75 Years Ago – March 15, 1945
Gold medal — Warren P. Wilson, well known insurance man of Mars Hill, who represented the Continental Insurance Company, a member company of the America Fire Insurance & Indemnity Group, was presented with the company’s gold medal in token of more than 25 years representation.
The face of the medal bears the insignia of the company, and the back was suitably engraved with Mr. Wilson’s name and company affiliation data. The medal was given by Special Agent Alber H. Langlois, fieldman for the company, and accompanied by a letter from President Bernard M. Culver.
2nd lieutenant — Robert B. Cook graduated from the Engineer Officer Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on March 7, 1945. He became second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, Army of the United States. His mother, Mrs. George R. Cook, lived in this city. Lt. Cook graduated from Presque Isle High School and the University of Maine, Orono, ME. He entered the Army on May 11, 1944, at Fort Devens, Mass. Before entering the service, he was employed by Haller Engineering Association Inc., as paving engineer.
50 Years Ago – March 18, 1970
Rotary pays pledge — At the meeting of Rotary in Presque Isle, Ralph A. Brown, chairman of the Rotary Auction, presented Ellis E. Survant, president of the board of directors of A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital, with a check in the amount of $7,500. This brought the total of donations by Rotary, to the building fund of the hospital to $28,700 to date. $36,000 was pledged in 1966.
Presenting Peter and Pat Penny — The junior captains for the Penny Crusade for the West Chapman Advent Christian Church were Jason Buck (Peter), son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Buck of West Chapman, and Tracy McLaughlin (Pat), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger McLaughlin of West Chapman. The theme for the 1970 Penny Crusade for West Chapman was “In God We Trust.” The Crusade lasted for a month.
Grass cited — Nathan Grass, first chairman of the Presque Isle MCB program, was awarded a leadership plaque at the first annual Maine Community Betterment Awards Banquet in Augusta. Jim Dean of the Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, a member firm of the MCB Awards Committee, presented the award.
25 Years Ago – March 15, 1995
Martial artists — Students from the Presque Isle, Mars Hill and Ashland branches of Graves Institute of Self Defense traveled to the Tracy’s Annual Fall Karate/Jiu Jitsu Tournament, with the 44 representatives combining to win 47 trophies on the day. Sensei Jerrod Lawrence of Mars Hill won a first-place and a second-place trophy in fighting and throwing, while Sensei Barbara Sullivan won the same honors in impactor and sparring. Sensei Jim Felch garnered a second in throwing and a third in fighting. Bronze belt Suzette Perry of Presque Isle was the lone three-time winner, placing first in jiu jitsu, first in form kata and second in point sparring. Tom Martin of Ashland won a pair of firsts, teaming with Perry in throwing and taking the power impactor by himself. White belts Gabrielle Smith and Brittany Collins were dual winners as were green belts Chad Walter and Rob Collins. All four were from Mars Hill.
Company awards — Four Acme-Monaco Corp employees in Presque Isle received the Quarterly Owner’s Award for 1994. The awards were given at the end of each quarter to recognize individuals whose ideas had resulted in increased production at the wire production manufacturing plant. Award winners were Wannetta Brown, lead person; Patricia Saucier, inspector; Clayton Norman, night shift foreman; and Valerie Levesque, arch department supervisor.
