Fiddlehead Focus

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J.D. Irving’s proposed concept plan asks the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to allow new commercial and residential development around Cross, Square, Mud and Long lakes in addition to conservation plans and continued logging operations. (Land Use Planning Commission)

J.D. Irving’s proposed concept plan asks the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to allow new commercial and residential development around Cross, Square, Mud and Long lakes in addition to conservation plans and continued logging operations. (Land Use Planning Commission)

Irving says zoning change to 51,000 acres will not affect leaseholders negatively

September 16, 2019

One week after the Land Use Planning Commission approved J.D. Irving’s plan to rezone 51,000 acres from general management to residential and commercial, Irving says leaseholders do not have to worry about their land being sold out from under them.

News Browse News

Mills orders flags lowered following Farmington explosion

Governor Janet Mills directed that the United States and State of Maine flags be flown at half-staff statewide immediately through sunset Wednesday, September 18, 2019, in honor of the Farmington firefighter who lost his life and those who were injured following the explosion at the Life Enrichment Advancing People or “LEAP” facility in Farmington, Maine.

AMHC helps to highlight Suicide Prevention Month

September is designated as Suicide Prevention Month and Aroostook Mental Health Center has been partnering with other community organizations to highlight awareness, prevention and local resources that are available to everyone.

Police arrest third shooting suspect after a six-day manhunt

A six-day manhunt for Jason Alexander, the third suspect in the Northern Road shooting last week, has ended with three arrests, authorities confirmed on Sunday night.

St. Francis man barely escapes home fire in a building that also houses the post office

FRANCIS, Maine — A St.

New cellular phone law goes into effect Sept. 19

The urge to pick up one’s phone while driving could come now with a hefty fine.

Van Buren Fire Department calendar fundraiser

The Van Buren Fire Department is selling calendars to raise money for equipment and new uniforms.

Police & Fire Browse Police & Fire

Police arrest third shooting suspect after a six-day manhunt

A six-day manhunt for Jason Alexander, the third suspect in the Northern Road shooting last week, has ended with three arrests, authorities confirmed on Sunday night.

Second suspect arrested in connection to shooting, search for third continues

The search continues for Jason Alexander, the second suspect in a shooting that occurred Monday morning, police said on Wednesday.

Mystery powder Border Patrol seized is identified as fentanyl

Border Patrol agents have identified a white powder as fentanyl that was found in an abandoned vehicle on Interstate 95 during a border checkpoint in August.

Madawaska police end Main Street confrontation with no injuries

The Madawaska Police Department and other assisting law enforcement agencies successfully diffused an incident on Main Street Tuesday night involving a veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder who wanted to force officers to shoot him.

Police shut down part of Main Street in Madawaska to deal with unspecified incident

Law enforcement officers from three different agencies shut down a portion of Main Street late Tuesday afternoon while they dealt with an unspecified incident.

One arrested in Northern Road shooting while police search for second suspect

Police arrested Jomo White, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, Tuesday morning without incident in connection with a shooting that took place the day before on Northern Road.

County Candids Browse County Candids

A family checks out the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield while walking back to their car from the 72nd annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival, which wrapped up on Sunday, July 21. (Staff reporter Anthony Brino)

A family checks out the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield while walking back to their car from the 72nd annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival, which wrapped up on Sunday, July 21. (Staff reporter Anthony Brino)

A pause while strolling across the bridge

State, National and World News Browse State, National and World News

Irving says zoning change to 51,000 acres will not affect leaseholders negatively

One week after the Land Use Planning Commission approved J.D. Irving’s plan to rezone 51,000 acres from general management to residential and commercial, Irving says leaseholders do not have to worry about their land being sold out from under them.

Mills orders flags lowered following Farmington explosion

Governor Janet Mills directed that the United States and State of Maine flags be flown at half-staff statewide immediately through sunset Wednesday, September 18, 2019, in honor of the Farmington firefighter who lost his life and those who were injured following the explosion at the Life Enrichment Advancing People or “LEAP” facility in Farmington, Maine.

New cellular phone law goes into effect Sept. 19

The urge to pick up one’s phone while driving could come now with a hefty fine.

Commission approves J.D. Irving’s plan for rezoning 51,000 acres in Aroostook County

With little discussion and no debate, the Land Use Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve Canada-based J.D. Irving’s plan to rezone 51,000 acres in northern Aroostook County for commercial and residential development as well as conservation.

Living Browse Living

K of C lotto winner, Sept. 2-8, 2019

The Fort Kent Knights of Columbus has announced the winner of its ongoing lotto fundraiser for the week of Sept. 2-8, 2019.

PAWS pet of the week – Sarah and Sophia

PAWS Animal Welfare Shelter presents Sarah and Sophia as Pets of the Week. Sarah and Sophia are sweet, playful sisters.

Valley Girls Comic – Week of September 16, 2019

Valley Girls Comic - Week of September 9, 2019

Silent auction to aid PAWS

PAWS Animal Welfare Society of Fort Kent will hold a silent auction from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Voyageur Lounge at the Inn of Acadia.

Van Buren Fire Department calendar fundraiser

The Van Buren Fire Department is selling calendars to raise money for equipment and new uniforms.

From Our Files – Week of September 18, 2019

Superintendent of Schools Charles Tanous announced this week that due to the bad weather conditions recently the SAD 24 schools will not close for potato harvest on September 19 as previously scheduled, but will remain open until September 26.

Poll Browse Poll

Poll: What’s your opinion on Valley Unified lengthy bus ride?

Do the benefits to students of a large regional high school with a diverse educational program outweigh the longer bus ride many students may have to endure?

Opinion Browse Opinion

UMPI’s Upward Bound class thrives in preserved program

As Maine and our nation face the challenge of a transforming global economy, it is more essential than ever that the door to higher education is open to all, regardless of economic status. For more than 50 years, federal programs called TRIO have been the key to educational opportunity for many low-income or first-generation students.

Century-old editorial commends local news

Editor’s note: We found this editorial piece in an October 1919 newspaper while researching for our From Our Files features. One hundred years later, we feel it still reflects our mission to serve our communities.

I missed the northern lights (Or did I?)

Have you ever woken up, looked at your phone or computer, and seen pictures of the northern lights from the previous night that you missed because you were sleeping? Well, you might not have missed them.

Grateful for landowners who support public access

Some of the best outdoor adventures rely on the right mix of public and private lands.

A return trip to grade school

As much as I hate to admit this, it was -- gasp -- 50 years ago this month that I set off at 4 years old, in my little blue plaid dress with matching hair ribbon, for my first day at Gouldville School.

Logging your research

I took a recent webinar which stressed the importance of using a research log to track progress in your searches. A research log allows you to list all sources and what you found or didn’t find.

Sports Browse Sports

Bengals defeat ETS of Montreal

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals soccer team was victorious Sunday afternoon, Sept. 8, at home against the ETS School of Montreal.

Wisdom boys win against Washburn, fall to Tigers

The Wisdom Middle/High School boys varsity soccer team racked up its first win of the season against Washburn on Monday in St. Agatha.

Sanclemente, Cyr tops again at cross country race

Miguel Sanclemente of Fort Kent (18:51.7) and Matthew Cyr of Madawaska (18:52.7) took the top spots out of 34 fellow athletes at their second cross country meet of the season at the Four Seasons Trails in Madawaska on Thursday, Sept. 5.

FKOC to open disc golf course Sunday

The Fort Kent Outdoor Center will celebrate the official opening of their new nine-hole disc golf course with a tournament this coming weekend.

Softball fundraiser will honor late referee Ronald Guy

The Wallagrass/Soldier Pond Revitalization Committee is seeking teams to enter a softball tournament the group is hosting in honor of a beloved Aroostook County referee who died in June.

Fort Kent Warriors’ basketball coach Cooper steps down

The search is underway for a new Fort Kent Community High School varsity boys basketball coach after head coach Derrick Cooper resigned from the position this week.

Business Browse Business

Surgeon returns to NMMC

Peter J. Sirois, president and CEO at Northern Maine Medical Center, has announced the return of Dr. David Coffman to the hospital's surgical team.

Pelletier Motors acquires dealership in Lincoln

Pelletier Motors owner Steve Pelletier of Fort Kent and Glenn Ouellette, general manager at the Pelletier Motors dealerships in Fort Kent, have purchased an auto dealership in the town of Lincoln.

Katahdin Bankshares declares dividend

Katahdin Bankshares Corp. (OTCQX: KTHN), parent company of Katahdin Trust Company, announced that it has declared a cash dividend of $0.1125 per share for the third quarter of 2019.

United Way kicks off 2019 campaign

Twenty-five people representing various businesses and organizations around The County attended United Way of Aroostook’s Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast Sept. 12 at Café Sorpreso in Presque Isle.

SAD 27 directors to meet Monday, Sept. 16, 2019

The SAD 27 board of directors will meet on Monday, Sept. 16.

NMDC slates federal contracting workshop

Northern Maine Development Commission will sponsor a workshop from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, for companies interested in upcoming opportunities with two major federal projects.