Editor’s Note: The following is the first of two articles highlighting some of the top news stories from 2023. This article compiled by reporter Melissa Lizotte highlights events from January to June. The second installment will appear soon.
January
Cary Medical Center began 2023 by celebrating the first baby of the new year. Jacqueline and Nicholas Beckworth of Woodland welcomed baby boy Jack Nicholas Beckworth, weighing in at six pounds and 11 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. Jack joined 1-year-old sister Ella Beckworth.
Fort Fairfield librarians announced that the town’s public library would not lose its state sponsorship. The news followed previous concerns from former library director, Jennifer Gaenzle, that the library could lose Maine Library Commission-sponsored services after her departure in Nov. 2022.
Caribou officially secured federal funding for two major city projects: a new police station and repairs to the dam and waterway near Collins Pond. The city will use $2.5 million and $4.5 million of congressional funds for the station and for a new dam and fishway, respectively.
Police began investigating a violent threat made against Limestone Community School in early January. The school went into a two-day soft lockdown, with classes in session but doors locked, after Principal Ben Lothrop became aware of the threat. Local and state police scaled back their presence at the school after several days but continued their investigation.
Past city councilors Gary Aiken, David Martin and Phil McDonough became the Caribou Utilities District’s newest trustees after a 5-to-1 vote from the Caribou City Council. The men were three of seven applicants for the CUD Board of Trustees, including recent members Jan Murchison and Nancy Solman. Councilors did not specify their reasons for not reappointing Murchsion and Solman.
Loring Development Authority netted $1 million in congressional funds that will go toward wastewater system upgrades at the former Loring Air Force Base. Upgrades will seek to prevent groundwater and rainwater from seeping into cracked vitrified clay pipes and entering the wastewater treatment system.
Caribou city officials declared the home at 15 Prospect St. a dangerous property following allegations of drug activity and an inspection. Reports following the inspection claimed that the house had no electricity, contained wood stoves that were not installed properly and structural issues that put the house at risk for collapse or fire.
In their efforts to solve Aroostook’s hotel shortage, businessmen Troy Haney and Jim Gamage proposed creating a log cabin village on land adjacent to the Caribou Municipal Airport. Modeled after similar villages in New Hampshire and Wyoming, the initial 20 cabins would feature full-sized kitchens and other home ammenities and cater to visiting tourists. City officials said that Federal Aviation Administration regulations will determine if the project gets the green light.
Caribou police arrested a suspect in connection with an alleged incident of animal neglect. Two likely black lab mixes were found on the Doyle Road and transfered to the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle. Both dogs were “very skinny” and appeared malnourished, according to police.
The Limestone selectboard extended the search for a new town manager after rejecting the initial round of job candidates. Most candidates had no prior experience as town managers, according to Interim Town Manager Walt Elliot. The selectboard said they hoped to hire a new town manager by May 31 and have that person begin work by July 1.
After terminating the Cary Hospital District Board, Caribou city councilors voted to authorize a city review of the district board’s procedures and votes, and those of Cary Medical Center and its board of directors. The review came after an alleged conflict of interest led to the termination of district board members Tim Todd and Bryan Cullins. Councilors appointed three new members to that board: David Martin, Erica Raymond and Susan White.
Two fires broke out in downtown Caribou within one day, starting with an apartment building at 7 Water St. Over 20 people were displaced and one man was declared dead following that fire. The American Red Cross provided assistance to the displaced families as fire crews remained on scene for most of the day. Another fire at 273 Sweden St. displaced two residents who were not home at the time of the fire and likely killed at least one pet.
Caribou High School students relaunched the school’s drama club and prepared for the regional one-act play competition in March. Sophomore Brayden Ward, originally from Round Rock, Texas, helped sign up new students and build enthusiasm after realizing the school had not had a club since 2015.
February
Limestone’s selectboard opted not to hire a new town manager from its first round of applicants. Interim Town Manager Walt Elliot stated that none of the applicants had the right amount of municipal government experience they were seeking. The selectboard agreed to extend the search, in hopes of hiring a town manager by May 31.
In the aftermath of a devastating fire at 7 Water St., folks remembered when Water Street was one of Caribou’s busiest downtown districts. The street was previously the home of popular restaurants and stores like The Dew Drop Inn, Leopold’s Sub Shoppe and The Pawn Shop, the latter of which was owned by the Disey family. The recent fire displaced longtime business Lavender Puff Hair & Tanning Salon and many apartment residents.
Green 4 Maine LLC acquired approximately 450 acres at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone. Per an agreement with the Loring Development Authority, Green 4 Maine will need to create at least 75 new full-time jobs in order to acquire more land for its development plans.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office found Sgt. Nathan Chisholm of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office justified in shooting at Michael Baron, then 24, during a confrontation in Stockholm on July 31, 2022. A Stockholm resident had called police to report a man had pointed a gun at him and demanded his vehicle keys. Body camera footage recorded Chisholm saying “Let me see your hands” before firing at Baron, who was uninjured.
Students and staff at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone created a weather station that can track and store local weather data. Instructor Mark Tasker and 10th-grade students Lochlan O’Connor of Hallowell and Dylan Wombacher of Bucksport said that they hope that schools across the country and world will use the data to study how weather differs even when places exist within the same latitude.
After losing a $1.6 million grant from the Maine Connectivity Authority, officials with the Caribou Utilities District were uncertain whether construction for their proposed city-wide broadband network would be delayed. Utilities District General Manager Hugh Kirkpatrick noted that the grant would have paid for 60 percent of the project’s first two phases, which were set for construction from fall 2023 to fall 2024.
Stockholm held the town’s first Winter Carnival since 2006. The daylong event featured sled, snowtube, skiing and snowshoe races for children and adults. Residents and event organizers were pleased to see hundreds of community members turn out for the activities and support more recreational opportunities.
March
Caribou High School’s boys alpine ski team celebrated its first state championship win since 1974. The event consisted of slalom races at Lonesome Pines Trails in Fort Kent and giant slalom runs at Big Rock Ski Area in Mars Hill.
Former students and colleagues honored the life of Ken Atcheson, who passed away in early 2023. A former history teacher at Caribou High School, Atcheson became known for his engaging classroom lessons, mentorship and the friendships he formed with students even as they entered their own careers.
Caribou held its first ever SnowBowl events at Spud Speedway, Bennett Drive and local snowmobile trails. The events drew in an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people for a weekend of races, trail rides and visits to area shops and restaurants. Many people used the festival as an excuse to get out on the trails and enjoy the northern Maine winter.
Caribou High School athletes Grace Jean and Jocelyn Parlin became the latest Aroostook girls to win state wrestling championships. Jean and Parlin said that they hoped to inspire other girls to pursue wrestling. Their win played a role in conversations on how to potentially start an all-girls wrestling team at Caribou High School and other schools in Maine.
Limestone’s Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Recreation Department joined forces to host the annual Winter Family Fun Day. Over a dozen families enjoyed snowtubing, a limbo contest, a tug-of-war competition and afternoon lunch at Albert Michaud Memorial Park.
Caribou councilors discussed concerns over keeping the mill rate steady in a year of increasing expenses. In early March, the city’s proposed expense budget totaled $11.1 million, a 6.4 percent increase over the $10.4 million budget the council approved for 2022. Though councilors agreed that a flat mill rate was their goal, many noted that some expenses – heating oil, wages and electricity – were largely out of the city’s control.
Limestone’s town office reopened for limited hours after closing due to the resignation of two town clerks. Interim Town Manager Walt Elliot stated that a previous town clerk had returned to provide services to residents.
Caribou Area Ride Service continued to recruit volunteer drivers. As part of CARS, volunteers drive senior citizens aged 65 and older to grocery stores, medical appointments and other errands. Ten drivers and seven riders had signed up as of late March. Project coordinators hoped to continue funding and eventually expand the program to other towns.
Longtime Caribou firefighter Danny Raymond was killed after a Freightliner box truck swerved and struck his vehicle on Route 1. Colleagues remembered Raymond as a compassionate friend and mentor who inspired those who knew him.
Woodland residents learned March 30 that their town office had been closed two weeks after the departure of the town’s clerk and tax collector/treasurer. In an often tense meeting, Select Board members Harold Tardy and Thomas Drew said that the town’s annual budget meeting would be delayed due to a late town audit. Residents repeatedly asked to no avail exactly what led to the employee departures and the delays in balancing the town’s checkbooks.
Limestone’s Select Board unanimously voted to proceed with closing the town’s police department. The town had been struggling to recruit full-time officers even after hiring Jesse Cormier, a police sergeant from Fort Fairfield, to serve as interim chief.
Caribou resident Susan Kochanowski, 34, was arrested and charged with murder and arson in connection with the January fire at 7 Water St. that left one man dead.
April
After a three-year hiatus during the pandemic, volunteers planned for the reopening of Caribou Historical Center & Museum. The group set up new exhibits dedicated to Caribou High School’s athletic teams, local educators, war heroes, churches, early medicine, quilts and the Mi’kmaq Nation. The educators exhibit would feature podcasts created by Caribou eigth graders.
RSU 39 and SAD 20 Superintendent Tim Doak announced that he will leave Aroostook County in July to serve as superintendent at York County schools. While school safety and the pandemic became his biggest challenges, Doak said he’ll most remember the relationships he formed with students, parents and colleagues.
Caribou’s fire chief Scott Susi announced plans to step down and become chief of Sanford Fire Department in York County. The Sanford City Council unanimously appointed Susi after he was named one of nine finalists for the position.
Limestone residents voted almost unanimously to disband the town’s police department. The vote came after Interim Chief Jesse Cormier spoke of the difficulties finding full-time officers. Residents learned that Aroostook sheriff deputies and state police troopers would alternate their patrols of the town every month.
Jane McCall was named interim superintendent after RSU 39 officials learned of Superintendent Tim Doak’s impending departure. McCall had served as RSU 39’s assistant superintendent since 2016.
The nonprofit Recovery Aroostook launched efforts to recruit 500 regular donors to contribute $10 per month by the end of 2023. Recovery Aroostook took over management of Caribou’s women and men’s sober houses last year and has relied on donations to keep up with heating costs and other expenses.
Woodland’s Select Board closed the town office again after firing temporary town clerk Sue Skidgell. The board had brought on Skidgell to reopen the office before they could hire pernament employees. Board members Thomas Drew and Harold Tardy alleged that Skidgell made an error that could put the town at risk for legal action.
Spectrum received a $6,891,229 grant to expand its broadband network in Maine. Of that total, $496,983 will go towards expanding Spectrum’s Caribou network. The funding is part of the Maine Connectivity Authority’s Reach ME Line Extension program. Officials from the Caribou Utilities District noted concerns that Spectrum’s financing would put the Utilities District at a disadvantage if they apply for MCA funding to start their own network.
A 13-year-old student was arrested at Woodland Consolidated School after threatening gun violence. The school went into an immediate soft lockdown but reported no injuries. Deputies from Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office spoke to students that day after removing the suspect and his belongings.
The Kennebunk-based Eternal Mind announced plans to construct a quantum computing research center on the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone. Eternal Minds is the first company that Green 4 Maine has recruited in its attempt to revitalize Loring as a business, commercial and industrial hub. The quantum computing center would utilize a form of artificial intelligence to aid in medical research.
May
Caribou city officials confirmed that they are taking the owner of 15 Prospect St., John Barretto, to court for alleged safety violations. The city had previously condemned the home after hearing resident complaints about alleged drug activity. Barretto claimed that he was taking in people struggling with substance abuse disorder and homelessness.
Belgium-based historians announced that some remains of a plane flown by Maj. Charles Loring during World War II will be sent to the Loring Air Museum in Limestone. The former Loring Air Force Base was named for Charles Loring. His plane was shot down over Belgium in 1944.
Jordan James, a Fort Fairfield native, opened Dragon Knight Cafe on Bennett Drive in Caribou. The hobby game store specializes in tabletop and video game sales and competitions. James also noted plans to sell homemade pizza, smashburgers and other food in the cafe.
After five years as Caribou’s code enforcement officer, Ken Murchison officially retired. Murchison grew up in Caribou and recalled the economic changes he has seen since his childhood. A former city councilor, Murchison looked forward to continuing his volunteer roles at area nonprofits.
Newly hired Woodland town administrator Vicki Page and clerk Bridget Coats met residents during their first Select Board meeting. The employees voiced concerns about numerous town records, including voter registration, BMV stickers and General Assistance files, that had not been properly filed with the state for years.
During the annual validation meeting, RSU 39 (Caribou and Stockholm) residents approved the proposed $22,053,109 budget, which marked a 5.8 percent increase from last year’s budget. Caribou residents will pay $4,451,017 in school-based taxes while Stockholm will pay $136,756.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins visited eighth grade students at Caribou Community School. While there, Collins encouraged students to stay engaged in local, state and national politics and not let political differences get between them and others they know.
Officials with the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone proposed that the legislature increase the school’s state funding by $1.9 million. The public magnet school had been flat funded at $3.6 million since 2017. School leaders hoped to avoid cutting staff positions and start covering room and board costs for students.
Loring Development Authority began the process of applying for foreign trade zone designation. If granted, the Loring Commerce Centre would allow future companies to avoid fees while importing materials from Canada for products assembled at Loring.
Caribou received $900,000 in funds from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields program to clean up the former diesel plant near the city’s riverfront. The funds will pay for the removal of hazardous waste, which includes asbestos, petroleum products and lead-based paint leftover from the plant. The former diesel plant has been defunct since the mid-2000s.
Thirty-three students graduated from the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone. Student speaker Trynitee Fallon and Maine Senator Troy Jackson used their experiences to give advice to the college-bound class.
Caribou celebrated Memorial Day with its annual parade and a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park. Speakers honored the memories of soldiers who have died in battle and veterans no longer living.
June
Caribou celebrated 10 years of Thursdays on Sweden Street with a June 1 kickoff of the biweekly festival. Community members and vendors reflected on how Thursdays has brought people together over the last decade.
Limestone Community School unveiled a brand new playground featuring new slides, swing sets and climbing equipment. The change was a welcome one, as previous playground equipment dated back to the 1970s.
The uncertain fate of a major legislative bond led Caribou Police Department to continue seeking other funds to build a new police station, including grants. Police chiefs across Aroostook said that they rely on Caribou’s 72-hour holding facility to avoid costly and time-consuming transfers to Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
Fort Fairfield councilors passed a fiscal year budget they Interim Town Manager Dan Foster said will pay off the town’s debt by early 2024. The $7.4 million budget would lead to a mill rate reduction from 26.5 to 24.5 mills and included extensive reductions in departmental budgets.
On June 11, 103 students graduated from Caribou High School. Through speeches and musical performances, the Class of 2023 inspired each other to pursue their goals, do what they love and remember the lessons and memories of high school.
Limestone hired Alvin Lam to be the new town manager. Despite having no prior municipal management experience, Lam expressed desire to help the town create new development opportunities amidst a history of management turnover. Lam offered to donate his $80,000 salary back to the town after accepting the position.
Limestone residents opted to push back voting on their town’s budget two weeks due to lack of confidence in the budget figures presented. Voting stalled after disagreement on the correct figure for the 2022 administration budget. Interim Town Manager Walt Elliot had included corrections to some figures in the final budget book, which confused many residents.
New Sweden residents approved town and school budgets during their annual meeting at the town office. The town’s contribution to School Union 122 totaled $1,046,033, an increase of $10,943 from 2022. New Sweden’s town budget led to an estimated mill increase from 19 to 20 mills per $1,000 of property value.
During the annual Midsommar, people from as far as Florida, Oklamhoma, Vermont and New Hampshire gathered to celebrate their heritage in New Sweden. Folks enjoyed traditional music and dancing, decorating the maypole, painting dala horses and other Swedish customs.
Most of Limestone’s town budget passed without discussion during the town’s second attempt at voting in June. Parks & Recreation experienced the most drastic cut. Residents approved a $62,000 budget despite the town Select Board’s attempts to pass a $106,246 budget. The latter would have allowed the town to hire a full-time parks and recreation director.
