News

MAINE – So far, 20 Maine firefighters and forest rangers have volunteered to help combat the deadly wildfires that are ravaging the western United States and producing enough smoke to travel all the way to Maine.

MAINE - Secretary of State Matt Dunlap—with assistance from Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn and his daughter Emily Dunlap—drew the order of bond questions for this November's ballot. In order, the referendum ballot will read:

Question 1: "Do you want to ban the use of bait, dogs or traps in bear hunting except to protect property, public safety, or for research?"

FRENCHVILLE - One of the last flying WWII B-17 bombers, ‘Sentimental Journey,’ will be available for cockpit tours and flights at the Northern Aroostook Regional Airport in Frenchville, from Aug. 7-10. The NARA Air Show is scheduled on Aug. 9 and 10 and will feature the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team, Scott Yoak’s ‘Quick Silver’ P-51 Mustang, the Iron Eagles Aerobatic Team along with Solo Stearman Bill Gordon, Rob Holland Ultimate AirShows, Hotwire Harry’s comedy routine from Tiger Air Shows, and Dan Fortin’s Yak Attack.

Monday, July 21, 2014 – Sunday, July 27, 2014

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced on July 23 that it will require most able-bodied recipients work, volunteer, or be involved in a specialized work training program in order to receive food supplement benefits, according to a press release from DHHS.

JACKMAN- Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Jackman port of entry, along with Border Patrol agents from the Jackman Station, arrested two Canadian residents after a husband tried to smuggle his wife across the border, according to a press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

FORT KENT- This handsome kitty's name is Elvis, and as you can see he is a very handsome gray tiger kitty.

AROOTSAKOOSTIK BONSAI - The July music festival is a near-secret celebration of music and eclectic sensibilities that only folks who have the inside knowledge of the music scene can enjoy at Thomas Park in New Sweden. Each year, the organizers decorate the stage and surrounding forest with interesting pieces of art, including this tiny bonsai tree that was resting on the ground along a trail that circled the entertainment venue. The image of this out-of-the-ordinary trail discovery is this week's jigsaw puzzle.  - Andrew Birden image

ST. JOHN VALLEY – Emera Maine is keeping an eye to the sky and lining up resources to ensure power is restored quickly in the wake of any outages in preparation of Wednesday forecasts that call for severe weather in the form of thunderstorms and high winds, according to a press release from Emera.

FORT KENT - Internationally recognized Master Traditional Snowshoe Craftsmen and now authors Brian J. Theriault and Edmond Theriault of Fort Kent have completed their first book, "Leaving Tracks: A Maine Tradition," which is now available as an ebook, with the assistance of Fiddlehead Focus publisher Andrew Birden.

FORT KENT- Doris Stevens, president of the Northern Maine Medical Center Guild, received notification that earlier in the month, Key Bank Foundation had approved a $500 grant to the guild through its Community Leadership Gift Program. The Guild received the grant as a result of the volunteer efforts of Kim Ouellette, personal banker for the Fort Kent branch of Key Bank and NMMC Guild vice president.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY - The Aroostook Medical Center Foundation invites those who volunteer to raise money for worthy causes or who just want to find out how to best plan for their family to a free seminar on planned giving. The TAMC Foundation is hosting the event that will take place on Thursday, July 31, from 1-4 p.m. at the hospital’s conference center.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY- The 2014 Northern Maine Fair will soon be in Aroostook County and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Potato Board will again sponsor the Potatoes For The Health Of It potato cooking contest on Sunday, July 27 at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds.

FORT KENT -At a meeting of the Fort Kent Town Council held on Monday, July 14, council members established a mil rate of 18, which is a slight increase over last year's rate of 17.35.

Guimond explained that for a house with a valuation of $100,000 the homeowner would be responsible for an annual tax of $1,800 as opposed to $1,735 last year, or a difference of $65.

The Maine Potato Blossom Festival is a time-honored tradition in Aroostook County. First celebrated in 1937, Potato Blossom is one of Maine’s oldest festivals. From the parade to the mashed potato wrestling, the multi-day event in Fort Fairfield is a fun and fitting tribute to Maine potatoes and the hardworking farmers that grow them.

(CORRECTION - In a previous version of this story, Fiddlehead Focus incorrectly identified Don Cyr as the photographer and the date of the event as July 5. Paul Cyr was actually the photographer, and the event occurred on July 15. Fiddlehead Focus strives for accuracy in our reporting, and we regret any confusion this error may have caused.)

FORT KENT - The town of Fort Kent recently implemented a new head of the Police Department in Chief Tom Pelletier and now has a new deputy patrolman as well. Pelletier deputized popular FKCHS junior Ethan Hill about a month ago when he learned that the 16-year-old with special needs has always been passionate about police work.

Ethan patrols areas such as the Fort Kent playground with the chief once a week and his duties have included helping people by reminding them to wear their seatbelts, waving to people, and being friendly to people, according to Pelletier.

FORT FAIRFIELD - Town of Fort Fairfield and TAMC officials kicked off a collaborative project to celebrate the history of healthcare in the community with a sod turning ceremony held during an open house at the Fort Fairfield Health Center on July 16.

EDMUNDSTON, NEW BRUNSWICK – The Scouts and Guides of Acadie of the world—as well as the elders of the movement—will meet Aug. 13 and 14 during the Congrès mondial acadien for two days of colorful reunions.

The event will provide an opportunity for anyone interested in the scout and guide movement to socialize and reconnect with the values and basics of the movement. The Mont Farlagne ski center in Edmundston will host the event, with many campsites for the participants and tents housing activities to entertain young and elders alike.

FORT KENT - On July 8, Barbara Ned of the Marshall Islands took a break from her secondary education studies at UMFK to give birth to a healthy, 7 pound baby girl at the Northern Maine Medical Center.

Ned named her baby Maine Pine in tribute to the state of which she has become fond.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY- The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is now accepting reservations for its upcoming preservation workshops taking place throughout the County.

Monday, July 14, 2014 – Sunday, July 20, 2014

MAINE – Cain for Congress recently reported a total of $379,093 in fundraising for the second quarter in Emily Cain's campaign for Maine's 2nd Congressional District. That total includes $270,239 in fundraising since the last reporting deadline on May 21, 2014 and brings the overall total for the campaign cycle to $871,491 raised.

FREEPORT – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently presented its annual small business awards at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport. SBA officials presented state and regional awards to small business owners and small business champions from all over Maine.

MADAWASKA – Voters that attended a town meeting on July 15 at the Madawaska Middle-High School discussed and voted to pass the second revision of the Madawaska School Budget as well as proposing two budget committee members.

The meeting began at 7 p.m. at the Madawaska Middle-High School gymnasium. More than 150 people attended the meeting and voted on issues.

FORT KENT - Robin Damboise, director of human resources at Northern Maine Medical Center recently announced Stacy Raymond as the Employee of the Quarter.

Stacy Raymond is a registered nurse who has worked with NMMC since 2004. She graduated from the University of Maine at Fort Kent in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in nursing. As a registered nurse, Raymond has worked at Forest Hill and on the Medical Surgical Unit. A year ago she transferred to the position of office nurse in the Fort Kent Internal Medicine practice.