From our Files – Week of January 4, 2023

1 year ago

50 Years Ago — Jan. 4,  1973

    Happy new life — People’s Benevolent Hospital placed second this year in the race for the first baby of the New Year. But for Mrs. Gerard Lavigne of Dixbury, Massachusetts, it was close enough.

Her daughter, Virginia Lourdes Lavigne, was born at 7:25 on Monday, Jan. 1, 1973. It was the second delivery at the Fort Kent Hospital for Mrs.Lavigne. A son, now 3 1/2, was also born here.

25 Years Ago — Jan. 7, 1998

Unemployment rate falls — State Labor Commissioner Valerie Landry announced that Maine’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5 percent in October to 4.7 percent in November of 1998. The number of unemployed fell by 1,900 between October and November. 

Player of the game – Luke Pennington of the Madawaska Owls took player of the game honors with his clutch foul, shooting in the closing of the game against the Fort Kent Warriors. His three successful foul shots were the difference in the game won by the Owls 44-41.

10 Years Ago — Jan. 2, 2013 

A tribute to ‘Superfrog’ — Tractor-trailer trucks from across the state as well as large tractors lined up along the sides of the road while a truck procession took place in Van Buren on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2013. The drivers were there to honor and pay respects to one of their own, Normand “Superfrog” LaJoie, who passed away Saturday, Dec. 22, 2013 at his home. LaJoie was a truck driver for more than 50 years and a third-generation potato farmer.