75 Years Ago – Sept. 19, 1946
Former Presque Isle priest became the first native Maine Bishop — Father Daniel J. Feeney, who was pastor of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin at Presque Isle, was consecrated auxiliary Bishop of Portland.
He became the first Maine priest, and native son of Maine, to receive this distinguished honor. Standing in the presence of Rev. Amleto Giovanni Cicignani, Apostolic Delegate, who made his first visit to the state, were three archbishops, 11 bishops, 14 monsignori, 280 priests and perhaps 2,000 laymen, many of whom stood, he who had for many years been beloved as Father Feeney, an Aroostook parish priest received the symbols of his great office as titular Bishop of Sita. For three hours, he was the central yet unobtrusive figure in a ceremony that had descended from medieval days, a ceremony of incomparable beauty, both spiritual and visual.
Kingdon Harvey named vice president of press association — Kingdon Harvey, editor of the Fort Fairfield Review but better known in Aroostook County for his Tom E. Rott column, was named vice president of the Maine Press Association as the state’s weekly newspapermen ended their two-day annual convention in Pittsfield. Donald Stuart of Ellsworth was elected president of the association, succeeding Lionel Foster of Skowhegan.
50 Years Ago – Sept. 22, 1971
Leading the cheers — Varsity cheerleaders for 1971-72 had been elected at Presque Isle High School. Eight young women were chosen to lead the cheers for the Wildcat team during the school year. They were captain Ellen Hendrickson, Jane Williams, Allison Higgins, Julie Moskowitz, Candy Hawkins, Debbie Carrier, Helen Charette and Sandy Brewer.
Award winner — Peter G. McConnell of Presque Isle was awarded the Maine Recreation and Park Association’s Citizens Award for 1971, at its annual meeting held in conjunction with the Maine Municipal Association in Portland. This award is made annually to a Maine citizen for outstanding service in the field of Recreation and Parks. McConnell was the second person to receive this recognition which was initiated in 1970 by the Maine Recreation and Park Association.
30-year vet retired — Knox, a Presque Isle resident, retired from service with the Federal Government. Lt. Col. Herman A. Perkins, base civil engineer, presented James T. Knox a Certificate of Retirement in recognition of 30 years faithful service with the government. He served in the Army during World War II from 1941 until 1945. After his separation from the Army, he worked at Presque Isle AFB until 1961 when he was transferred to Loring AFB where he had been employed as an engineering equipment operator in the pavements and grounds section of the Civil Engineering Squadron.
25 Years Ago – Sept. 25, 1996
Palm was named practice manager — Pam Palm had been named practice manager for the newly formed Horizons Health Services (HHS), a primary care center offered by The Aroostook Medical Center. The locations serviced by HHS included centers in Mars Hill, Limestone, Washburn, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, and the newest site, Loring Job Corps Health Services, which opened in December. Before assuming her new position, Palm was the office manager for Dr. Arthur Pendelton for six years. Palm attended Towson State University in Maryland, graduating with a major in elementary education. A graduate of Leadership in Presque Isle, and an active community volunteer, Palm was a member of the SAD 1 school board.
Pierce was elected new director — Kristi Pierce had been elected to the board of directors for the 1996-97 term of the New England Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel. Pierce served as the membership and credentials chair for the organization. A native of Uruvan, Colorado, Pierce had been a Maine resident for several years, attending Maine public school systems. She was also the director of Upward Bound, a program which sered 64 students from 11 different school systems at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
