75 Years Ago – May 8, 1947
Aroostook fire chiefs reelected — Kenneth Currie of Mars Hill was reelected president, Herbert Treffery of Presque Isle vice-president, and George Black of Easton secretary of the Aroostook County Fire Chiefs Association at its annual meeting at the Northeastland Hotel.
Nearly 150 members and guests of the association attended the banquet session. Herbert Treffery, chief of the host department, acted as master of ceremonies, and Kenneth Currie, association president, introduced the speakers. City Manager Mark Trafton extended a welcome to the visitors on behalf of the City of Presque Isle.
New commander — Lt. Col. Homer Fakler, U.S. Army Air Corps, arrived to this city to assume his duties as commander of the Presque Isle Army Air Field, succeeding Lt. Col. Theodore Gorton, who had been transferred to Greenland for the summer. Lt. Col. Gorton had been commander of the local base for nearly two years. The commanding officer said that no change in the status of the Presque Isle base had been announced.
50 Years Ago – May 10, 1972
Pledge Walk brought $2,000 — Few Presque Isle High School students set a speed record May 6 as they hit the finish line on the 12-mile March of Dimes Pledge Walk in a speed time of two and a half hours. As the first five walkers to complete the walk, they wanted nothing more than a glass of water for their efforts. Over 91 people participated in the pledge walk bringing pledges of $2,000 for the Northern Maine Chapter of the March of Dimes.
1,400 attended NMVTI open house — The Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute’s annual open house drew record crowds of 1,400, as visitors from all over Aroostook came to view exhibits and consider the offerings of the institute. Special displays were featured in the radio and television shop, developmental reading and composition, the automotive department and the drafting department. Getting close scrutiny were the computer displays in the business department as well as exhibits in the masonry department. Another exhibit attracting large groups of visitors was in the department of practical nursing, where supplies and equipment in their uses in the hospital setting were on display. Students were brought in by bus from area schools in the county to attend the 12-hour open house.
25 Years Ago – May 7, 1997
HUD approved Maine funds — Maine’s congressional delegation announced that the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved Maine’s consolidated plan for fiscal year 1997. As a result, HUD made more than $22,000,000 available to the state for a variety of housing, infrastructure and community development purposes. Specifically, Maine was to receive $16,561,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funding. These resources were to be administered by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) was to receive and administer the distribution of $4,948,000 in HOME investment Partnership Program funds, and a $523,000 grant from the Emergency Shelter Grant Program.
Presque Isle ski meisters — Sarah Belden and Ryan Graves were the top skiers for the MSAD 1 middle school ski team. The two Cunningham Middle School students each competed in four competitions for the team, which was co-coached by Sara Richard and Bryce Waddell.
Boston Marathon participant — An area runner participated in the 101st Boston Marathon held April 21 on the 26.1-mile course from Hopkinton, Mass. to Boston. Tina Michaud, 25, of Presque Isle, running in her first marathon, finished in 4:04.18.
