News

Two years ago, my doctor told me that my blood pressure was a bit over normal and that I had become pre-diabetic. I listened as this professional explained what the diagnostic tests indicated, and I learned that I needed to exercise more and eat healthier foods. I would need to do this in order to keep off of medications to control these conditions for as long as possible.

Rather than become angry at my physician for telling me this news, I decided to follow my doctor's advice, and, unsurprisingly, the results were good.

EASTON– On Wednesday, July 30, Maine State Police responded to an accident on Conant Road in Easton involving a driver who had struck an Amish horse-drawn carriage. None of the occupants of either vehicle or animals involved sustained injuries, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety.

FORT KENT – The Northern Maine Medical Center recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with Eastern Maine Medical Center to provide consultative trauma tele-medicine services. According to Alain Bois, director of nursing at NMMC, the partnership is made possible thanks to a Rural Utilities Service grant that allowed the purchase of cameras, monitors, and wireless devices which connect to the hospital’s system.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY – The Cary Medical Center in Caribou, has released the names of babies born the past few months, as well as newborns omitted from earlier in the year.

Worster - A boy, Titan Orion Worster born to Michelle Greene and Jack Worster of Connor Township on March 19, 2014.

MADAWASKA – The revised Madawaska School Budget for 2014-2015 failed to gather enough votes to pass at the polls on Tuesday, July 30. A total of 206 voters cast their ballots in favor of the budget, while 234 chose against it, according to Madawaska Superintendent Ginette Albert.

Each month Fiddlehead Focus staff will select one or more pieces found online that may be in the form of a video, image, animation that we find noteworthy. The pieces will explore a variety of topics, and all pieces will be appropriate for every age and audience. Our goal is to shed light on some of the uplifting, funny, educational, and beautiful pieces out in the wild online world that our readers may never see. 

EDMUNDSTON, NEW BRUNSWICK– Twin Rivers Paper Company recently announced that its new technology is in place and is showing improvements in odor reduction at the pulp mill in Edmundston, according to a press release from the company.

DALLAS - Special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service arrested a man from Rowlett, Texas on a criminal complaint charging an offense stemming from hundreds of white powder hoax letters he allegedly mailed from North Texas, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. Fort Kent Elementary School received one of those letters in 

AUGUSTA – A measure that Maine State Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash sponsored will help increase dental access in under-served areas, will go into effect on Friday.

“The law will help young dentists and rural Mainer’s alike by allowing young dentists to pay off their student loans and give folks in rural areas like Aroostook County access to the dental care they need and deserve,” Jackson said. “It’s a good thing for everybody.”

FORT KENT - Lee Ann and Troy Clayton Babin of Fort Kent are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Keira Lou Babin. Keira was born on July 29, 2014 at the Northern Maine Medical Center. 

Maternal grandparents are Carroll and Debbie Bossie of New Canada. Paternal grandparents are Clayton and Lorraine Babin of Fort Kent.

FORT KENT - The Fort Kent Knights of Columbus have announced the winner of their ongoing lotto fundraiser for the week of July 28.

This week's Super 50 Lotto winner is Ellery "Arms" Labbe of Fort Kent. Labbe won a total of $438.

VAN BUREN - Lydia M. Gillis and Joshua L. O. Curtis Sr. of Van Buren are proud to announce the birth of their son, Ryker Odies Ray Gillis.

Ryker was born on June 12, 2014 at the Cary Medical Center.

VAN BUREN - Shawna LaPointe and Travis Theriault of Van Buren are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Ryder Tinleigh Theriault.

Ryder was born on June 12, 2014 at the Cary Medical Center.

MAINE - In preparation for the fall 2014 election season, the Maine Council of Churches has begun the process of lending its voice to the issue of civil discourse in public and political life with its Covenant for Civil Discourse.

In its “Covenant for Civil Discourse,” the Maine Council of Churches states that, “A flourishing democracy requires rigorous public debate that includes freedom of expression for all points of view. For such debate to serve the ends of democracy and the common good it must be rooted in an environment of mutual respect and honesty.”

MAPLETON- On Friday, July 25, at approximately 2 a.m., the Houlton Regional Communications Center received a 911 call from a Bangor Daily News delivery driver, who reported that several men and a woman threatened him and his wife at gunpoint and chased them in a red 2004 Pontiac Grand Am on Route 163.

CONNOR –Police have charged a Caribou man after he fled the scene of an accident late Saturday night, July 26, in Connor. Police allege the operator of the vehicle was driving it without permission.

FORT KENT - Firefighters responded to a fire at 1423 Frenchville Rd. on Saturday evening.

A year after a freight train carrying more than a million gallons of crude oil derailed—killing 47 people in the small, picturesque town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, which is beginning to heal. The devastation was unimaginable, the loss was unthinkable, and the wounds are still very raw for the residents of this town, just 30 miles from the western Maine border, and for people in our state and around the world.

FORT KENT – Fort Kent native Melanie Saucier recently returned from a singing tour with the New England Conservatory that took her to the far side of planet Earth.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY – Residents in the region who suffer from a rheumatic disease such as arthritis, gout, osteoporosis or hundreds of other conditions may now have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their friends or neighbors who may suffer from similar disorders in the future.

MAINE - On July 9 and 10, Maine took part in a virtual, multi-state exercise in their Emergency Operations Center. The exercise focused on the sheltering of livestock, pets and captive animals during a natural disaster, and how state agencies in Maine would go about both requesting necessary resources and responding to other state's requests.

FORT KENT - A few of the light posts on Main Street in Fort Kent recently received a makeover from local business owners Alan Susee and Curtis Saucier.

Susee, the owner of the appliance, tools, and lawn and garden store Sears, spruced up the pole in front of his business with a fresh coat of black paint to counter the weary look it had taken on due to the relentless weather characteristic of winters in the Valley.

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.

ST. JOHN VALLEY – With the less than two weeks remaining before the Congrès Mondial Acadien, organizers are reminding St. John Valley and Aroostook County residents to register to attend their family reunions.

VAN BUREN – Heather Dumond and Devin Parent of Van Buren, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Anna Isabel Parent. Anna was born on June 27, 2014 at The Aroostook Medical Center.

Maternal grandparents are Lynn and Rick Dumond of Van Buren. Paternal grandparents are Rhonda and Brian Parent of Van Buren.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY - TAMC welcomed the following babies born at A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle this spring.

Ashland
A Boy, Landon Eric Boyles, born May 26, to Danielle and Eric Boyles of Ashland. Maternal grandparents are Patrick and Tracy Long of Ashland. Paternal grandparents are Scott and Gail Boyles of Ashland.

WASHINGTON– On Wednesday, July 23, a coalition of 17 organizations came together to announce their support for Sen. Angus King's The Real Time Transparency Act. King introduced the bill in April, which would require that all campaign contributions of $1,000 or more go on file with the FEC within 48 hours.

Madawaska School Committee Meeting
Monday, July 28 - 4 p.m. - Superintendent’s Conference Room

Agenda

I. Call meeting to Order
Pledge of Allegiance

II. Adjustment to the Agenda

III. Correspondence and Announcements

IV. Period of Public Participation on Items of this Agenda

AROOSTOOK COUNTY – It may sound like something from a science fiction or superhero movie, but a new, state-of-the-art green light laser treatment at The Aroostook Medical Center is setting a new standard of care for urology patients in Northern Maine.

“Green light laser is a way of treating benign prostate enlargement that affects a lot of older men,” said Dr. Gary Wikert, who along with Robert Hunt, are the current full-time providers in the TAMC Urology practice.

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?"