Local establishments achieved 100 percent compliance during recent checks for underage alcohol sales, which is twice as high as in 2010, according to the Caribou Police Department.
Local officers, along with Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office deputies, conducted compliance checks on Satuday, Dec. 7, at 19 stores and five bars in the central Aroostook County area, utilizing funds from a grant provided by Community Voices of Fort Kent.
Staff photo/Mark Putnam
Employees with Child Development Services, the lead agency for early intervention and early childhood special education in the State of Maine, held a Dec. 10 open house at their new office complex in Presque Isle. CDS staff includes, from left, front row: Emily Dyer, teacher Part B and C, Woodland; Andrea Gregg, teacher Part C, Mapleton; Amy Murchison, social worker/case manager Part C, Ft. Fairfield; Daphne Nason, case manager Part B, Houlton; and Annette Duff, occupational therapist, Littleton. Middle row: Becky Gilman, case manager Part B, Houlton; Tamra Robertson, program team leader for CDS Aroostook/case manager Part B, Woodland; Velda Buckingham, speech pathologist, Washburn; Paula Evens, case manager Part C, Ft. Fairfield; and Nancy Beaver, office operations manager assistant, Woodland. Back row: Cheryl Hillicoss, Part C team leader, Chebeague Island; Lori Whittemore, director CDS Aroostook, Falmouth; Andrea Drabek, special education consultant, Mapleton; Roxane Perry, office operations manager, Easton; Cindy Gagnon, teacher Part C, Ft. Fairfield; and Meredith Royer, case manager Part B, Limestone.
Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan reported that there was 100 percent compliance, meaning not one of the stores or bars sold to the underage individual. In July 2010, Caribou police reported only 50 percent compliance.
“Underage drinking prevention and enforcement is a very important part of the Caribou Police Department,” Gahagan said. “We utilize multiple grants to conduct different types of enforcement, including saturation and party patrols, parking lot enforcement, impaired driving enforcement and compliance checks, with no cost to the citizens of Caribou.”
Several agencies in Aroostook County provide TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) education to ensure responsible service, sale and consumption of alcohol. The improvement on compliance can be attributed to training servers and sellers, as well as the positive interaction with law enforcement, said the police chief.
He urged the public to help. “Please report underage drinking activity to the Caribou Police Department,” Gahagan added. “When we work together, we can all make a difference.”
