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The world's biggest ice carousel, which hundreds of volunteers helped to create on Long Lake in Sinclair, also served as a fundraiser that netted $7,785 for the Aroostook Meals on Wheels program. Participating in a check presentation on April 18 are, from left, Mike Michaud, Mike Guerette, Ken Theriault, Dottie Sines, Mike Cyr, Roger Morneault and Ken Martin. (Jessica Potila | SJVT/FhF)

The world's biggest ice carousel, which hundreds of volunteers helped to create on Long Lake in Sinclair, also served as a fundraiser that netted $7,785 for the Aroostook Meals on Wheels program. Participating in a check presentation on April 18 are, from left, Mike Michaud, Mike Guerette, Ken Theriault, Dottie Sines, Mike Cyr, Roger Morneault and Ken Martin. (Jessica Potila | SJVT/FhF)

Ice carousel fundraisers donate $7,785 to Meals on Wheels

Although northern Mainers can now claim bragging rights for creating the world’s biggest ice carousel, Aroostook County seniors who rely on the Meals on Wheels program benefited most from the endeavor.

News Browse News

Police charge Fort Kent man with OUI following traffic stop

Police charged a local man with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol after conducting a traffic stop on Pleasant Street early Friday morning.

Commissioners approve new hires at sheriff’s office

New deputies will soon be making their way to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.

Criminal case over Pelletier Avenue incident set for trial on April 23

A Madawaska man is scheduled to go on trial later this month on charges connected with his using farm equipment to dig up a portion of a disputed road in Frenchville.

Seminar on plant-based food comes to Fort Kent

Northern Maine Medical Center, in cooperation with Cary Medical Center, will host a Plant Based Nutrition Seminar on Saturday, April 28, from 12 to 4 p.m.

School of Forestry graduates eleven

Eleven graduates of the School of Forestry at the University of Moncton, Edmundston Campus (UMCE), received their rush of the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF), in a ceremony April 6 in Fredericton.

‘Money for Relay’ raised nearly $1,000

"Money for Relay," organized by student members of the UMCE team, raised nearly $1,000 at the event which concluded April 11.

Crown Politics Browse Crown Politics

Partisan sparring in Maine House drags into Thursday morning

Republicans in the Maine House of Representatives voted to force a gridlocked Legislature to adjourn by Wednesday’s end in a dispute with Democrats over a spending package, but the session stretched into Thursday for procedural reasons.

A clash of money and values revealed among Democrats for governor

Attorney and Maine Army National Guard member Adam Cote has built an insider’s budget while running an outsider campaign that calls for new party leadership.

‘Last night we had a deal and he blew it up.’ Gridlock deepens in State House end game

Good morning from Augusta, where we seem to be back in the same situation we’ve been in at the end of the past several legislative sessions and as of Tuesday’s Daily Brief. Here’s your soundtrack.

Poliquin maintains wide lead in money race ahead of his four Democratic challengers

Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin of Maine’s 2nd District steeply outraised the rest of Maine’s congressional candidates by March’s end, but one of his Democratic opponents used ties to a rising congressional star to widen a money lead over the rest of the primary field.

Collins says US air strikes in Syria justified, King advises caution

Maine’s legislators are taking different approaches in the wake of U.S. air strikes in Syria.

Tempers flare during Maine House debate on conversion therapy ban

House debate on a bill to ban “conversion therapy” for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Mainers reached a level of intensity

Living Browse Living

Pets of the Week — Friskie & Scamp

PAWS Animal Welfare Shelter presents Friskie (pictured) and Scamp as Pets of the Week in hopes that these little guys will find their forever home together.

Seminar on plant-based food comes to Fort Kent

Northern Maine Medical Center, in cooperation with Cary Medical Center, will host a Plant Based Nutrition Seminar on Saturday, April 28, from 12 to 4 p.m.

Valley Girls comic — April 18, 2018

Valley Girls comic from April 18, 2018.

County Face: Roger Gagnon of Washburn

Roger Gagnon has been enjoying the first weeks of his retirement and is looking forward to keeping busy with driver’s education and possibly basketball officiating.

Weekly digital jigsaw —

A view from the old Deboullie Mountain fire tower on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, overlooking Gardner Pond, reveals the oncoming burst of fall colors in Aroostook County.

Pets invited to taste treats, get vaccinated in Madawaska

The Tractor Supply Company is hosting a treat-tasting event for pets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.

Opinion Browse Opinion

PALS flies folks to Boston for medical care

Good news for Aroostook. I had the good fortune of being flown from Presque Isle to Boston’s Logan Airport and back on April 4 for medical appointments thanks to Patient Air Lift Services (PALS).

E.A. Williams cartoon — April 18, 2018

E.A. Williams cartoon for April 18, 2018.

What route one’s roots?

I am reminded of ancestral roots in the strangest ways.

Ice carousel project reminiscent of barn raising ‘frolics’

More than 60 years ago I loved to drive with my parents to Fort Kent, Madawaska, Van Buren, and Caribou, and all places in between, especially on the backroads. I was amazed by all the large barns that still existed back then, all shapes and sizes, some big, some small.

Solution to economic woes is for all of us to buy American

In a prior life, before retirement, I was a truck driver. For the better part of 51 years, I traveled around the country, 35 of those years as an independent.

Court histories may shed light on ancestry

Today we think we live in a litigious society where lawsuits are filed seemingly every minute of the workday. This is nothing new. Genealogists may not realize just how litigious our ancestors were.

Sports Browse Sports

Mariners rebound; MHL final tied 1-1

In complete contrast to the previous game that ended in an avalanche of 11 goals, the Yarmouth Mariners took their revenge Sunday, April 15, by blanking the Edmundston Blizzard 1-0 in front of a packed house at the Jean-Daigle Centre.

Blizzard makes some changes to tickets sales

In preparation of the fifth game of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MHL) final next Sunday, April 22, the Edmundston Blizzard organization announced some changes to the ticket purchase process.

Mainer finishes 25th among women at Boston Marathon

She spent 10 minutes shivering in the recovery tent after the Boston Marathon before some attendants came over to help her get out of her wet, frozen clothes and warm up.

Milder winters shaving weeks off ice fishing seasons in Maine

Ice fishing is a Maine tradition that goes back centuries. But as temperatures have climbed in recent decades, the ice is melting earlier and earlier on most of the state’s lakes, and that’s carving into the ice fishing season.

Ward sinks the Mariners in OT

Kyle Ward fuels on emotions and extra time. Saturday night was no exception.

St. Agatha native joins competitive field of elite women at Boston Marathon|

Tracy Guerrette twice has jostled with the masses at the Boston Marathon. But when the 37-year-old native of St. Agatha takes off on Monday morning from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, for the annual 26.2-mile run to downtown Boston, she’ll share the starting line with only 50 to 60 of the world’s best distance runners.

Business Browse Business

Seminar on plant-based food comes to Fort Kent

Northern Maine Medical Center, in cooperation with Cary Medical Center, will host a Plant Based Nutrition Seminar on Saturday, April 28, from 12 to 4 p.m.

Hackers seeking ransom hit Maine town’s computer system

Computers at the Rockport Town Office are back up and running after a hackers’ virus invaded its computer servers Friday, encrypting the office’s data and demanding ransom payment.

Conservation group aims to save one deer at a time

The Aroostook County Conservation Association is celebrating its 10th year of conservation-related activities in The County and will hold its next public meeting Friday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle.

Session offers loan help, business skills

Agricultural producers in Aroostook County and those who would like to become producers have one last opportunity to learn more about USDA Farm Service Agency loans and programs and get some basic business skills at the same time.

Madawaska Selectmen to meet April 17

The next Madawaska Board of Selectmen meeting will be held Tuesday, April 17, at 4:30 p.m. in the Madawaska Town Office Council Chambers.

Northern Maine Medical Center bids retiring trustee a fond farewell

Longtime Northern Maine Medical Center trustee Ronald Daigle has retired from the board after serving more than 30 years.