Bangor Daily News

Executives Plead Not Guilty in Virus Smuggling Scheme

BANGOR - Two former executives of a Winslow biological laboratory pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court to charges that they were involved in a scheme to smuggle a chicken virus into the country from Saudi Arabia so they could produce a vaccine. A third person charged in connection with the scheme pleaded not guilty in Bangor last week.

Retail Sales Up in Most of Maine Down East Region, Tourism See Decreases

AUGUSTA - Retail sales increased in all but two regions of Maine in the third quarter, led by strong gains in Bangor, Portland and Aroostook County, according to new state sales figures. Tourism spending was disappointing, meanwhile, and the only area of Maine that saw a decline in retail sales either in the third quarter or year-to-date was the coastal swath from Camden to Calais.

Irving Workers Stay Off the Job, Attend Meeting

PORTAGE LAKE - Loggers and truckers working for J.D. Irving's Maine Woodlands operations stayed off the job Monday. For the second time in three years, they parked $20 million worth of equipment because they want to negotiate a contract.

Barbering Comes Back in Hairstyle

Old-fashioned barbershops have been vanishing across America for so long now that the opening of a new one is something of a cultural curiosity these days. Ervin Morrison, who hung out his red, white and blue barber pole on Main Street in Bangor almost three months ago, figures his may be the first new shop the area has seen in at least a couple of decades. And while Morrison won't go so far as to suggest that barbering will ever be the booming trade it was when he started out more than 40 ye...

Hospital Finances to Be Scrutinized

AUGUSTA - Health care finance is a complicated business, but William Haggett, chair of Gov. John Baldacci's recently appointed Hospital Study Commission, says it's time for Maine hospitals to cut to the chase. Are Maine hospitals spending 20 percent higher than the national average or are they just about on par? Do they have more full-time employees per patient than both national and regional averages? If the Medicare reimbursement rate for Maine hospitals ranks 47th in the nation, as hospita...

Asian Fish Proposed As Natural Herbicide Import of Grass Carp Worries Scientists

The grass carp is the lawn mower of the aquatic world. This Asian fish can eat as much as three times its weight in submerged plants every day, and it's not exactly a delicate fish - large grass carp can weigh hundreds of pounds. Now, a legislator has introduced a bill proposing that this fish be imported to Maine.

Hampden to Push for I-95 Weight Increase

HAMPDEN - Town councilors Monday endorsed a Bangor City Council resolution to press state and federal authorities to increase the weight limit on Interstate 95 north of Augusta. Concerned about the effects that an increase in heavy truck traffic likely would have on congestion, safety and road deterioration, municipalities are banding together in an effort to reroute traffic to the Interstate. South of Augusta, because it is a state turnpike, I-95 allows for trucks heavier than 80,000 pounds....

Brewer Panel Oks Sports Idea Self-Funded Middle School B Teams Could Form in Spring 2004

BREWER - Adding self-funded Class B teams to the middle school baseball, softball and cheering programs and adding a self-funded middle school field hockey team may be on the horizon for Brewer. The Brewer School Committee approved the concept for adding the sports to the 2004-05 schedule on Monday. However, during the meeting, several residents questioned whether the baseball and softball B programs could be started this spring.

Bangor Adopts Home-School Graduation Rule

BANGOR - Home-schooled students who enroll at Bangor High School intending to graduate in 2007 must meet the Maine Learning Results before they can be awarded a diploma, according to new policies adopted Monday by the school committee. Also, parents of Bangor students who are being taught at home must notify both the superintendent and the commissioner of the Maine Department of Education on or before Sept. 1 of each year.

City Waterfront Zoning Delayed

BANGOR - City councilors agreed Monday that a proposed shoreland zoning amendment that would pave the way for a second residential component in the city's waterfront redevelopment district warrants additional review. Some concerns councilors raised about the amendment were the potential impacts on the city's efforts to maintain public access to the Penobscot River and preserve open space for public gatherings, such as the National Folk Festival, gearing up for the last year of its three-year ...

Gold Necklace, Cds Taken in Dixmont Break-In

The Penobscot County Sheriff's Department is investigating a burglary that occurred in Dixmont on Monday afternoon. Deputy Sean McCue said that somebody apparently kicked in the door of a Troy Center Road house between noon and 4:30 p.m. and then ransacked it.

Machias Man Offers Free Computer Repair

Most of us probably believe that free house calls by anyone of any profession, from doctors to electricians, are a thing of the past. But that's not so in the Machias area, where Curtis Carver of Carver Computers has been making free house calls for low-income families who are having troubles with their computers. He will continue to help in this way through the end of January.

Rockland to Vote On Insurance Option

ROCKLAND - If city councilors vote next week to offer health insurance to the domestic partners of city employees, the benefit will be paid for by the affected employees. At their agenda-setting session Monday night, Councilors Mark Curtis, Tom Molloy and Brian Harden indicated that if they vote in favor of the proposal, they would do so only if the increased coverage does not affect the city's budget.

Voters Strongly Support Bar Harbor School Project

BAR HARBOR - Voters at a special town meeting Monday gave their enthusiastic support to a $2.3 million school renovation project, with only a handful of the nearly 100 residents voicing opposition. "It's a big commitment for them to make," Glenon Friedmann, chairwoman of the Bar Harbor School Committee, said after the vote. "I appreciate their support."

Camden to Pursue State Housing Grant

CAMDEN - The Select Board agreed to let the town be the lead applicant for a housing assessment grant at its meeting Monday night. Mike Bonzagni, housing services director for the Rockland-based Coastal Community Action Program, helped put together a consortium of eight communities seeking the state grant: Rockport, Lincolnville, Warren, Thomaston, Union, St. George, Rockland and Camden.

Bar Harbor to See 14% Water Rate Hike

BAR HARBOR - The Maine Public Utilities Commission has approved a 14-percent rate increase for the town's water system, effective Jan. 1. Rates for most residential and commercial customers are estimated to increase by an average of 13 percent, finance director Stan Harmon said in a recent press release.

State Police Dog Stops Man From Fleeing

GOULDSBORO - A man who allegedly twice has failed to appear in court tried to disappear again when officers showed up at his home Sunday evening, according to police. This time, however, a Maine State Police dog met him at the back door and latched onto his leg until officers could make the arrest, they said. Stacey Potter, 36, was taken to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth for a tetanus shot before being escorted to the county jail in Ellsworth, Gouldsboro Police Chief Guy Wycoff sa...

Waldo County Ymca Seeks Items for Auction

BELFAST - The Waldo County YMCA will host a community buffet supper and auction 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Items donated by members, local patrons, businesses and the community will be auctioned 7-9 p.m. New and high-quality auction items are being sought.

Foss Named to Board for Agriculture Studies

AUGUSTA - Sharon Foss, office manager for the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District, has been named vice chairperson for the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom's board for 2004. She will be present at the organization's 2004 Summer Teachers Institute, which will be held Aug. 9-12 in Washington County.

Rockland Man Arrested On Burglary Charge

ROCKLAND - Police arrested Benjamin Sheehan, 32, of Rockland early Sunday for allegedly forcing his way into a James Street home. Deputy Chief Wallace Tower said Monday that police were summoned to the home at 2:20 a.m. after Sheehan had tried to get into the house by kicking in the door.