News Briefs

Maliseets to open Health, Wellness Center
    The Houlton Band of Maliseets will host the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of its new Maliseet Health and Wellness Center located at 3 Clover Circle, Houlton.
    The ribbon cutting will take place on Thursday, at 1 p.m. Tours of the new facility will take place from 1-6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
Houlton Water Company transitions
    John Clark, general manager of the Houlton Water Company, announced Tuesday that Gary Severson has resigned from the HWC board of directors.
    “Gary has loyally served the HWC and the community since 1987,” Clark said. “During that time, he was secretary/treasurer/clerk for 19 years. Gary’s intelligence, legal expertise and common sense provided years of positive guidance and sound policy. His ability to provide thoughtful and clear advice on complicated issues was of great and lasting benefit to our customers.”
    The board appointed Stephen Nelson to fill the vacancy created by Severson’s resignation. Nelson is a graduate of Houlton High School, obtained a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Southern Maine in 1999 and a juris doctorate from the University of Maine School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2002.
    He has been practicing law at the firm Severson, Hand and Nelson in Houlton since 2002. He currently serves as the Aroostook County representative for the Maine State Bar Association’s Board of Governors; is a member of the continuing legal education committee; is treasurer of the Aroostook County Bar Association; a member of the Board of Trustees of Houlton Regional Hospital; and is a member of the Houlton Rotary Club.
    “Because of Stephen’s legal and professional background, the Houlton Water Company and our customers are fortunate that he has agreed to join the board,” Clark said.
    He resides in Houlton with his wife Janel and two children, Elias and Ian.