CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou city councilors and Maine Senate President Troy Jackson took time during the council’s meeting Tuesday to honor one of Caribou’s most beloved Boy Scout leaders.
Vaughn Keaton served as Troop 184’s scoutmaster for the past 35 years before recently retiring. Keaton first joined Troop 184 in 1962 when he was 10 years old. Over the years, Keaton has served as a mentor to 64 of the troop’s Eagle Scouts and led the troop on numerous outdoor adventures and trips to scouting conventions.
In August, Troop 184 officially renamed their scout hall on Aldrich Drive the Vaughn R. Keaton Scout Hall to honor his six decades of service. Keaton was instrumental in helping to build the hall in the mid-2000s.
City Mayor Jody Smith, who became an Eagle Scout in 1990, presented Keaton with a special plaque from the city council.
“You are probably one of my legacies,” Keaton said, referring to Smith’s Eagle Scout rank. “I want to thank you for this [recognition].”
CARIBOU, Maine — Sept. 14, 2022 — Caribou City Mayor Jody Smith presents former Troop 184 scoutmaster Vaughn Keaton with a plaque in honor of his 60 years of service to the troop. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)
Jackson presented Keaton with a sentiment from the Maine Legislature and Maine and United States flags.
“I know how hard the boys work to move through Scouting, but the leaders also put a lot of time and effort to make sure those kids get the best they can before they go their own way in life,” Jackson said.
In other business, the city councilors scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 26 to approve a renewed liquor license for Country Host Inn, Inc., the soon-to-be new owner of the Caribou Inn & Convention Center.
City Manager Penny Thompson noted that the inn will close on Sept. 26 to make the sale to the Aroostook-based Country Host Inn final.
“I met with the new owners last week. They’re very excited to work with the city on different events and get people into town,” Thompson said.
The folks behind Country Host Inn declined to comment on specific plans, preferring to wait until after the sale becomes final.
The Caribou Inn & Convention Center has been without an owner since the death of Kevin Simmons in early 2021. Simmons also owned the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center, which is no longer affiliated with the Caribou inn.
Councilors also unanimously approved making Public Works Director Dave Ouellette the acting city manager if both Thompson and Police Chief Michael Gahagan are out of town.
Though Gahagan is designated to be acting manager in Thompson’s absence, both men will attend training in Illinois Sept. 28-30 to learn about planning, designing, funding and constructing Caribou’s new police station, approved by voters in June.
The next Caribou City Council meeting will occur at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, in the council chambers of Caribou Municipal Building, 25 High St.
