News

FORT KENT- The Fort Kent Recreation and Parks Department is gearing up for the 2014 Little League Baseball season. Last year, 68 youth participated in the league that consisted of four teams, Lions, Gas N Go, RF Chamberland, and Nortrax John Deere. The program is of high interest in the community with teamwork, fair play and baseball skills emphasized by its volunteer coaches.

FORT KENT –Daigle and Houghton, a commercial truck dealership in Fort Kent, recently doubled the size of their territory in Maine.

FORT KENT- Robin Damboise, director of human resources at the Northern Maine Medical Center recently announced that Tina Lizotte was selected as Employee of the Quarter. Lizotte is a medical assistant at the Acadia Family Health Center in Madawaska. She has worked in multiple capacities at NMMC for a total of 12 years.

CARIBOU- Luella Randolph Palm, 94, died April 12, 2014 in Caribou. She was born in St. Francis on December 27, 1919, the daughter of the late Gilbert and Sadie (McPherson) Morrison.

ST. JOHN VALLEY- The month of April is nationally recognized as sexual assault awareness month. The theme for 2014 proclaims, “It’s time to talk about it,” as an opportunity to keep the conversation going all month long. Efforts can be seen across the state of Maine, and across the country, to educate the public about sexual violence prevention, supporting survivors and speaking out against harmful attitudes and actions.

EDMUNDSTON, NEW BRUNSWICK –The organizing committee of the "Acadia in all its challenges!" conference recently unveiled its programming. The conference will take place Aug. 11-14 at the Université de Moncton Edmundston campus.

FORT KENT - Water levels were dropping on the St. John River after a night of concerns for minor flooding in the region as a result of ice jams.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY- Due to the impact of this year’s severe winter in Northern Maine, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and wildlife has suspended the spring wild turkey hunt in portions of Northern Maine, specifically Wildlife Management Districts 1-6. The spring turkey season will remain unchanged in all other areas of the state.

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree, along with a bipartisan group of their Senate and House Colleagues, are urging the Department of Agriculture to reverse its proposal to close or consolidate 250 Farm Service Agency offices. The plan, they wrote, could be particularly disruptive to farmers in rural states like Maine who often depend on the technical assistance provided by local FSA officials.

AUGUSTA - Joan (Bouchard) Raymond, 80, of Augusta, formerly of Plainville, passed away on Monday, April 7, 2014. She was the wife of the late Gerard Raymond, with whom she shared 21 years of marriage.

Born in Fort Kent on April 15, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Edmond and Lucianne (Saucier) Bouchard. A resident of Plainville since 1961, she was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church.

FORT KENT –At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, the FiddleheadFocus.com website crashed as a result of a widespread outage of websites across the world. Over 24 hours later, at approximately noon on Thursday, service returned.

LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUEBEC – Eight months ago, the people of Lac-Mégantic thought the world was ending.

A runaway 72-car train carrying a volatile variety of crude oil derailed and exploded in this community of 6,000, killing 47 people and destroying the town center. Now, on a rare sunny morning in early March, ice melted to slush and water trickled into sewer drains in this village 10 miles from Maine’s western border.

FORT KENT – According to Fort Kent Police Officer Chuck Richards, he and Police Chief Kenneth Michaud arrested and charged a man on April 15 with criminal threatening in an encounter that involved scissors, a broken door on a squad car, dirty floors, coffee brandy and accusations of cannibalism.

Officer Richards said he responded to a complaint of a disturbance at an apartment at 45 West Main St. He found Darren Charette, age 43 approximately, outside the apartment building and threatening his neighbor.

MAINE- A total of 13 newest troopers joined the State Police in graduation ceremonies on Friday, April 11 at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro. With Gov. LePage looking on, the new troopers received their badges from the Chief of the State Police, Colonel Robert Williams.

AUGUSTA- Nearly 350 librarians and educators from public and school libraries around Maine recently converged in Augusta for the 25th Annual Reading Round Up conference promoting reading and literature for children and young adults. One of the highlights of the event was an award ceremony honoring books, authors and illustrators representing excellence in the field of children's and young adult literature.

28th meeting of the Directors of MSAD No. 10
7:30 a.m. - Friday, April 18, 2014 - Conference Room at the St. Francis Elementary School.

Agenda

Roll Call:

Public Comment Period:

11 A.M. APRIL 16 UPDATE: The Aroostook Emergency Management Agency has released an updated list of road closures due to flooding in the County.

CASWELL- On April 15, at approximately 9:20 p.m., law enforcement received a report that Paul Oliver, 74, of Caswell went missing after attempting to move his truck through a flooded portion of Oliver Road in Caswell. Oliver had moved his truck across the flooded dirt roadway and attempted to walk back across the flooded road to his residence.

Less than a year ago, a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed in Lac-Mégantic, a small Quebec town ten miles from the Maine border.

Thousands of gallons of the highly flammable crude oil spilled from ruptured tank cars, setting off fireballs in the town’s center that killed 47 people and destroyed 30 buildings. Some bodies were likely vaporized and never identified.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY- There’s a new addition to the Aroostook Medical Center’s Active Medical Staff, and young mouths all over the region will benefit from the collaboration.

Aroostook County Commissioners' Meeting
4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Registry of Deeds Office Conference Room in Fort Kent

Call to Order

Public Comment Period

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes of the April 2, 2014 County Commissioners' Meeting

HEALTHY AND FREE - Wildlife advocates recently released a young golden eagle in northern Oxford County after three months of clinical care and rehabilitation at Avian Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Freedom. The gift of healthcare saved this eagle's life and allowed the bird to enjoy new freedom. - Photo Courtesy of the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Division

AROOSTOOK COUNTY- For the seventh consecutive year, NMCC is hosting its annual Creative Writers’ Reading Series to be held in the Edmunds Library at noon on Wednesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 23. The public is invited to these free events that celebrate Community College Month and National Poetry Month.

FORT KENT – Police have charged Kevin Phillips, 21, of Troy, N.Y., with aggravated assault after a fight in a local bar late Friday night and early Saturday morning.

According to Police Chief Kenneth Michaud, a fight broke out at BeeJay's Tavern at approximately 12 a.m. between Phillips and John Kelly of Fort Kent.

OXFORD COUNTY- A young Golden Eagle was recently released in northern Oxford County after 3 months of clinical care and rehabilitation at Avian Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Freedom. Biologists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and New Hampshire Audubon Society joined Avian Haven staff and local cooperators to release the eagle.

AUGUSTA- Maine's Job Bank has added more jobs in the beginning of April to bring the total to over 7,000 openings available. The job bank, a service of the Maine Department of Labor, is an online job board that is free for both employers and job seekers.

Madawaska Board of Select People

4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2014

FORT KENT – Police have charged a woman for disorderly conduct after an incident at a Fort Kent party early morning on Sunday, April 13.

According to Fort Kent Police Chief Kenneth Michaud, at 3:11 a.m. the Fort Kent Police received a report of a fight at the residence of Josh O'Clair at 597 Violette Settlement Rd. Four minutes later, police received a second call requesting an ambulance to the same address.

UPDATED 5 p.m. April 14:

AROOSTOOK COUNTY - The National Weather Service office in Caribou has issued a Flood Watch beginning 8 a.m. on Monday, April 14 until the evening of Wednesday, April 16.

FORT KENT – According to Superintendent Tim Doak, Maine School Administrative District 27 will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday night at the Fort Kent Community High School gymnasium to discuss a large gap in the anticipated budget for the next school year.

To see details on the budget issues, click here.

The meeting will occur at 6:30 p.m.

LIMESTONE– Recently, the Aroostook Chapter of Credit Unions presented its Annual Financial Fitness Money Management Experience for high school students throughout the County, in conjunction with Jobs for Maine Graduates at the Loring Job Corps in Limestone. Approximately 400 high school participated in this year’s fair, which is the largest in the state. The fair is part of Maine credit unions continued leadership on helping teenagers to better understand financial education and money management.

FORT KENT - Students in grades six, seven, and eight from Valley Rivers Middle School were given the opportunity to participate in the St. Jude Math-A-Thon this February.

PRESQUE ISLE- The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host Noah Hutton, a documentary filmmaker and neuroscience enthusiast who will deliver a talk titled "Engaging Minds: The Blue Brain Project and the Race to Understand the Human Brain" on Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. His talk is part of the 2013-2014 University Distinguished Lecturer Series and is free and open to the public.

WASHINGTON– Congressman Mike Michaud recently voted against H.R. 2575, legislation that would make it easier for employers to deny hardworking Americans healthcare coverage. The bill would change the definition of a full-time work week under the Affordable Care Act from 30 to 40 hours a week – and in the process puts at risk the employee-sponsored health coverage of one million people, according to estimates from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

LEWISTON- Bates College student Gabrielle Naranja of Fort Kent delivered a researched-based presentation at this year's Mount David Summit. The summit is the college's annual campus-wide celebration of student academic achievement held in late March.

Aroostook County- Northern Maine Community College graduates may compete for a full scholarship created by Kaplan University's Maine campuses, as Kaplan works to build the state’s workforce through higher education. Each of the three Kaplan University campuses in Maine-South Portland, Lewiston, and Augusta-will award one full scholarship covering all tuition fees, and books to complete a 2+2 bachelor’s degree program in the student’s chosen field of study. In addition, one runner-up from each campus will be awarded a 50 percent scholarship.

ST. JOHN VALLEY- The Congrès mondial acadien 2014 community will be well informed on the territory of Acadia of the Lands and Forests through a new map of the territory and the development of an online audio tour of 45 unavoidable attractions.

Every spring, as daytime temperatures begin to rise, but the nights remain cold and crisp, many Mainers head to the woods to tap our maple trees and collect their precious sap.

FORT KENT – On Wednesday, April 10, a lucky supporter of the eighth grade class at Valley Rivers Middle School used her winning raffle ticket for a three-minute shopping spree at John's Shurfine Grocery store. The student who sold the most raffle tickets also enjoyed a one-minute spree.

EAGLE LAKE- Northwoods Nectar is hosting an open house on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., according to owners Steve and Holly Hardwick. The business is the only maple syrup business in the St. John Valley registered with the Maine Maple Producers Association and will treat visitors with maple taffy on snow and tours of the business. The gift shop will be open and stocked with maple syrup, maple products and other confections, and handmade gift items.

FORT KENT- The University of Maine at Fort Kent Athletic department will offer a week-long, co-ed soccer and basketball camps this summer. Registration is open to children entering kindergarten up to eighth grade.

BOSTON - Martine Martin passed away on April 1, 2014.

Prior to moving to Boston, she attended high school in Fort Kent and graduated from the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Her stage name was Anderson Lynne Mar.

FORT KENT –A combination of factors have come together to create a $1.7 million budget gap for Maine School Administration District 27. The anticipated budget crisis is forcing district leaders to consider tough choices to bridge the gap, including eliminating programs, positions and closing a school.

AUGUSTA– A state senator and candidate for Congress last month tried to have lawmakers pass special legislation to help a single constituent undo at least part of a legal agreement with the state designed to protect a lake in Aroostook County. State Sen. Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, said his bill would allow the constituent to avoid $109,000 in fines and also let him maintain the Long Lake property in a way the state said would violate the law and pollute the lake.

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sen. Angus King recently released the following statement after voting in favor of declassifying the Findings and Conclusions, and Executive Summary of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report regarding the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Detention and Interrogation Program:

WINSLOW– The Maine Warden Service held its annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, April 2 at the Winslow VFW. In attendance were guest speaker Gov. Paul R. LePage as well as the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Chandler Woodcock and Andrea Erskine. The meeting was led by the Colonel of the Maine Warden Service, Joel Wilkinson.

MUDSEASON VALLEY STYLE - Spring is so close that people can almost taste it. But before spring, we must endure the annual Mud Season. But as this image from the Eagle Lake Mud Bog illustrates, there's mud season, and then there's mud season with that distinct St. John Valley gusto. - Photo by Andrew Birden

WASHINGTON– Last week, on the floor of the Senate, U.S. Sen. Angus King called for a greater investment in American manufacturing and announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would help jumpstart innovation and promote manufacturing across Maine and the country.

AUGUSTA- Gov. Paul R. LePage signed LD 1632, "Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to request the Federal government to Recognize Environment Hazards at the Military Training Center in Gagetown, New Brunswick and the Resulting health Risks and Disabilities Suffered by Certain Members of the Maine National Guard" on April 2.

AUGUSTA- The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Employment Services have launched a program designed to successfully transition those on welfare to meaningful employment.

To the Editor,

The Fort Kent High School National Honor Society students' project for this year is to raise awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. They have chosen Bob Farley and Krazy Jake, a Maine comedian to perform at the CHS gymnasium on April 10 at 8 p.m. These students and their peers are our future leaders and they should be supported for their effort in this worthwhile project.

FORT KENT– The University of Maine at Fort Kent Waneta T. Blake Visiting Professor, in conjunction with, the Environmental Studies Speaker Series will welcome Author Den Latham to present on campus, Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23.

PRESQUE ISLE- The Presque Isle CareerCenter is co-sponsoring a job fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 9, at the Northeastland Hotel. Sponsored by the Presque Isle CareerCenter, the Maine Department of Labor, and Northern Maine Development Corporation.

FORT KENT– The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host its annual “Earth Day – Every Day,” from 12:45 to 2:10 p.m. on Friday, April 11 at the UMFK Sports Center. 

AUGUSTA- Labor Commissioner Jeanne S. Paquette has issued a statement expressing her disappointment on the Legislature’s failure to pass LD 1698, "An Act To Streamline the Work Permitting Process for Minors and To Conform Allowable Places That Minors May Work to Federal Law." Despite an amendment that gained unanimous support in the Senate, the House insisted on its action of Ought Not to Pass, killing the bill on Monday, March 31. A previous vote in the House, 85 to 58, was largely along party lines.

WASHINGTON– After the U.S. Senate voted last week to once-again adopt a temporary, one-year fix of the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate formula, known as the ‘Doc-Fix’, U.S. Sen. Angus King called for a comprehensive solution to the 12-year-old problem by passing the Medicare Drug Savings Act.

MADAWASKA- Lise Pelletier, director of the Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent will give students at Madawaska Middle/High School a presentation on Acadian history and culture on Monday, April 7. According to MMHS French Teacher Debbie Nadeau, the presentation will tie in with what the students are currently learning about the upcoming Congrès mondial acadien 2014 and other class topics.

PRESQUE ISLE– A University of Maine at Presque Isle program that serves “intellectually curious” local residents over 50 and believes in “learning for life” is presenting its Spring 2014 session, offering participants the opportunity to learn about everything from martial arts to meteorology. Spring classes are underway between March and May and, while some courses have begun, others will be held starting in April. To sign up for classes, contact Mary Lawrence at 768-9502.

FRENCHVILLE - Jenna and Maxime St. Onge of Frenchville are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Gracie Lynn St. Onge. Gracie was born on April 3, 2014 at the Northern Maine Medical Center.

Maternal grandparents are Charles and Jackie Collin of Frenchville. Paternal grandparents are Yves and Claudette St. Onge of St. Jacques, New Brunswick.

HOULTON- The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has charged a Houlton man with producing methamphetamine in his garage. Officials charged 36-year-old Thomas Lowery with Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (Methamphetamine).

SIEGAS, New Brunswick- The RCMP have arrested a 42-year-old man from Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska and a 36-year-old man from Rivière-Verte for breaking and entering, and theft of copper wire.

FORT KENT- Lily Brickman of Fort Kent has been selected to receive the Richard Steele Scholarship to attend Explo at Yale for three weeks in July and August. In addition, the scholarship provides individualized college counseling upon Brickman's return to high school in the fall and continues through her acceptance to college.

AROOSTOOK COUNTY- The following County residents were recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Jonathan Roy of Frenchville initiated at The University of Maine

Marcy Hernandez of Houlton initiated at The University of Maine

WALLAGRASS - Kristie and Curtis Gagnon of Wallagrass are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Hailey Loraine Gagnon. Hailey was born on March 31, 2014 at the Northern Maine Medical Center.

Maternal grandparents are Larry Jandreau of Bradley and Donna Jandreau of Greenville, S.C. Paternal grandparents are Joel and Brenda Gagnon of Wallagrass.

To our listeners and clients,

We truly apologize for giving you the silent treatment. It is something no radio station should ever do to its faithful listeners and loyal clients.

We went off the air Wednesday afternoon (March 26) and after examining and checking everything we could see, discovered the problem early on Saturday afternoon.

AUGUSTA- In accordance with State Law, the Maine Treasury recently announced the addition of $13,506,933.25 to Maine's Unclaimed Property Fund. The property consists of financial assets that have gone unclaimed by their owners.

FORT KENT– The University of Maine at Fort Kent Student Nurses Organization will host a community health and wellness fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 18, in the UMFK Sports Center.

AUGUSTA– Gov. Paul R. LePage has ordered the lowering of State of Maine flags on all public buildings and grounds to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, April 3 in honor of the two Boston firefighters who died last week.

AUGUSTA- The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Forestry announced that it has expanded the online burn permit system statewide. Citizens seeking to burn brush, wood debris or agricultural fields now have the option to obtain their open burning permits electronically. Traditional handwritten burn permits are still available, but the online system allows permits to be acquired 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, provided that the fire danger is not high.

Monday, March 31, 2014 – Sunday, April 6, 2014

FORT KENT- Dave Hobbins, University of Maine at Fort Kent Professor of Forestry and Environmental Studies, has been selected by the by the National Council for Geographic Education as one of 18 faculty nationwide to participate in an Integrated Geospatial Education and Technology Training (iGETT) grant. The grant is supported with funding from the National Science Foundation and with the support of NASA.

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King recently released a letter that they wrote to U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan urging the implementation of regulatory and administrative relief measures for public housing authorities in Maine and across the country. In addition, the senators also released HUD’s response, which praises their suggestions and outlines relief measures that have already been adopted to help PHAs maximize funds and manage their programs.

FORT KENT- Officials from TD Bank announced the start of a new program called the Affinity Program that will benefit the Edgar J. Paradis Fund. TD Bank will make an annual contribution to the fund based on the activity of all participating members’ TD Bank accounts.

AUGUSTA- State law enforcement and child abuse prevention partners gathered at 12:15 on Tuesday, April 1 in the State House Hall of Flags to talk about their work on child abuse and neglect in Maine. The event kicked off Child Abuse Prevention month.

WASHINGTON, Maine – Michael James Connors Carlson, passed through time on March 24, 2014, at home with his family who kept vigil. He was waked at home where he wanted to be.

His life began at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he lived during his early years. He was the son of Shirlee Connors Carlson and M. Karl Carlson. His grandparents were Leola Brownell-Carlson and Theodore Hallberg of Bemus Point, N.Y. and James and Rose McBrearity Connors. A man of all seasons, he valued home, family, friends and “critters,” both great and small.

FORT KENT –Sitting at her small coffee table in the kitchen of her elegant log home, about eight feet from the charred remains of the family's garage, Michelle Plourde Chasse said, “They did a great job with timing, assistance and saving our home.”

FORT KENT - Alan Susee, owner of the Sears Hometown Store in Fort Kent, took over operations of a second Sears Hometown Store located at 213 West Broadway in Lincoln on March 6. The Lincoln store is identical in format as the one in Fort Kent, and offers all major appliances, lawn and garden products, Craftsman Tools, mattresses, and the complete selection of products offered through Sears.com.

Imagine being told by a doctor that you have a medical condition that requires invasive, painful, and expensive treatments-with the majority of the cost billed to the Medicare program-only to later learn that these treatments were not medically necessary after all. This is exactly what happened to a retired woman from Michigan who recently testified before the Senate Aging Committee, on which I serve as the Ranking Member.