August
• Gardner Savings announced plans to merge with First Citizens Bank.
• The Northern Maine Fair Association, despite a rocky start, ensured there was plenty to keep fairgoers busy, including exhibits and musical performances.
• A LifeFlight helicopter landed in the fairgrounds infield, as part of activities promoting TAMC’s commitment to fund services over the next 10 years for patients from Aroostook County.
• Maine DOT grant applications were made available to encourage students to use alternate methods of transportation to get to and from school, reducing the number of walkers making the trek regularly to school.
• Vandals destroyed flowers displayed on the Park Street Bridge.
• The Mantle Lake Park dredging project got under way, with a ground-breaking ceremony held July 26. MJ Ouellette and Daughters was hired to remove sediment from the lake, returning it to a usable recreational site.
• The 152nd Engineering Support Company was unveiled at the Presque Isle Armory, marking the transition from the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion.
• Fort Fairfield created a multi-use park, located on the West Limestone Road, part of a 20-acre donation by a local couple.
• Sale of a playhouse benefited the Logan P. Graves Foundation. Raffle tickets were sold, with proceeds going to the organization that focuses on cancer research. Bailey Getchell, of Presque Isle, was named the winner.
• The Presque Isle City Council got a what-if look at downtown as part of the Downtown Revitalization Committee’s continued efforts to restore activity to the Star City’s Main Street sector of town.
• Aroostook County residents were updated on the regional highway project during a meeting of the Maine Better Transportation Association, held at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle.
• Ashland’s mill rate dropped for the second year, from 22.7 to 21.2.
• SAD 1 Board of Directors opted to lock into fuel prices for 2006-2007 school year.
• Washburn’s revaluation affected property owners, as the Town Council voted to increase the mill rate from 24 to 25.
• The annual 4-H Baby Beef Auction netted $57,877.
• PIHS, Ashland joined Maine Readiness Campaign, a partnership to ensure seniors are properly prepared for future endeavors, including college.
• Clarence Cain and Jessica Pratt were seriously injured in a Chapman fire as they worked on Pratt’s vehicle in a garage.
• Ashland Superintendent Roland Caron announced his resignation.
• Donald Zillman was appointed president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture released figures indicating a 3 percent increase over 2005 totals in potatoes planted.
• Washburn’s August Festival was enjoyed by hundreds, with a variety of activities, from flag football and karaoke to parades and ATV pulls, taking place during the three days of the event.
• Authorities continued to search for missing Presque Isle resident, Tela Hart, who disappeared Oct. 9, 2005 and was last seen in the area of the Lenfest Street, near the Presque Isle Stream. Low water levels allowed searchers a better opportunity to search the Presque Isle Stream and Aroostook River.
• Three proposed highway projects were the subject of a discussion at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center before a packed audience.
• The sky was the limit for the Presque Isle Balloon Fest, with many turning out to enjoy the festival and sights.
• Floyd Harding, and his late wife Jean, were honored at a ceremony at Northern Maine Community College. The couple was recognized for the contributions to the city, surrounding region and the state.
• Jim Brown, retired after years of service with Presque Isle, was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Gov. John E. Baldacci, for his dedication to the city, Aroostook County and the state.
• Members of the Rotary International Group Study Exchange Team traveled, spending five weeks in Norway.
• Ashland received $1,505 dividend check for being ‘good losers,’ based on its “good loss experience” in various insurance categories.
September
• SAD 32 announced plans to build a new consolidated school.
• Christopher Shumway was found guilty of murdering his Tim Hortons supervisor, Erin Sperrey. Sentencing was scheduled for a later date.
• Lowe’s continued to prepare for its Oct. 17 opening date, hiring dozens to staff the home hardware store located on Maysville Street near the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle.
• Cornerstone Christian Academy opened on U.S. Route 1 in Presque Isle, offering a faith-based alternative to public school, primarily geared toward grades K through 8.
• The DFAS center in Limestone celebrated the first anniversary of the BRAC decision to keep the facility open. Several dignitaries were on hand to tour the facility to mark the occasion.
• Mantle Lake Park’s dredging project ran into some extra costs when it was determined that more sediment had to be removed than anticipated. City Council discussed ways to come up with the additional funds necessary to complete the project.
• Northern Maine Community College launched a new marketing campaign and adopted a new slogan, “You can get there from here.”
• UMPI President Donald Zillman encouraged a campus-community link and that it was up to the campus to set an example, beginning with its financial decisions.
• A fund-raiser for SAD 1 Music Boosters was held at Riverside Park called “Rockin’ at Riverside,” with $825 raised for the SAD 1 Music Boosters 2008 Music Festival Trip for PIHS band and chorus members.
• Presque Isle Middle School students and their parents agreed to take Rachel’s Challenge, a program that inspires, instructs and enables students to bring positive change to the school atmosphere.
• A bronze statue of a boy was dedicated at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in the memory of Robinson K. “Rob” Loder. Loder’s parents, Jean and Chad Loder, had requested following their son’s untimely death, that donations be made in his memory to the library.
• Cunningham Middle School neared its last chapter as City Council sought demolition bids for the historic building.
• NMCC and Husson College signed an historic agreement to establish a Husson presence on the NMCC campus, providing Husson classroom and office space.
• NMCC demolished the former director’s house, located on campus.
• City Council received word that $50,000 was available to complete the Mantle Lake Park dredging project, thanks to the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Foundation.
• Rachel’s Challenge, based on the story of Rachel Scott, a student killed in the Columbine shooting in Colorado, was the focus of a gathering at the Presque Isle Middle School. Craig Scott, Rachel’s brother, gave a presentation inspiring others to make a positive change in the school environment.
• The Legislature was scheduled to vote on a new agricultural license plate.
• The 2006 potato harvest got under way, with most fields expected to be harvested within about three weeks’ time.
• PIMS embrace Peace Week activities, with the highlight being Rachel’s Challenge.
• Maine Mutual Group was named the second best place to work in Maine.
• TABOR — the Taxpayer Bill of Rights — saw much opposition, as opponents continued to point out its shortcomings and the problems it would create, rather than solve. TABOR was created in an attempt to reduce taxes and return more authority to the individual, rather than to government officials.
• The annual Duck’s Unlimited Dinner and Auction achieved new heights, raising nearly $11,000 for the organization’s continued efforts to preserve wetlands and address other issues.
October
• Education officials indicated enrollment figures were up from high school to college, with preliminary fall figures showing NMCC seeing a 7.5 percent increase for the number of students enrolling straight from high school compared to 2005 figures.
• The United Way of Aroostook fund-raising campaign hit the road, with officials motoring up Route 1 in an RV, handing out materials along the way.
• A mock plane crash at the Northern Maine Regional Airport provided training opportunities for emergency personnel, part of a regularly scheduled event to build skills.
• The Presque Isle Public Safety Building held its first open house, inviting the public to tour the facility, meet with personnel at both the fire and police departments, and enjoy a free cookout.
• Author John Corrigan was in Presque Isle to discuss his new book entitled “Out of Bounds,” a look at steroids in the PGA Tour.
• SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson took temporary control of SAD 32, stepping in to serve as superintendent until a permanent replacement could be found.
• In light of recent school shootings across the country, Gov. John E. Baldacci urged Maine schools to review their safety and crisis planning policies.
• Rudolph Michalka was joined by Harry Hafford for the official opening of a boat launch in Oxbow. Michalka donated the land so that the public would have access to the Aroostook River from that location.
• Fort Fairfield Pool Committee exceeded its $100,000 goal, with funds going to construct the new outdoor swimming pool.
• ACAP expanded its Head Start services in the Washburn area.
• Wiscasset couple Joe and Emily Ashton joined the Star City ATV Club for the club’s last ride of the season, enjoying a trip to the St. John Valley to ride trails in northern Aroostook County.
• From town governments to the senior organization AARP, TABOR — the Taxpayer Bill of Rights — met with little support in continued meetings to discuss the proposed law.
• Growers wrapped up the 2006 harvest season, with rain only creating slight delays in getting potatoes out of the ground in a timely manner.
• A Friday Night Variety Show, held at the PIMS, was held to benefit the Travis Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund.
• A masked gunman confronted a woman walking her dog on State Street.
• Local TABOR debate continued, with officials gathering at UMPI to discuss the pros and cons of the matter. Opponents included Superintendent Roger Shaw, of Mars Hill, and Ryan Pelletier, town manager of St. Agatha. Representing TABOR were Jim Cyr and Roger Thibodeau.
• SAD 1 voted to oppose TABOR.
• NMCC students took part in Operation Keep-ME Warm, with 18 students visiting County communities to assist Maine homeowners prepare for winter.
• A truck-train accident in Masardis claimed the life of Biddeford truck driver John Hughes.
• Danny and the Juniors got things hopping with a performance at the Presque Isle Middle School.
November
• SAD 32 selected an architect to design new consolidated school. Lewis Malm Architecture, of Bucksport, will be in charge of the project.
• Only minimal delays occurred as crews continued to erect windmills atop Mars Hill Mountain, part of Evergreen Wind Power LLC’s effort to have 28 turbines up and running by the end of the year.
• Jerry Tanner and Terry Greenier, owners of the Irish Setter Pub, raffled off a cruise, with proceeds going to benefit Martha & Mary’s Soup Kitchen and Homeless Services of Aroostook.
• PIHS and the Shipmates’ Playhouse prepared for their presentation of “Calamity Jane.”
• Connect North America’s president, Barry O’Donnell, was in town to announce his company’s plans to open for business after the first of the year at the former MBNA site on Green Hill Drive, bringing dozens of new jobs to Presque Isle. Bob Clark, president of the Northern Maine Finance Commission, and Gov. John E. Baldacci were just two of the dignitaries on hand to welcome CNA to the city — one of several projects Aroostook Partnership for Progress has been working on to prevent out-migration.
• A bomb scare caused officials to close the Presque Isle High School, as law enforcement and fire personnel inspected the building for possible explosive devices.
• SAD 1 teachers, as part of an effort to beef up security at local schools, started wearing ID badges.
• Fort Fairfield Town Manager Dan Foster received the After School Champion Award from the Maine After School Network, for his advocacy of youth and his commitment to the 21st Century Program offered at SAD 20.
• Flora brothers Matt and Rich prepared to share the stage as the PIHS and Shipmates’ Playhouse presented “Calamity Jane.”
• Fewer PIHS students were identified as doing harvest work, compared to prior years’ records.
• Close numbers resulted in a recount for House District 7, as incumbent Republican John Churchill, of Washburn, received four fewer votes than challenger Democrat Patricia Sutherland, of Chapman.
• Richard Kimball stepped down as vice president of Academic Affairs at UMPI.
• Opiate addiction was the topic of a seminar held at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle, with participants hearing what the effects are of such an addiction ñ to the addict as well as those around them.
• Fourth-grader Claire Anderson, of Mapleton Elementary School, collected non-violent children’s books from her peers for the Battered Women’s Project.
• Garrett Hemphill, 12, of Presque Isle, had an essay entitled “This Old Tractor” published in Echoes magazine.
• PIMS students learned the true meaning of Veteran’s Day, reading about the holiday and writing to veterans at the Caribou Veterans Home.
• TAMC began $2.4 million expansion, both up and out, with a three-story addition. The room is necessary to make more room for the cancer center and pharmacy.
• Christopher Shumway received a 45-year sentence for the murder of his Tim Hortons supervisor, Erin Sperrey.
• Tim McCue, formerly the DARE officer with SAD 1, was named safety coordinator for the district.
• Wade and Angela McCrum, of Mars Hill, prepared to march in the Macy’s Day Parade as representatives of the Maine potato industry.
• The American Red Cross hosted its annual Heroes Breakfast at NMCC, honoring a number of local heroes.
• Police sought clues in the bomb scares recently reported at PIHS.
• A House District 7 recount was postponed between incumbent Republican John Churchill, of Washburn, and challenger Patricia Sutherland, a Democrat from Chapman.
• Attainable goals were set for community colleges, an effort to provide students with the skills they need to find employment in the local economy.
• Security measures were beefed up at PIHS following several bomb scares.
• A Caribou man was arrested in connection with the attempted fire bombing of Presque Isle resident Adam Fantasia’s car.
• The Downtown Revitalization Committee met with local officials and business leaders at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle to seek input on upgrading the downtown area.
• The Presque Isle Fire Department received nearly $300,000 in grants, with funds earmarked for a new tanker, as well as exercise equipment to keep city employees fit.
December
• Presque Isle City Council proposed an $11.5 million budget.
• The 59th annual Presque Isle Rotary Auction was deemed a success, with merchandise sales reaching just over $30,000, reportedly the second highest year in history. Proceeds will go to benefit a number of local agencies.
• Maine Public Service Company hosted an energy workshop at UMPI for students from throughout Aroostook County to learn about ways to be more energy-efficient.
• Susan Maynard, a second grade teacher at Fort Fairfield Elementary School, was named a finalist for National 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
• Maine Potato Board began a new campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of the Maine potato industry and its impact on the Maine economy.
• Marine Corporal Dustin J. Libby was the first service member from Aroostook County to die in Iraq.
• Former Fire Chief Jim Krysiak was sentenced in connection with misconduct in positions he held at city, county and state levels.
• Homeless Services of Aroostook was facing a shortfall for 2006 that could cause the facility to drop from a 24/7 shelter to one serving clients only during evening hours.
• A Christmas ornament fund-raiser was under way in Fort Fairfield by the Music Boosters that would allow the students to take part in a trip to the Atlantic Music Festival in Halifax in May.
• Sixth graders at PIMS helped children write letters to Santa Claus.
• Aroostook Starch was hoping to gain from a teaching and training partnership with NMCC and the Maine Quality Centers Program that will both improve operational efficiency and pave the way for future expansion.
• A bomb threat at Wal-Mart cleared the aisles of holiday shoppers. No bomb was found and the store returned to business as usual the next day.
• SAD 1 soccer players were put on equal footing with other schools’ athletes, with an upgrade planned to the turf at the school’s field.
• United Way of Aroostook received its latest shipment of toys, through the Toys for Tots Program, in time for Christmas distribution through area agencies.
• Two fires Dec. 22 — one in the morning on Allen Street and one in the evening on the Cleaves Road — kept firefighters busy all day and left several people homeless for the holidays.
• The Maine Potato Board named Trevor Michaud, of Limestone, as Young Farmer of the Year.
• A Wal-Mart employee was charged with terrorizing the Presque Isle Wal-Mart, following a bomb scare that shut the store down for nearly four hours.
• The Star City and SAD 1 joined forces to put up reward money for anyone providing information that would lead to an arrest in connection with recent bomb threats in Presque Isle.
• Mother Nature dumped about four inches of snow on the area, too late for residents to enjoy a white Christmas.
