Officer David Wintle stopped a vehicle, and the driver, who police did not identify, failed to provide proof of insurance, Police Chief Leonard MacDaid said. Shortly after… Read More
Belfast District Court Cases July 4-8, 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 () { // Define Slot… Read More
ROCKLAND – Police charged a South Thomaston man Saturday with operating under the influence after a chase led three law enforcement agencies into a driveway two towns away. Leroy Firth, 53, of South Thomaston was charged with assault on an officer, two counts of reckless… Read More
ROCKLAND – A pending sale of the 377,000-square-foot former Nautica building to a boat builder would end plans for the region’s vocational school to relocate there. The massive former clothing distribution center, situated on 20 acres in the city’s industrial park, is under contract with… Read More
ROCKLAND – The 100-foot homespun sailing ship RawFaith is set to sail Wednesday after nine months at anchor in Rockland Harbor under an order to stay put. On Thanksgiving Day, RawFaith and its crew were rescued some 80 miles off the Maine coast while en… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A Monday morning collision near The Home Depot sent three people to the hospital and then one to jail. The two-vehicle accident occurred before 10 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Myrick Street. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Officials with The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle announced Monday a reorganization of the hospital’s administrative structure, including the hiring of a chief operating officer, a newly created position. Dave Peterson, TAMC president and CEO, confirmed Monday hiring of Bill Calhoun… Read More
FORT KENT – A spark from a seized wheel bearing on a railroad car loaded with logs set the logs afire Sunday night. The incident was the second involving trains of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railways this weekend in northern Maine. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
A Bangor man who was stabbed in the neck early Sunday morning remained in stable condition Monday at Eastern Maine Medical Center as Bangor police detectives sought to find out who stabbed him and why. Detectives went to interview Gary Enfinger, 35, Monday morning at his hospital bed… Read More
The move of a registered sex offender from Corinna to Dexter has prompted a public meeting tonight at the K of C Hall on Route 23. Called by concerned residents, the 6:30 p.m. meeting will feature state representatives, Dexter police, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department and Rape Response… Read More
BANGOR – After a second round of discussion, members of the City Council’s finance committee concluded Monday that they weren’t yet ready to make a recommendation on which firm to hire to design and oversee construction of the parking garage proposed for Bangor International Airport. Read More
BANGOR – The city’s finance committee Monday recommended to the full council that the police station construction contract be awarded to the Brewer firm Nickerson & O’Day, which submitted the lowest base bid of the five the city received for the project. Though Nickerson &… Read More
BANGOR – An early morning fire Sunday destroyed half of a four-unit apartment building on Sidney Street and sent one resident to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and a possible sprained ankle. A report came in at 2:59 a.m. Sunday of a… Read More
OLD TOWN – Residents will see a decrease in the city’s tax rate when they get their tax bills in the mail this year, Old Town City Manager Peggy Daigle said at Monday night’s council meeting. The mill rate is expected to decrease 40 cents… Read More
BANGOR – A Bangor man was indicted Monday by the Penobscot County grand jury for using other people’s identities to apply for general assistance from the city and for benefits from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Marc Delit, 34, was indicted on… Read More
BAILEYVILLE – Town officials are working with a Maine startup company to persuade Louisiana-Pacific to sell its former oriented strand mill to Ecomelt Corp. Ecomelt hopes to install a $2.5 million basalt smelting plant in the former mill and eventually employ up to 400 people. Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – A late afternoon fire that burned a lakeside house to the ground blew the front door off and sent an elderly woman to the hospital, according to a neighbor. Presque Isle Fire Chief Jim Krysiak, who was organizing crews at the scene,… Read More
CALAIS – Beware! Scammers are at it again. 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
Rockland District Court Cases July 11-15, 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]… Read More
SANGERVILLE – Celebrate Sangerville festivities will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the recreation field and Manhanock Pond on Route 23. Events include kayak and canoe scavenger hunt and races, children’s games, Victorian tea, baked goods and at 4 p.m., the Doughty Hill… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Womancare 36-hour volunteer training program, which was previously scheduled for June, has been rescheduled to begin Aug. 11. There are still openings for the daytime training. For information, call 564-8165. Read More
BLANCHARD TOWNSHIP – The Blanchard Preservation Society will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the town hall. To add to the meeting agenda or to become a member contact Susan R. Crippen, BPS president, at 997-3706 or email susancrippen@gwi.net. Read More
Three Brewer juveniles were involved in a single-vehicle accident at 9:22 p.m. Sunday on Parkway South in Brewer. The vehicle they were in went off the road, hit some trees, bushes and a ditch, Brewer police Cpl. David Lord said. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
BROWNVILLE – Todd Lyford, who served as Milo’s police chief for 15 years, has turned in that town’s badge in exchange for a similar one from Brownville. Lyford re-signed from his Milo job for the Brownville position for better pay and benefits, but it was… Read More
Here is a message for all firefighters throughout the state of Maine. The annual Penobscot County Firefighters Association Parade and Muster is Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Bangor State Fair, and the group wants you to be part of it. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
Eastern Maine Medical Center has announced the opening of a walk-in health care clinic at its Union Street health care mall near the airport. The facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week to treat medical problems that need timely care but… Read More
PACKINGTON, Quebec – A 17-year-old boy from Fort Fairfield, Maine, was killed early Sunday morning when the vehicle he was driving went out of control and erupted into flames. Ryan Clark died in his vehicle. Three other passengers, all boys near Clark’s age, suffered minor… Read More
AUGUSTA – A woman who was critically injured in a Maine Turnpike crash in Hallowell last week has died, state police said as investigating troopers continued compiling a report on the accident involving two trucks and a car. Tina Turcotte, 40, of Scarborough died at… Read More
BREWER – Creditors of the defunct Eastern Fine Paper Co. mill are now out of the massive building, and everything that is left behind, except for one paper machine, is property of the city. “As of midnight last night, Lincoln is done – they have… Read More
BRISTOL, R.I. – A rare blue lobster kept at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island has just molted, revealing an intensely hued bright blue shell. The female lobster molted last month, said Anne DiMonti, co-director of education for the group. Growing lobsters lose their shells… Read More
AUGUSTA – Nicholas DeRose of Fairfield bends his slight frame over his workbench, his nose nearly touching his hands as he carefully scores a small square of copper. Back and forth, over and over, hour after hour, he uses a tool with a crescent-shaped blade – it looks… Read More
The walk up five flights to Alex Katz’s studio in Manhattan is airless on a sweltering summer day. An elevator opens directly to the painter’s loft, but the hike up the stairs of a barren former industrial building offers more of a brush with history. Or at least… Read More
One of the most pleasant requests I received in June was: “Will you make my bridal veil?” That question was asked by the young woman who became my daughter-in-law recently. The answer, needless to say, was a joyous “Yes.” We met at a local fabric… Read More
Bangor High School left wing Nick Payson, the state’s leading Class A scorer with 43 goals and 28 assists in 23 games this past season, has decided to pass up his senior year at Bangor to play hockey for the Portland Junior Pirates. He will… Read More
For the entire drive north to the Upsalquitch River, gray and black clouds threatened to provide exactly what the salmon (and four salmon anglers) needed: Rain. Plenty of river-freshening, fish-enticing, fly-fisher-friendly rain. It never materialized. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
While the rest of the state’s interscholastic athletes and coaches entered a Maine Principals’ Association-mandated two-week no-contact period Monday, most of the schools in Aroostook County have been at it for more than a week while trying to prepare for the early opening of the fall season. Read More
With professional football teams in training camp, a pigskin-related story is in order today. My first year teaching in Indiana was quite an eye-opening experience. For a kid from Maine, being thrust into the hectic environment of a large, urban Richmond, Ind., junior high school… Read More
ORONO – There was no big-money purse at stake… No colored jacket, shiny trophy, coveted title, or bragging rights. It wasn’t even a picturesque postcard Vacationland day as organizers readied Penobscot Valley Country Club for the 15th annual Bud and Barbara Leavitt Memorial Golf Classic… Read More
BANGOR – Baseball tournaments can be nearly as much about momentum as they are about talent. The Bangor Comrades used the best of both Monday to defeat Zone 1 rival Brewer 2-1 in an elimination game of the state American Legion baseball tournament at Mansfield… Read More
HOLE-IN-ONE Danny Maher 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
OXFORD – Mike Rowe of Turner drove 405 laps Sunday en route to winning his third Oxford TD Banknorth 250. He drove a 20-lap heat race, a 20-lap consolation race, a 50-lap last-chance hooligan feature and 315 Oxford 250 laps, including 65 caution laps. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – The world of biathlon events is beating a path to Presque Isle – again. Local officials learned during a recent trip to Finland that Presque Isle won a bid to host the International Biathlon Union organizer’s meeting in 2006. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More