CHERRYFIELD – The lives of Alexander Dallas Bache and Nancy Willey are inextricably linked even though they never met. In the 1800s Bache was the builder of Baseline Road, and about 150 years later Willey’s interest in Bache’s project earned her the nickname “Baseline Lady.”… Read More
BANGOR – A freshman student with a severe food allergy has Bangor High School officials on the alert for an insidious foe – the humble peanut. “We’re taking every precaution we can,” Principal Norris Nickerson said Monday. Last week, the school sent a letter home… Read More
A Millinocket paper mill is being blamed for an algae bloom in the Penobscot River so massive that leaders of the Penobscot Nation are advising tribal members to stay out of the water. State environmental officials say the bloom of common blue-green algae, although unusually… Read More
PORTLAND – Maine’s congressional delegation on Monday expressed relief that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales decided to step down. Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe, who suggested it was long overdue, said Gonzales’ decision was “appropriate, necessary and I believe in the best interest of our nation.” googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
In a Calais District Court file published in some editions of the July 24 paper, James Pond’s conviction was incorrectly listed. The correct charge was sale and use of drug paraphernalia. The court apologizes for the incorrect information. A story in Saturday’s paper about school… Read More
PORTLAND – A move to lower costs is prompting Citigroup Inc. to close two offices in Portland, resulting in a loss of 260 jobs. Those jobs will be moved elsewhere by next July. A spokeswoman for the financial services company, Nina Das, said the move… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A Boston-based company that is developing a large-scale shopping center in Ellsworth recently was found in violation of federal rules regarding wetlands. W/S Development Associates reportedly violated the Natural Resource Protection Act by removing vegetation from half an acre of wetlands, according to… Read More
While Maine’s congressmen and senators are at home during the August recess, this is a good time for them to hear from their constituents. Of course, Iraq remains uppermost in all our minds. I believe President Bush, with majority support from Congress and the American… Read More
At least we can find solace in the fact that the Legislature saw fit to require Bangor Hydro and Central Maine Power to divest themselves of their pesky hydro electric facilities here in Maine, which are now owned by out-of-state conglomerates. Great idea. Peter R. Read More
In response to getting “Trickled On” (BDN, Aug. 22) by Alan Ginsberg of Corea: The Federal Reserve System was created in 1913 by Congress and Congress has full control over it. The primary role of the Federal Reserve System is to moderate inflation while maintaining economic growth, without… Read More
All I know about Alicia A. Birchett is that she is from Mashpee, Mass., an Army staff sergeant, and that she died in Baghdad, Iraq on Aug. 9 at the age of 29. I cannot even begin to imagine what Alicia’s family and friends must be going through. Read More
It is a great thing that the Holtrachem property is being cleaned up. But what about the river? The BDN article neglected to mention the significant mercury contamination that remains in the Penobscot River, pollution that is a much greater threat to the watershed’s long-term health than a… Read More
Recently I received a call from Rep. Charles “Dusty” Fisher who asked if I had heard of the state of Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Medal. My reply was that I recently saw a picture in the BDN of someone being presented the medal and that was the… Read More
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ departure is widely welcomed by Republicans as well as Democrats, but he leaves a department in which morale has sunk because of his highly partisan leadership that put politics ahead of policy. His quitting is not enough. The Justice Department needs a top-to-bottom cleansing… Read More
When Congress soon convenes hearings on what went wrong at the Crandall Canyon Mine where six coal miners were killed earlier this month, rather than just grilling company officials, lawmakers should look at what progress has been made in meeting the requirements of a sweeping law passed last… Read More
Medicare is the Big Momma of health insurance, and when Big Momma talks, everyone listens. So when Big Momma smacks you upside the head, as Medicare did American hospitals last week, you better get to doing what Big Momma wants done. What she wants is for patients to… Read More
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Residents of much of New England – but not Maine – are fighting bulging waistlines better than people in other parts of the country, according to a state-by-state report released Monday by a national health advocacy organization. Experts offer multiple reasons for… Read More
AUGUSTA – A conservative think tank has created a revised Taxpayer Bill of Rights, but it’s unclear whether anyone is going to run with it. Maine voters last November rejected the original TABOR proposal, which would have limited government spending increases and made it harder… Read More
WELLS – Researchers said Monday they found mercury in songbirds found in New England’s estuaries and wildlife refuges, indicating that mercury contamination is not limited to the region’s freshwater lakes and ponds. The BioDiversity Research Institute released its findings on the salt marsh sharp-tailed sparrow… Read More
MACHIAS – Victoria Altavater was a trailblazer Monday. Sitting in a conference room in the Washington County Jail, Altavater, 38, of Perry was the first prisoner ever to appear in 4th District Court via closed-circuit television. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
GUILFORD – Investigators with the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department are working on a “good lead” in connection to the armed robbery last month of the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union when more than $10,000 was stolen. Lt. Robert Young of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department… Read More
ARGYLE – A van that rolled over, killing a 15-year-old New York boy and injuring 12 others on Interstate 95 earlier this month, was mechanically sound, state police said Monday. Investigators need only to interview van driver Yehoshua Hoffman, 22, to wrap up their investigation… Read More
DEXTER – SAD 46 directors voted last week to begin discussions for the formation of a regional school unit with several surrounding school districts. The board has notified the Department of Education that it intends to meet with SADs 4, 41, 48, 68, Harmony, Willimantic,… Read More
MILO – A Park Street resident who allegedly threw several hundred roofing nails at passing vehicles and threatened children on bicycles Sunday is behind bars. Charles Wilbur Sr., 42, was arrested and charged with criminal threatening and criminal mischief. Wilbur is a registered sex offender,… Read More
Millinocket District Court Cases July 17-Aug. 16, 2007 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… Read More
Calais District Court Cases July 13-19, 2007 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
SOUTHWEST HARBOR – A week has passed since the sudden disappearance of a local restaurant owner, but police, while concerned, still aren’t ready to call the case suspicious. Ralph “Randy” Palmer, 51, was last seen Monday, Aug. 20, at the Southwest Harbor post office around… Read More
ELLSWORTH – The Washington Hancock Community Agency recently received a $5,000 donation from one of its volunteer drivers to help other drivers make needed repairs to their vehicles. The gift from Gloria Blake of Jonesport will be used by WHCA Transportation Services to help volunteers… Read More
MACHIAS – The University of Maine at Machias will host a memorial service Friday, Aug. 31, for Nathan Morrill, a former UMM student who was killed in an automobile accident in Hancock on July 19. Students and community members who knew Morrill, 21, are invited… Read More
BELFAST – Sign-up dates for the Livestock Compensation Program, Livestock Indemnity Program and Crop Disaster Program have been announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The three ad hoc disaster programs provide benefits to farmers and ranchers who suffered losses caused by natural disasters in recent years. Read More
ELLSWORTH – The Hancock County Genealogical Society will meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, in the Riverview Room of the Ellsworth Public Library. Special guest speaker will be Kevin Johnson from Eastern Illustrating, who will talk about the company’s collection of vintage photographs. The… Read More
ELLSWORTH – Harriette Mitchell of Bar Harbor has been named the 2007 Elizabeth Fritz Thorndike Award winner, which honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of social work on Mount Desert Island. Originally from Thomaston, Mitchell trained as a nurse at… Read More
Plans outlining what schools intend to do about the state’s newly mandated school reorganization effort are due Friday, and some communities will spend time this week ironing out their intentions. The effort to consolidate Maine’s 152 school administrative systems into 80 regional school units was… Read More
MEDDYBEMPS – Three men were arrested and charged with felony theft after allegedly breaking into a junkyard Saturday night and attempting to make off with copper, aluminum and other metal. Arrested were Ted Ivey Jr., 26, of Bangor; Christopher Bubar, 24, of Linneus; and Daniel… Read More
BAILEYVILLE – A 29-year-old Indian Township man was injured in a single-vehicle accident on Route 1 early Monday morning. The crash occurred just two-tenths of a mile north of the Irving Big Stop restaurant on Routes 9 and 1. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
BELFAST – A 16-year-old boy suffered a broken leg and numerous head and facial cuts when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle across Route 1 on Monday. Patrolman Eric Kelly said Kameron Dow of Belfast was riding a type of “trick… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Eight people suffered varying degrees of injuries Saturday evening after a two-vehicle, head-on collision on Centerline Road. Presque Isle police Officer Roger Ellis said in a written statement Monday that the accident occurred just before 8:15 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
BELFAST – Police are investigating the intentional severing of an underwater telephone cable that affected service to 800 customers. Police Chief Jeffrey Trafton said the cable problem was reported by Verizon at 10:34 a.m. Saturday. The underwater cable crosses the Passagassawakeag River near Penobscot McCrum… Read More
THORNDIKE – The SAD 3 board voted unanimously Monday night to seek an exemption from having to consolidate with neighboring school districts as suggested by state legislation. The 11-town district in western Waldo County qualifies to be considered for such an exemption, board members explained… Read More
BREWER – A night filled with dinner and dancing is planned for the end of September that will help fill home heating oil tanks for the area’s most needy. The Harvest Housewarming Dinner and Auction is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at Jeff’s Catering,… Read More
BREWER – Local city officials, law enforcement officers and firefighters from the region are bagging groceries Friday at the Brewer Wal-Mart Supercenter to raise money for area children. “I’ll be there,” Brewer Police Chief Perry Antone said Monday. “I think it’s important for community leaders… Read More
BANGOR – Two Mexican nationals were arrested Sunday at the Houlton border crossing and charged with possessing fraudulently obtained documents. Gabriel Santes-Garcia, 23, and Elias Santos-Matias, 22, appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk in federal court in Bangor. She ordered that they be… Read More
Bangor police noticed a truck driving over a median on a city road early Saturday and pulled the vehicle over to discover the 19-year-old driver was unlicensed and intoxicated. Michael Tripp of Bangor failed a field sobriety test during the 1 a.m. police stop and… Read More
HOLDEN – The SAD 63 meeting was nearly over on Monday after the board had discussed and voted to send the Department of Education two letters of intent about possible reorganization partners when the suggestion was made for a third letter. A report earlier in… Read More
BANGOR – When she approached the microphone Monday to brief councilors on last weekend’s American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront, festival chairwoman Maria Baeza confessed she was fighting the urge to break out into her own rendition of the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited.”… Read More
BANGOR – Superintendent Robert Ervin briefed city councilors Monday night on the school committee’s unanimous vote last week not to consolidate with other area school units. At more than 3,800 students, Bangor’s enrollment is high enough to exempt it from the consolidation requirements of the… Read More
Two-thirds of American adults are obese or overweight, according to the research group Trust for America’s Health. Despite widespread recognition of the problem and the ready availability of information about the importance of diet and exercise, obesity rates continue to rise in every state, including Maine. Read More
Mixed teams are encouraged but not mandatory, reports Cindy Fielding of the 8th Ankh Temple 160 Daughters of the Nile Golf Tournament that begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Hermon Meadow Golf Club. The… Read More
ELLSWORTH – The cause of a horrific car accident late Friday night that orphaned three young children remained unknown Monday. Ellsworth police Lt. Harold Page said a 1993 Chevrolet Suburban that was heading south on Route 1A drifted across the centerline and into the path… Read More
FORT KENT – The University of Maine at Fort Kent has a new slogan and a new Web site, but for the third year in a row, one thing hasn’t changed: the college’s listing by the prestigious Princeton Review. Once again, the Fort Kent college… Read More
PORTLAND – The University of Maine School of Law has created a new endowment fund in honor of Parkman native Vincent L. McKusick, former chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The scholarship fund was created with an initial pledge of $100,000 from Pierce… Read More
ROCKLAND – City traffic officer Troy Peasley has been selected by Special Olympics Maine to run the final leg of the International Law Enforcement Torch Run at the World Games in Shanghai, China. Peasley will depart for China in late September and will be running… Read More
Sean Caisse may not win the Busch East series points championship but he is certainly making things interesting for the leaders. Caisse, who drives for Cherryfield’s Andy Santerre and the Santerre Motorsports Team, has two wins, a second and a third in his last four… Read More
The Bangor High boys soccer team returned to practice this fall with a purpose – defending the Class A state championship – and to a surprise. Adam Leach, who coached the Rams to their first-ever Class A state title in 2006, has announced he plans… Read More
Ever since wild turkeys were reintroduced in Maine 30 years ago, state wildlife biologists and hunters have looked forward to the hunting opportunities that would eventually be created. That effort, which began with the transport of 41 birds from Vermont to southern Maine, has been… Read More
BANGOR – The Husson College women’s soccer team will be without 2006 North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year Shelby (Pickering) Bradford. Bradford, who had 27 goals and 11 assists while playing in 21 of 22 games last fall after transferring from the University of… Read More
HIGH SCHOOL At Houlton CC, par 36 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… Read More
DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche signed former University of Maine defenseman Brett Clark to a two-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season. Clark, 30, set career highs with 82 games, 10 goals and 29 assists last season. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
As summer wanes – gosh, I hate to say that – the fall sports season is upon us. Once again, my dear mother’s adage held true: After July 4th, the summer really seems to fly. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
LIMESTONE – Kellie Peers’ goal on a penalty kick with 1:13 left in the second overtime lifted the Limestone Community School/ Maine School of Science and Mathematics to a 2-1 schoolgirl soccer win over the Hodgdon Hawks Monday. Peers also scored the first goal with… Read More
OSAKA, Japan – Farmington native Kevin Eastler finished 28th among a field of 42 in the men’s 20-kilometer race walk Sunday at the 77th IAAF Track and Field World Championships. Eastler, a 29-year-old Air Force captain now living in Aurora, Colo., was the fastest of… Read More
The recent recall of more than 9 million toys made in China has created a wonderful opportunity for those of us who knit, sew, crochet or make stuff from wood. It gives us the perfect excuse to buy more yarn, fabric and lumber to make playthings for the… Read More
A dozen years ago or so, the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport mounted a remarkable show devoted to sailors’ valentines. In addition to exploring the history of this folk art – and debunking the myth that sailors actually made these ornate shell souvenirs – the exhibition featured a… Read More
One doors closes, another door opens. When the Quilted Cabin shop in Orland, owned by Holly Simpson, closed its doors for good recently, it came at a time when Evelyn Caruso of Glenburn and her sister Lori-Ann Knowles of Ellsworth were in the process of… Read More