75 Years Ago – July 5, 1945
Commander promoted — Lieutenant Colonel Howard H. Maxwell, commanding officer of the Presque Isle Army Air Field, was notified of his promotion to full colonel. Col. Maxwell arrived in Presque Isle October 1944, and assumed command of the Presque Isle field, which was a unit of the North Atlantic Division, Air Transport Command.
New officers of Rotary Club reported on the conference at Fredericton — Harold Bryant, new president of the Presque Isle Rotary Club, gave an account of the District Conference at Fredericton at the meeting at the Northeastland. Bryant and the other new officers of the Club began their tenure of office at that meeting. Other members that gave a report of the Fredericton conference were F.P. Stevens, Rev. T.J. Cornish, E.W. Loane and A.L. Reynolds. Sgt. George McGuire was an honored guest at the meeting.
50 Years Ago – July 8, 1970
Life Scout Rank — Three Presque Isle Scouts received Life Rank awards at a Court of Honor held at the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church. The Scouts, all members of Boy Scout Troop 171, were Leslie Gardner, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Holmes Gardner; Danny King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clement King Jr.; and Carl Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Smith. Frank Harper, Neighborhood Commissioner, made the presentations. Richard Cooney announced that Carroll Smith became the new Scoutmaster and Myron Gartley to serve as troop committee chairman of Troop 171. Philip Estey, Troop Chairman, conducted the Court of Honor.
Stock car wins — Feature race wins were captured by Dick Wheeler of Bridgewater and Chink Maynard of Presque Isle in the stock class at Spud Speedway, while hobby class feature winners were Denis Hamel of Limestone and Irvin Gahagan of Caribou. Heat winners in the stock class were Bob Taylor, Vince Bernier, Wheeler, Maynard, John Albert, Carrol Adams, Bobby Bellefour and Adam Albert. Hobby class heat winners were Gahagan, Hamel, Hardie, Ketch and Omar Lizette.
25 Years Ago – July 5, 1995
Thumbs up — Superintendent of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, James C. Morse Sr., gave a victorious “thumbs up” to news that the 117th Legistlature passed, and Gov. King signed legislation providing $2.5 million in state funds for the school, which planned to open with 150 students in the fall. Andy Weatherhead, Brent Tweed, Briand Tweed, and Ian Hall were four Limestone students accepted to the initial MSSM class. Of the 102 applicants who had been accepted to MSSM as of June 30, Aroostook County is represented with students from Ashland, Caribou, Houlton, Presque Isle, Patten and Washburn.
Taking it to the bank — A group of about 12 Presque Isle parents raised funds for new playground equipment at Mantle Lake Park and hoped for a boost from a fundraiser, First Citizens Bank in Presque Isle. The bank promised to donate 50 cents for every transaction that occurred through their new ATM machine between June 30 and the end of July. The playground fundraisers hoped to gather $50,000 for the new equipment.
Youth leaders — Bridgewater’s Fleet Youth Leaders team, known as K.I.C.S. or Kids Involved in Community Service, took top honors at the Fleet Youth Slate Forum held in Augusta. The group’s project involved raising funds for a new playground. Their efforts earned them the title of “Outstanding Team,” and received a $2,500 award. K.I.C.S. team members were, Jessica Hallett, Tara Pierce, Shave Bradstreet, Rachel DeLong, Doug Bradstreet, Kyle Simonson, Billy Cole, Lucas Bradstreet, John Bradstreet, and team advisors, Loretta DeLong and Jonna Parks.
