101 Years Ago – March 28, 1918
Discussions — Mr. L.D. Sweet of Washington, D.C., president of the National Potato Growers’ Association and expert advisor to Mr. Hoover of the Food administration upon the subject of potatoes and potato culture, addressed mass meetings of the men of Aroostook who were interested in potatoes as follows: At Houlton Grange Hall, Houlton; at the Grange Hall at Caribou; at the Municipal Hall, Presque Isle; and at the Municipal Hall, Fort Fairfield. These meetings furnished the best possible means of informing the farmers of Aroostook as to the attitude of the government toward them, and a free and full discussion was a benefit to the Food Administration, with firsthand information as to the conditions in Aroostook.
75 Years Ago – March 30, 1944
First Lieutenant — The promotion to first lieutenant of Lt. Alexander McComb Walker of Presque Isle, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Walker, was announced at Boca Raton Field, Fla., a technical school of the AAF Training Command. Lt. Walker was assigned to the engineering branch of the academic department.
Easter seal drive — Miss Sue V. Thompson was the chairman of Aroostook County Easter Seal sale. Proceeds from the sale were used to advance the worthy work in which the Pine Tree Society for Crippled Children engaged.
50 Years Ago – March 26, 1969
Pool benefit — The results of the snowsled races that were held in Ashland were announced by the Ashland Rotary Club. Proceeds from the event, the second set of races sponsored by the club, went to the Swimming Pool Fund. In the drag race, Class “D” Gary Chandler took the first position followed by John Cronin and Tom Peters. In class “C”, Lee Parker took top honors with Martin Gagnier second and Leon Murchant third. In Class “B”, Steven Kenney led the field with Boyd Tibbetts second and Philip Grass in the final slot. Blake Buck won first place in the “A” division in the same event and he was followed by David Pelletier and Duncan Haines.
Check presentation — Mrs. Helen Easler, membership secretary of the Central Aroostook Association for metally challenged children, received a check from John F. Boyle, general chairman of the Rev. John J. Harris, Council Knights of Columbus, for organization membership in the Association.
Bryant honored by group — Harold E. Bryant was honored at a testimonial dinner at the Prestile Terrace in Caribou, attended by about 75 growers, shippers, and others connected with the Maine potato industry. Bryant resigned after seven years as executive vice president of the Maine Potato Council and consultant to the Maine Potato Commission to become general manager of the Texas Citrus Exchange.
25 Years Ago – March 30, 1994
Better communication — The family of the late Robert W. Miller made a donation of a cellular phone to Crown Ambulance in his honor. Denys Cornelio, assistant director of Crown, said the phone was particularly useful for emergency transports downstate.
Lifesaving lesson — Boy Scout Troop 271 of Presque Isle was well trained in the event of an emergency thanks to The Aroostook Medical Center’s community nurse educator, Betty Bard. The group had been taking cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid for choking classes at Gould Memorial Hospital; their final class included hands-on experience with a mannequin.
On ‘Rescue 911’ — An episode of “Rescue 911”, an emergency rescue television program, featured Presque Isle resident LIsa Freeman and her springer spaniel, Harley. Filmed in Presque Isle, the segment re-enacted the fateful events which transpired on Aug. 31, when Harley choked on a rubber ball and was rescued by Presque Isle paramedic and dispatcher Richard Wark.
