Editor’s Note: As 2006 comes to a close, The Star-Herald looks back at some of the highlights in the community from May to August. Part III (September to December) will appear in next week’s edition.
May
• As a way to remember the four Ashland sisters who were killed earlier in an automobile accident, two funds were set up – one by law enforcement officials and emergency personnel, the other by a family friend. Each fund is designed to assist the community and the girls’ family in the months and years ahead through scholarships and to assist with family expenses.
• The Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) and its consultant team, Global Resorts Inc. (GRI), began the recruitment phase of their resort development initiative while attending the American Resort Development Association’s annual Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas.
• In a much anticipated Caribou town meeting to discuss the growing illicit and prescription drug abuse in northern Maine, residents from Aroostook County numbered around 1,300 strong at the Caribou Performing Arts Center and in the Caribou High School cafeteria. A panel of 11 was on hand at the Caribou meeting, comprising the three sub-groups of CADET (Community Alcohol and Drug Education Team) which include prevention, a treatment task force and enforcement. The purpose of the meeting was to provide those in attendance with the tools to recognize the multiple facets of the problem and help mitigate the problem with what is referred to as community intervention.
• Stephanie Tyler Winslow was crowned 2006 Little Miss Mapleton. In nearby Presque Isle, Lorraine Hughes was crowned Junior Miss Presque Isle 2006. Lydia Patterson was crowned 2006 Little Miss Presque Isle. Patterson, who performed a jazz dance, also won the Photogenic and Talent Awards. The title of Little Miss Bridgewater went to Nicolette Tompkins, while Katie Finemore was crowned Miss Bridgewater.
• Jennifer and Stuart Smith, along with two of their children, joined members of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club and Northern Maine Community College at the annual Sawdust Luncheon in the college’s residential construction lab. In the coming weeks, the Smiths would celebrate the delivery of their Sinawik home in Mapleton and make final preparations to move in.
• The Fort Fairfield community pledged to raise $100,000 to help construct a new outdoor swimming pool that will be a recreational asset for children of all ages. The town unveiled a new sign – located on the lawn of the library – encouraging residents to help “fill the pool.” The town will contribute the remaining $275,000.
• City councils for Caribou and Presque Isle met for a joint session to discuss ways to work together on a corridor management plan for Route 1 between Caribou and Presque Isle.
• Faced with a projected $2.3 million shortfall next year, trustees of the Maine Community College System voted to increase tuition by $4, from $74 to $78 per credit hour, for in-state students. The increase means full-time students will pay an average of $120 more in annual tuition or $2,340 this coming academic year.
• Herb Reed and the Platters, known for such hits as “Only You (And You Alone),” “The Great Pretender,” and “Harbor Lights” performed two shows at the Presque Isle Middle School auditorium. Proceeds from the concert benefited the SAD 1 Student Emergency Fund.
• The proposed Corridor Management Plan between Presque Isle and Caribou and the various corridors being considered for a north/south highway in Aroostook County was discussed at an Eggs and Issues breakfast hosted by LEAD. Landowners who would be affected by the development, as well as business leaders, financiers, and farmers were in attendance as John Melrose, of Maine Tomorrow, gave an overview of the projects in question, where they currently were, and what lies ahead.
• The Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Red Cross, raised a little over $19,000. The walk is an overnight event that increases cancer awareness. The money is used to fund local patient services and programs, advocacy, community education, and cancer research.
• Faculty at the University of Maine at Presque Isle announced a vote of “no confidence” in President Karl Burgher and Vice President Richard Kimball. The vote was made after campus leadership was questioned. A letter was delivered to Chancellor Joseph Westphal May 16.
• Vandalism took its toll on local ATV trails in two separate incidents. The bridge crossing the Aroostook River west of Crouseville was set on fire causing significant damage. Star City ATV club members repaired the bridge at a cost of nearly $5,000. In a separate incident, the Phair Junction trail was damaged when a truck became stuck behind the Northern Lights Motel. Damage was also done to a field owned by Greg Smith.
• Maine Mutual Group was honored with the Maine Insurance Agents Association’s 2006 Company of the Year Award. MMG was chosen to win the prestigious award from votes cast by over 1,000 agents within that agency group. Criteria used to determine the winner includes marketing, quality and timeliness of their issuance of polices, claims settlement, automation, competitiveness in pricing, and overall agency/company relations. MMG employs 135 people, all but eight in Presque Isle.
• Search teams representing both local and state agencies turned up no new information as the result of a two-day search Mother’s Day weekend for Tela Hart of Presque Isle. Hart was last seen during the early morning hours of Oct. 9, 2005.
• The Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library was named the recipient of a $25,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. The money was earmarked to convert existing lighting to energy efficient technology. The Efficiency Maine Business Program approved $3,655 toward the lighting project, as well. The total cost of the project was about $29,000.
• Kari Beckom was recognized as an outstanding senior at Easton Junior-Senior High School. She was selected by Ralph Conroy, principal, for being an excellent student, an untiring athlete, and a superb school citizen. Beckom was accepted at the University of Maine at Orono into the studio art program.
• Edward C. Dahlgren, a veteran of World War II who proved his bravery on the battlefield, died May 31. Dahlgren, 90, of Blaine, was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient who was a full-time resident of the state of Maine. Dahlgren led the 3rd Platoon to the rescue of a similar unit, which had been surrounded in an enemy counterattack in France.
June
• The 2006 Rotary International District 7810 Conference was held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. There were 155 Rotarians and 110 guests in attendance from 38 of the 41 clubs within the district, as well as five clubs outside the district.
• Darrell K. White was approved by the Presque Isle City Council to serve as the Star City’s new fire chief. White assumed all duties associated with the position of fire chief following the decision to remove Jim Krysiak from the position. White had been serving as the interim chief and as deputy chief at the department.
• Voters passed a $19.6 million SAD 1 budget at a meeting held at the Presque Isle High School Auditorium. Six different monetary articles were approved allowing for a cost of living increase to employees, an increase in energy costs, six new buses, building repairs, textbooks, and computers.
• The Aroostook Arts and Education Center (now the Wintergreen Arts Center) found a temporary home in donated space at the Aroostook Centre Mall. The group created a vision and mission statement and hoped to work toward goals of a children’s museum, sculpture garden, art gallery, dance studio, and coffee shop.
• Maine Mutual Group marked the beginning of a $5.5 million expansion that will add 20,000 square feet to the company’s present Maysville Street facility. The project is expected to add 35 to 50 new jobs over the next 10 years. The company hopes to employ 125 by the end of the year.
• Hubs, destined for the wind farm project in Mars Hill, arrived on freight cars in Presque Isle. They will be stored in Presque Isle until land preparations are complete. Each hub weighs approximately 36,000 pounds. Eventually, the hubs will be transported to the site on Mars Hill Mountain by truck.
• The Downtown Revitalization Committee was busy working on ways to make Main Street and other parts of town more attractive and inviting. The group consists of a variety of people with a variety of interests in the project, which has focused its attention on five areas in town. They placed benches, planted trees, and cleaned up, which made things more inviting to visitors.
• The Rev. Rick Kavanaugh, pastor of the Presque Isle Wesleyan Church, celebrated his 20th year at the church. Kavanaugh has witnessed many changes in the past two decades ranging from the number of churchgoers, the building of a new sanctuary, changes in music and technology, and going from one pastor to a staff of 10.
• To commemorate 135 years of being Presque Isle’s community newspaper, The Star-Herald hosted an open house. Members of the community were invited to stop by for a free hot dog, chips, and bottled water, as well as a variety of giveaways including flying discs, rulers, notepads, and participate in dunking people for $1 with proceeds benefiting the Presque Isle Historical Society. People were also encouraged to sign up for a chance to win a T-shirt, hat, $135 cash prize and subscriptions to The Star-Herald, which has reported local, state, national, and international news for 135 years.
• The Presque Isle City Council met to set the tax rate. The city’s cost rose as a result of structures being transferred, increased fuel costs, rising insurance rates, cost of living adjustments for staff, new hirings, and a new truck purchase to maintain roadways turned over to the city from the state. The council had to determine if the mill rate could remain the same or if it would have to be changed to reflect the increased costs.
• Amy White, a business technology and digital photography teacher at the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technology Center, was awarded the Outstanding Technology Education Teacher Award, sponsored by the United States Air Force. White was nominated by students for the work she does for them. White was presented a laser engraved plaque and tape measure.
• The Ronald Moir family of Woodland was named the Maine Potato Board’s 2006 Farm Family of the Year. The Moirs are a four-generation family of farmers. Moir has been an active participant in the potato industry.
• Barbara Bartlett was named the new assistant principal at the Presque Isle Middle School. The position was vacated by Anne Blanchard who took over the principalship effective July 1. Bartlett is a veteran teacher and served as the assistant principal at the former Skyway Middle School.
• The Ashland varsity softball team and the Central Aroostook baseball team made the strongest run at the spring Eastern Maine playoffs and sailed through the quarterfinal rounds only to drop away games in the semifinals. The Lady Hornets dropped a back-and-forth heartbreaker to Southern Aroostook 9-7 while the Panthers dropped a 9-8 contest to Lee Academy.
• Presque Isle High School graduate Barney Smith is recognized for hitting the 1,000-point mark in basketball 41 years after the fact. The honor came to light thanks to Smith’s own records as well as that of the local newspaper, and the basketball, baseball and track standout became the first official player in school history to score 1,000 points.
July
• The town of Fort Fairfield prepared to host the 59th annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival, scheduled for July 12-16.
• Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development met in Caribou June 23, seeking community participation in developing plans for proposed highway upgrades.
• Mapleton teenager Shawna Johnston received her wish for a shopping spree at the Bangor Mall, a week before her prom. Johnston suffers from renal failure.
• Ashland hosted the 71st annual Fireman’s muster, with nine teams from Aroostook County and New Brunswick taking part in the event. Presque Isle was named the best marching unit, while St. Leonard, New Brunswick and Eagle Lake teams placed first in other categories.
• Maine Office of Tourism announced over $720,000 in grants. Northern Maine Development Commission was one of eight recipients of the funds.
• The Maine Agri-Women made plans for hosting their annual cooking contest during the Potato Blossom Festival later in the month.
• Awards were given to several participants of the Fireman’s Muster in Ashland for their service following the fatal crash that killed four local girls.
• Taxes increased despite a mill rate drop in Presque Isle, following a city revaluation and a City Council meeting where councilors voted to reduce the mill rate by a half point, using money from the undesignated fund to lower the taxpayer burden.
• Mapleton’s Little Miss, Stephanie Winslow, was crowned Little Miss Potato Queen during festivities in Fort Fairfield.
• Elizabeth Keaton, of Caribou, was the winner of the Junior Miss Potato Blossom title during the annual competition in Fort Fairfield.
• Testimony began in the trial of Christopher Shumway, the man charged with the January 2005 murder of supervisor Erin Sperrey, as the two worked the night shift at Tim Hortons in Caribou.
• Presque Isle’s Planning and Development Director, Jim Brown, announced his retirement, after nearly 23 years with the city, and plans to pursue an interest in documenting local history.
• Late blight was reported in a crop growing in the Bridgewater area.
• Gov. John E. Baldacci arrived in Presque Isle, with his first stop being a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Northern Maine Regional Airport’s new hangar.
• The fate of Caribou man Christopher Shumway was turned over to Justice E. Allen Hunter, following a week’s worth of testimony.
• Aroostook Partnership for Progress met with a prospective employer looking to locate in northern Maine, continuing the organizations efforts to help stop out-migration.
• Ashland School District 32 hoped to develop a program to benefit both children and adults, acquiring a $5,000 planning grant to address literacy issues.
• Officials charged Mapleton resident Jessica London in connection with a fire at her home in 2004.
• A celebration at Riverside Park July 9 honored those who serve or have served their communities and nation, with boat rides, music, a car show and cookout. The event was sponsored by the Presque Isle Elks Club.
• University of Maine at Presque Isle President Karl Burgher announced his resignation, after less than one year with the campus.
• Ethan Perry, of Masardis, planned to spend 11 months in Indonesia teaching English as a second language.
• The Class of 1964 donated nearly $10,000 to the Presque Isle High School, with $9,000 going toward upgrading the scoreboard and $1,000 going to the library.
• The Presque Isle Garden Club tour was a hit, with dozens turning out to take part in the annual event.
