75 Years Ago – February 5, 1948
72 Enlisted Here During Year 1947 – The Northern New England U. S. Army and U. S. Air Force Recruiting District, which includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, enlisted 3007 men during 1947, Sgt. Hugh M. Stearns of the Houlton recruiting station reports. Sgt. Stearns added that the figures recently released showed that the month of January was the most productive with 388 men signing up during that period.
The report further disclosed that approximately 90 percent of the men enlisted for a three, four or five year stretch, which indicates a general trend toward making the Army and Air Force a life-time career. In summarizing enlistment records for the year at his recruiting station Sgt. Stearns stated that 72 enlisted through his office during the past year. The most productive month for the local recruiters was January, 1947, when 16 enlisted.
Lycette Heads Sheriff’s Group – Jasper S. Lycette of Houlton, sheriff of Aroostook County, was elected president of the Maine State Sheriffs’ Association Friday at the annual meeting held in Gardiner. Sheriff Lycette is the first law enforcement officer from this County ever to head the association. Other officers chosen include Philip Dearborn of Portland. Cumberland County sheriff, vice president: F. F. Francis of South Paris, Oxford County sheriff, secretary: Earl Hawkins of Farmington, Franklin County sheriff, treasurer; Martin Gallant of Skowhegan, Somerset County sheriff, corresponding secretary. The meeting was given over to a general discussion of problems confronting sheriffs’ departments.
50 Years Ago – February 7, 1973
Bither Is Given Colby College Professorship – Philip S. Bither, a native of Linneus, has been promoted to professor of modern languages at Colby College according to an announcement by President RObert E.L. Strider. A graduate of Ricker Classical Institute, Prof. Bither earned an M.A. degree at Harvard and has been a teacher of German at Colby for 41 years. He is a member of the Colby class of 1930.
Thomas Elected Area President – Danny Thomas, a Houlton High School junior was elected president of the Northeast District YMCA hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y Council during the marathon winter rally held recently at Presque Isle HIgh School. Danny is a member of one of the three Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y clubs that are affiliated with the Northeast District YMCA, Maine State YMCA and Houlton HIgh School, and will serve as President of the Northeast District YMCA Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y council for 1973-74. He will be responsible for working with council advisors in developing the Hi-Y and Tri-Y program across Aroostook County.
25 Years Ago – February 18, 1998
Mills and machine speed through racing circuit – When houlton’s 21-year old Chris Mills screams off the starting line, squeezing the throttle of his ‘97 V-max 700 SX, the adrenaline kicks in as he covers the first 60 feet of track in 1.4 seconds. Mills, in his second year of snowmobile racing, said, “It’s quite an adrenaline rush.’ One of the fears he combats is being flipped off the sled backward when the machine kicks in. That ultimate feelings of the “rush” gets him through the race, and as he said, “You try not to think about the dangers.” Starting in January, Mills competes on the Maritime Snowmobile Racing Federation (MSRF) circuit until March 8, which includes six races on the season. Mills’ interest in snowmobile racing peaked after watching several races on television, and knowing that McGuire MotorSports was running in the 800 Improved Series. After purchasing his 700 V-max SX, Mills said he went to a Portage Lake radar run, and his machine was the second fastest on the day, thus, whetting his appetite for more racing. Competing in a MSRF race, Mills finished first on the day, continuing to to follow that circuit through last year, placing second in points overall.
Holly Quint’s 27 – point effort shocks Patriots – Entering the Eastern Maine Class C schoolgirl Basketball Tournament as a dark horse (ranked number seven), the Hodgdon Lady Hawks rode high on Monday night, posting an upset victory over the number two seeded Penquis Patriots, 61-50. The Lady Hawks made their free throws when it counted, outscoring Penquis 11-0 from the charity stripe in the final period. The Lady Hawks advance to the Class C semifinal game with third ranked Narraguagus on Friday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. In a game where each team swapped basket-for-basket for three periods, the lead changed hands 14 times and the score was knotted six times. As the final stanza started, the Lady Hawks trailed by one point. Hodgdon’s Holly Quint converted an old-fashioned three-point play that gave her team a 45-43 lead. Holly Quint paced the Lady Hawks with 27 points.
