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Volunteer Don Babin brings Crosswinds resident Maureen Belanger out for an ATV ride to the Fort Kent Lions Pavilion on the first day of summer. (Patti Voisine)

Volunteer Don Babin brings Crosswinds resident Maureen Belanger out for an ATV ride to the Fort Kent Lions Pavilion on the first day of summer. (Patti Voisine)

Crosswinds residents enjoy ATV outing on first day of summer

The weather was sunny, breezy and ideal for an ATV ride in Fort Kent on Thursday, which also happened to be the first day of summer.

News Browse News

Legislature votes to fund Jackson nursing home bill

The state Legislature enacted on June 20 a bill sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash to fund Maine’s nursing homes, part of a $41 million spending package.

Daybreak service for memory patients looking to grow

The Aroostook Agency on Aging’s adult daybreak service is helping fill a need for those living with dementia and other cognitive impairments and their caregivers.

Proposal could create ‘retail hubs,’ sprawl in Maine woods

Officials who oversee development in the state’s Unorganized Territory were urged Wednesday to not make rule changes that critics say could create sprawlin the Maine woods and undermine development in northern municipalities.

Employers don’t have to pay for medical marijuana, Maine’s top court rules

Maine employers and insurers cannot be compelled to pay for an injured worker’s medical marijuana, the state’s highest court ruled Thursday.

Caribou man sentenced to five years in prison on child porn charge

A federal judge Thursday sentenced a Caribou man to serve five years in prison for possession of child pornography.

SAD 27 feeds kids free lunch

SAD 27 will participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program once again this year.

Crown Politics Browse Crown Politics

Maine lawmakers still cannot agree on bonds, campaign finance fix

We expected the Maine Legislature to run late on Thursday night, but lawmakers left anticlimactically just after 6:30 p.m. after sending bills to Gov. Paul LePage and spiking many others.

Golden confirmed as Democratic nominee in Maine’s 2nd District

Assistant Maine House Majority Leader Jared Golden will be Democrats’ nominee to run against U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in the 2nd Congressional District in November after the Maine secretary of state released unofficial ranked-choice voting tallies on Wednesday.

Janet Mills is Democrats’ choice in race to succeed LePage

Attorney General Janet Mills won Maine’s 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nomination after unofficial ranked-choice counts from the state were released Wednesday, defeating attorney Adam Cote and five others after last week’s elections.

Former cop makes new push to repeal Maine’s legal marijuana law

Good morning from Augusta, where a potential attempt to repeal Maine’s recreational marijuana law has already sparked some pushback.

LePage says he would send Maine troops to border amid backlash over family separations

Gov. Paul LePage said Wednesday that he’s willing to deploy the Maine National Guard to the southern border, breaking with other Republican governors in New England who’ve said they would withhold troops over the Trump administration’s policy of s eparating children from their migrant parents.

A less combative Maine Legislature returns to dig through unfinished business

The Legislature began chipping away at its unfinished business on Tuesday in the first day of this year’s special session.

Living Browse Living

Sun sets over Long Lake

Rachel Thibeault captured this image of the sun setting over Long Lake in Sinclair on Wednesday, June 20, 2018.

Crosswinds residents enjoy ATV outing on first day of summer

The weather was sunny, breezy and ideal for an ATV ride in Fort Kent on Thursday, which also happened to be the first day of summer.

Births at Northern Maine Medical Center

The following births were recorded recently at Northern Maine Medical Center.

‘A child is never a negotiating tool,’ bishops say

Bishop Robert P. Deeley, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, and Bishop Stephen T. Lane, Episcopal Bishop of Maine, released the following joint statement on Tuesday, June 19:

County Face: Lakeisha St. John of Limestone

Limestone native Lakeisha St. John is a risk-taker who isn’t afraid to try something new.

Summer in the St. John Valley

On Wednesday night, many folks in the St. John Valley captured amazing images of the sunset and a rainbow as a cold front moved through the area.

Opinion Browse Opinion

AARP Maine encourages all Maine voters to make voices heard

AARP Maine and our more than 230,000 members would like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to all the candidates running in the general election in November. We would also like to remind everyone that November is not that far away.

Economic cost of legalizing marijuana?

First we called it medicinal marijuana. Then it became recreational marijuana. I don't know much of the substance, but I have the impression from Staff Sgt. Donald Mason's SJVT letter of May 30 that pot is pot.

The faith of our fathers

When my parents married some 66 or so years ago, theirs was an unlikely union. My father was a non-practicing Protestant, my mother devoutly Catholic. Their ancestral heritages were starkly dissimilar as well.

E.A. Williams comic — June 20, 2018

E.A. Williams cartoon for June 20, 2018.

Lessons on display at Maine graduations

Late May to early June is a wonderful time to live in Maine, because before we welcome the millions of tourists to “Vacationland,” those of us lucky enough to call Maine home get to celebrate graduation season.

The art of the big lie

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

Sports Browse Sports

Pony League baseball season underway

Six teams, four from Aroostook County and two others representing Canada, will compete in this year’s Northern Maine Community Recreation Association Pony League for 13-15 year-old baseball players.

136 compete in opening senior golf tourney

One hundred thirty six golfers participated in the first Upper St. John Valley Seniors men’s tournament

300 expected to compete in June 26 track meet

Young athletes from throughout Aroostook County will converge at Caribou High School Tuesday, June 26, for the annual Maine Recreation Parks Association track and field northern regionals.

Still time for trolling

Other than a couple of sunny days in the 70s, the last few weeks have been unusually cool, especially at night.

Aroostook League spring all stars announced

Spring All-Aroostook teams have been selected for the Aroostook League and recipients were recognized at their schools’ recent athletic awards assemblies.

Motor Sports Museum displays Theriault car

After a profoundly successful first year, the North East Motor Sports Museum, located at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, has undergone a makeover.

Business Browse Business

Legislature votes to fund Jackson nursing home bill

The state Legislature enacted on June 20 a bill sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash to fund Maine’s nursing homes, part of a $41 million spending package.

Proposal could create ‘retail hubs,’ sprawl in Maine woods

Officials who oversee development in the state’s Unorganized Territory were urged Wednesday to not make rule changes that critics say could create sprawlin the Maine woods and undermine development in northern municipalities.

Feds rethinking ‘added sugar’ label after blowback from Maine syrup, honey makers

Maine’s maple and honey producers applauded news coming out of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week, announcing the agency is reconsidering a plan requiring “added sugar” be included on all pure maple syrup and honey labels.

Fort Kent couple work on road together, win national FedEx Elite Fleet Award

FedEx recently honored a local husband and wife who have been working together on the road making special deliveries, including nuclear and biological items, around the country for the past 25 years.

Possibility of aviation firm setting up shop at former Loring base now looks unlikely

Almost exactly a year since it was first announced, the prospect of an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul company setting up operations at the former Loring Air Force base now seems highly unlikely, according to Loring Development Authority officials.

Skyrocketing prices, demand for new homes signal uptick in Maine lumber market

Prices for wood to build and renovate houses have as much as doubled over the past six months, increasing costs for consumers but boosting Maine’s softwood sales and signaling a turnaround in that segment of the forestry market, industry experts say.