Mainers could be in for a cold cash-poor winter, according to a new report predicting that families in the northern part of the state will pay an additional $70 million to heat their homes this season. That’s an extra $309 on average for each of… Read More
HAMPDEN – A presumed fire at Pine Tree Landfill on Wednesday turned out to be less serious than originally feared, authorities said Thursday. Landfill and fire officials had believed a broken pipe was fueling a fire within the landfill’s southeast side, but only steam and… Read More
AUGUSTA – A boy charged with the murder of another 14-year-old tearfully embraced his parents Thursday after making an initial appearance in juvenile court, where he was ordered detained until a hearing next week. Patrick Armstrong entered no plea as he appeared before District Judge… Read More
PORTLAND – New cars and trucks sold in Maine will have to meet strict California-like emissions standards beginning in 2009 under new rules approved Thursday. Maine becomes the second New England state and the sixth overall to adopt standards that aim to reduce emissions linked… Read More
A map published Thursday accompanying a Page One story on a fire at the Pine Tree Landfill in Hampden incorrectly showed where the landfill is located. It is on the east side of Emerson Mill Road. Read More
PORTLAND – Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe has called on President Bush to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq. But both she and fellow Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine oppose a specific timetable for achieving the goal. Snowe said Wednesday that Bush needs to establish… Read More
Office Depot, a leading provider of office products and services, will celebrate the grand opening of its first Bangor store at 2 p.m. Dec. 8, at its 482 Stillwater Ave. location. City Manager Edward A. Barrett will speak at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Bangor store is managed by… Read More
Eight people were laid off this week from American Pride LLC, according to company officials. American Pride LLC is the company that purchased the former Pride Manufacturing Co.’s wood turnings business in Guilford this fall. Donette Maynard, the company’s human resources manager, said the layoff was in connection… Read More
Congratulations to Robert Moscone! The article, “Building Up Steam” (BDN, Nov. 28), was well-written and well-deserved; only a mechanical genius could create boilers such as Mark I and Mark II significant of conserving, at least or more than, 30 percent on fuel oil and natural gas, not to… Read More
Last spring, economists Philip Trostel and Kate Reilly showed how far off the national average Maine was with its school-district costs. At about the same time, state Sen. Karl Turner proposed consolidating school services with a “hub-and-spoke” system the Department of Education is currently investigating. Read More
It may sound like good news that the Environmental Protection Agency is accepting more public comment on its seriously flawed rule to regulate mercury air emissions. It isn’t. The reconsideration process will simply delay legal challenges to the rule, giving utilities and industrial plants more time to install… Read More
As time goes on we learn ever more about the thinking of the Bush-Cheney administration as well as of most of those in the current Republican-controlled Congress. Dick Cheney, a bright guy who well understands politics and doesn’t mince words, recently stunned me, a lifelong Republican, with his… Read More
Don Shepley’s letter, “Mailboxes relocated” (BDN, Nov. 11), criticizes the U.S. Postal Service for asking a small number of customers to consider moving their mailboxes to a safer location on their property to help reduce injuries to letter carriers. Everyone realizes the challenges that postal… Read More
John Buell hasn’t driven in California recently. At least that is the impression I got from his Nov. 29 column, “Tailpipe emissions affect Maine’s business climate.” He recommended that Maine’s Bureau of Environmental Protection adopt the same strict tailpipe emission standards as California and thereby improve the business… Read More
In response to the article, “Bangor councilors listen to request for leash law” (BDN, Nov. 30), we wish it to be made clear that none of us advocates banning dogs from city parks, as was reported. In fact, in the meeting with city councilors, two… Read More
The holidays can be an extremely dangerous time of year. Depression, stress and anxiety claim their highest tolls in the holiday season. It’s easy to lose perspective and become a statistic to these terrors of the yule time. That’s when you need to stop and… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A Hancock County jury on Thursday found a 33-year-old Charleston woman not guilty of sexually assaulting an inmate on leave from a juvenile detention facility while she worked there as a social worker in 2003. Tiffany L. Randall was indicted last April on… Read More
BANGOR – Her red face was covered with tears and she was nearly hysterical as she reported to police that her 6-year-old daughter, with brown hair, brown eyes and wearing a blue jacket, was missing in the downtown area. The missing child report came into… Read More
CORINNA – Although the town-owned Spragues Mill dam was actually breached three weeks ago, it was a widening of that breach and the threat of overnight rain on Thursday that had officials racing to the site along Route 222. Brenda Hendsley, who lives down the… Read More
For Don Winslow, it started in the summer of 2002 with just a slight tremor in his right thumb. “Usually I noticed it in the morning, and I just thought, well, maybe I’ve had too much coffee or maybe it’s stress,” he recounted this week. Read More
AUGUSTA – The deferral of $130 million worth of state transportation projects remains a sore point for Gov. John E. Baldacci, who appointed a working group Thursday to explore whether some construction jobs can be restored. The governor emphasized the funding loss would affect highway… Read More
CORINTH – A beautiful girl who was loved by everyone. That’s how Alice Murphy described her 15-year-old daughter. Tabitha “Tabby” Murphy of Hudson was walking to cheering practice around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when she was struck by a car and killed. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
BANGOR – One of two men accused in the reported armed robbery of a Bangor pedestrian earlier this week remained in the Penobscot County Jail late Thursday night unable to make bail. Melvin Gay, 19, address unknown, appeared Thursday in 3rd District Count in Bangor… Read More
PALMYRA – A television crew interviewing the victim of a vicious beating spotted the alleged attacker in a field nearby Thursday afternoon and tipped off police. Later in the day, Jason Colcord, 28, was arrested in Newport and charged with aggravated assault, domestic assault and… Read More
PALMYRA – A regional agreement between Palmyra and Pittsfield could pave the way to an expansion of joint recycling that could include neighboring communities. Palmyra selectmen voted on Wednesday night to supply Pittsfield with a letter of intent that, beginning with the first six months… Read More
LINCOLN – A West Broadway house that had part of its foundation cave in last week due to structural flaws and extreme rain will take on more damage unless its problems are fixed soon, Fire Chief Joshua L. Williams said Thursday. “The ground there is… Read More
SOUTHWEST HARBOR – A shortfall of maintenance funds at privately owned Mount Height Cemetery has made “perpetual care” seem like a perpetual headache for town officials and the cemetery association, which share responsibility for the grave sites. Trust money for the approximately 250 perpetual care… Read More
ROCKLAND – The gloves are off and the boot is on for anyone with five or more unpaid parking tickets in the city. Now that Rockland’s amnesty program has ended, anyone with five or more unpaid parking tickets will get the parking boot, a mechanism… Read More
ELLSWORTH – More than 5,000 people are expected to line the streets Saturday for the annual Christmas parade. This year’s celebration will feature an estimated 50 units, including dozens of floats, three Maine Shriners groups, and marching bands from Ellsworth High School and Sumner Memorial… Read More
MACHIAS – Forest rangers working throughout Washington County say they are writing the typical number of summonses this season for theft of evergreen boughs – or, for tippers gathering wreath material from land they don’t have written permission to be on. Jan. 4 is the… Read More
THOMASTON – A Massachusetts-based developer has filed plans for more development of the U.S. Route 1 corridor between Rockland and Thomaston. The Richmond Co. of Peabody, Mass., filed a plan this week for a 10,000-square-foot convenience store, coffee shop and fast-food restaurant wedged between a… Read More
BREWER – The regular City Council meeting for December is being held a week early and at a different location. The meeting date was moved to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, to accommodate scheduling needs of two council members. The meeting will be held in… Read More
PITTSFIELD – The Maine Central Institute Concert Band and Concert Choir, and the Warsaw Middle School Concert Band, will present a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the Wright Gym. Read More
NEWPORT – The Nokomis Regional High School Guidance Department is hosting a workshop, “Getting to and Paying for College,” and a meal. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the school. Jon Henry of the University of Maine will conduct a… Read More
MADAWASKA – Members of La Vallee Federal Credit Union voted Wednesday night to merge with the Fort Kent Federal Credit Union. The move had been approved by regulatory agencies, and the boards of both unions agreed to the merger earlier in the year. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – After a trail of uncirculated state quarters and $1 Sacagawea coins led to the arrest of an Easton man allegedly involved in four Halloween night burglaries, police on Thursday were seeking a second man in connection with the crimes. Detective Sgt. Bill… Read More
LINCOLN – The Lincoln Town Council will hire a law firm to help negotiate a tax break that Lincoln Paper & Tissue LLC will get as part of a $36 million upgrade, Town Manager Glenn Aho said Thursday. The council is due to review and… Read More
FORT KENT – Snowmobiles will continue to enter the business district after a decision Wednesday night by the planning board. Near the end of a 31/2-hour hearing, the panel approved use of the Dike Trail. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
ROCKLAND – A two-car crash Wednesday at the intersection of Union Street and Talbot Avenue sent three people to the hospital. The brakes on one of the vehicles apparently failed. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
ROCKLAND – A Spruce Head woman driving her car in Harbor Plaza on Wednesday lost control of the vehicle when one of her three dogs leaped into her lap. Donna Hurley, 48, did not require medical transport after the crash into a parking lot light… Read More
Rockland District Court Cases Nov. 15-30, 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
MACHIAS – Washington County’s towns will be asked for 2 percent less in taxes in 2006 than were levied this year. County commissioners put their signatures on a $5.5 million budget Thursday evening in a public hearing at the Washington County Courthouse. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
Following are divorces granted recently in 6th District Court in Rockland on grounds of irreconcilable martial differences: John M. Ross, Rockland, and Sharon L. Ross, Warren, married at Warren on July 7, 2001. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
BREWER – How all-terrain vehicle registration funds are spent has changed in Maine. Three years ago the cost to register an ATV increased from $12 to $32, causing an uproar with owners, Brian Bronson, recreational safety and vehicle coordinator for the Bureau of Parks and… Read More
The Bangor Police Department says it is investigating a burglary early Wednesday morning involving three men who forced their way into a Curve Street apartment and assaulted a resident. The three men, all white and wearing hooded sweat shirts, kicked in the man’s apartment door… Read More
John Bapst Memorial High School First 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
Mattanawcook Academy, Lincoln First 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
ROCKLAND – Longtime Farnsworth Art Museum director Chris Crosman has been hired as chief curator of a museum planned in the Arkansas hometown of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and its late founder, Sam Walton. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is expected to open in… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Three local men were arrested early Thursday morning after the seizure of 2 grams of cocaine and 12 grams of heroin with a street value of more than $4,000 from an in-town home. “Twelve grams of heroin is a significant amount of… Read More
LINCOLN – Flaws in search procedures might have left a troubled young man to die on a radio tower atop Fish Hill last week but for a Mountainview Drive resident who helped him get to Penobscot Valley Hospital, town officials said Wednesday. Town firefighters, police… Read More
ROCKLAND – A Friendship man charged with gunning down his married lover on a cold January day outside a New County Road business is to go on trial for murder Feb. 28 in Knox County Superior Court. Jury selection will begin that day and the… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – A local man charged with cruelty to animals had his bail revoked Thursday and was placed under house arrest. Mark Hagelin, 45, who now reportedly suffers from a back problem and walks with a cane, cannot leave the home he shares with his… Read More
BANGOR – She knew something was wrong when she left work on Tuesday night and discovered that two tires on the driver’s side of her car were flat. The 40-year-old woman realized her life again was in danger when she walked around the car and… Read More
BREWER – The Penobscot County Local Emergency Planning Committee will hold a workshop 8:30 a.m.-noon Thursday, Dec. 8, at Jeff’s Catering, 5 Coffin Ave., to help local businesses better understand the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Registration begins at 8 a.m. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
PORTLAND – The man accused of beating to death his Rockport girlfriend in a Portland hotel room told police in a taped interview that he found the victim alive but on the floor after he returned from walking their dog. “She tried to tell me… Read More
Marines and veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and their family members and friends will return to the battlefield of Iwo Jima on March 3-10, 2006. The return is sponsored by the Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima Inc. and is coordinated by Military… Read More
AUGUSTA – Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron and State Board of Education Chairman James W. Carignan will recognize the 50 top performing high school students on the Maine Educational Assessment for the 2005 school year. The MEA Top 50 Achievement Celebration is scheduled from 10… Read More
BANGOR – A North Carolina man was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to five years in prison for his part in a drug ring that sold cocaine out of two Bangor residences and local motels. Clifton Davis, 24, of Potecasi, N.C., was sentenced to… Read More
FREEPORT – The South Berwick Water District walked away Thursday with bragging rights for Maine’s best-tasting water. After being judged the best of 23 entrants in the disinfected water division of the Maine Rural Water Association’s 19th annual Drinking Water Taste Test, South Berwick defeated… Read More
Are you someone who considers yourself caring, comforting, compassionate, loving, sincere, committed, a good listener and capable of offering heartfelt support to others? Do you feel you could work with a patient nearing the end of his or her life, or members of that individual’s… Read More
AUGUSTA – A proposal to use monies generated in the unorganized territory to fund regional infrastructure needs was pitched on Tuesday to a legislative study committee evaluating land ownership changes and development taking place throughout the area. Greenville Town Manager John Simko laid out his… Read More
PORTLAND – Men and women who were strip-searched at the York County Jail may have to wait a while longer for the $3.3 million payout from a class-action lawsuit. State officials who learned that more than 20 percent of those who were strip-searched owe child… Read More
FAIRFIELD – A 55-year-old Fairfield man was killed when struck by a car as he walked across the street Wednesday during heavy rain. Michael Meader was hit when a motorist swerved to pass a stopped sport utility vehicle on Main Street near the Fairfield-Waterville line,… Read More
The following are some walking tips to ensure your safety: . Never wear dark clothing while walking at night. 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;… Read More
AUGUSTA – Voter turnout in last month’s election was “considerably better than average,” topping 40 percent, according to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap. Dunlap announced Thursday that 408,819 ballots were cast in the Nov. 8 referendum election that featured seven ballot questions. The results… Read More
AUBURN – A judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the manslaughter case against a 20-year-old man accused of acting recklessly or with negligence when he shot a man in the head during an early morning gathering of friends last year in a Lewiston apartment. The… Read More
FALMOUTH – Maine’s largest wildlife conservation organization on Thursday called on Plum Creek Timber Co. to scale back its plans for development of nearly 1,000 house lots in the Moosehead Lake area. In its first public statement on Plum Creek’s proposal, Maine Audubon said development… Read More
The challenge is formidable – replace a basketball coach with more than 550 wins, nine state championships and 13 Eastern Maine titles. Vinnie MacLean doesn’t expect to match the legacy carved out by his predecessor at Jonesport-Beals High School, Ordman Alley, who retired in September… Read More
The adage that “there’s nothing like home cooking” hasn’t applied to the University of Maine men’s hockey team in Hockey East play so far this season. Maine is 3-1 in Hockey East road games and the Bears have outscored their three victims 15-3. Even in… Read More
While many of his friends dreamed of lacing up the skates in the NHL, Jeff Mannix had an eye on the broadcast booth. “I’ve wanted to be a hockey broadcaster for about as long as I can remember,” said the 24-year-old Presque Isle native. “I’ve… Read More
ORONO – A little more than two months ago, a leadership team representing SAD 5 got down to work on one of the most important pieces of the University of Maine’s Sports Done Right initiative. But when the rest of the Sports Done Right pilot… Read More
BANGOR – Four small Maine college basketball teams will seek the title in the Paul Bunyan Tournament at Husson College’s Newman Gym over the weekend. The tourney opens Friday at 5:30 p.m. when the University of Maine-Fort Kent plays Bates College of Lewiston while host… Read More
MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I. 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
As a non-practicing attorney who has been involved in teaching sports law at the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, one is continually amazed at the number and diversity of cases that end up in court having to do with sports. The cases… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Almost 30 countries have signed to compete in the 2006 Biathlon Junior World Championships scheduled Jan. 27 through Feb. 5. Officials on the event’s organizing committee said they are close to reaching their goal of bringing 30 nations to the international event. Read More
BAR HARBOR – Anyone who thinks that childhood is a simple, idyllic time has a short memory. Both richness and a dark beauty can be found in its true complexities, according to local composer and music director Tom Wallace, who mined an unsugar-coated version of… Read More
“Aerial” (Columbia) – Kate Bush Aimlessly drifting and charmingly engaging, “Aerial” seems as if absent-mindedly dropped by a passing extraterrestrial. Twelve years after offering up “The Red Shoes,” Kate Bush remains as decidedly unclassifiable as ever. In fact, maybe she should just be given a… Read More
Bangor has more than its share of architectural gems – homes so grand that you’d just love to take a little peek inside. Well, this weekend you can visit four during “Home for the Holidays: A Christmas Tour of Four Historic Area Homes,” sponsored by… Read More
The sign was up for years. In between Arts Etc and Park’s Hardware on Mill Street in Orono, the image of a sax player surrounded by smoky blue light advertised for the Blues Caf?. Promising the sort of ambience found in dark little jazz clubs in New York… Read More
In theaters RENT, directed by Chris Columbus, written by Columbus and Stephen Chbosky, 128 minutes, rated PG-13. 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
The most valuable thing that premium cable channels bring to the TV landscape is the ability of their original programming to tackle hot-button issues, such as organized crime, drugs and homosexuality. Subscribers to HBO and Showtime know what they’re getting, which is generally fare that’s too edgy for… Read More