Bangor Daily News

Um Cooperative Extension Extending Its Reach

Most meetings or workshops arranged by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension tackle topics as diverse as pruning woody landscape plants or starting your own business. The meetings now on the agency's calendar don't involve rolling up sleeves or getting hands dirty.

Forum Covers Lead Paint Hazards

BANGOR - Advocates of improving the health of Maine children met in Bangor Tuesday to announce the formation of a new fund dedicated to eradicating lead paint poisoning. Now that the $10,500 Maine Lead Safe Kids Fund exists, according to the Coalition for Environmentally Safe Communities, it's time for businesses, foundations and individuals to dig deep to help eliminate the toxic contamination and complex set of health, educational and social problems it causes.

Husson Breaks Ground On Academic Building $7.5m Project Slated for Completion in Fall '05

BANGOR - The project is not yet fully designed, but Husson College is off and running on the construction of The Commons, a $7.5 million academic building that will house student services and the schools of health and education. WBRC Architects/Engineers and contractor Nickerson & O'Day Inc., both of Bangor, broke ground officially Tuesday with Husson College project coordinator Mary Ann Haas, but plans for The Commons aren't gathering dust on some shelf.

Kerry, Allen, Michaud Lead Student Mock Election Results

More than 400 schools statewide participated in Maine's Student Mock Election on Tuesday, with youngsters from around the state in preliminary results choosing Sen. John Kerry to defeat incumbent George W. Bush in the presidential election. The Secretary of State's Office provided Student Mock Election materials to participating schools. Voting was conducted during class time at individual schools for president, U.S. House of Representatives and citizen initiative ballot questions.

Feds Quietly Beefing Up Border Security

BAILEYVILLE - It may be hush-hush in Washington, but police officers here know about Operation Stonegarden. Federal funds soon will be available to local police agencies to beef up law enforcement presence along the U.S. border with Canada from Election Day on Nov. 2 through Inauguration Day in January.

Penobscot County Will Appeal Ruling Officials Fear Dispatch Decision May Affect Regionalization Efforts

BANGOR - Penobscot County officials said Tuesday that they will appeal last week's court decision that frees Bangor from paying for the regional emergency dispatching center through county taxes. Bangor officials estimate that the city overpaid the county by as much as $300,000 during the last three years, although the appeal would delay any attempts to collect the money. It's also uncertain whether Bangor will be required to continue to pay the county during the appeal process.

Old Town Manager Lowers Estimate of Tax Cap Impact to $4.5m Shortfall

OLD TOWN - New estimates on the impacts of the proposed Palesky tax cap show that cuts could be slightly less than original figures given by former City Manager John Lord. The overall shortfall would be about $1 million less than Lord's previous $5.5 million estimate, according to figures from City Manager Peggy Daigle.

Engineering Firms Inspect Former Eastern Fine Dams

ORRINGTON - Two engineering firms met Tuesday with Town Manager Dexter Johnson at Fields Pond to inspect a dam formerly owned by defunct Eastern Fine Paper Co. After water level issues arose this past spring, several residents asked Orrington selectmen to look into ownership and regulation of two dams owned by Eastern Fine and suggested that the town consider acquiring the property.

Bangor Police Seek Man in Assault On Churchgoer

BANGOR - Investigators are looking for a man who assaulted a woman on Sunday night as she walked along a path between Bangor City Hall and the Unitarian Universalist Church on Park Street. Bangor police Detective Jeff Small said the woman fended off her attacker, even bit him on the cheek, after the man tried to grab her breasts. The man fled, although a skateboarder tried to give chase before the man disappeared.

Bangor Council Tables Project

BANGOR - The Union Place Neighborhood Conservation Project hit a roadblock on Monday night when city councilors and a potential developer failed to reach agreement on a purchase price for city- owned land slated for redevelopment. As it stands, Bangor businessman David Lawler has tentative developer status for the city-owned parcel adjacent to his Hammond Street store, Dave's Movie Center.

Ex-Nurse Sentenced for Painkiller Switch

BANGOR - A former registered nurse was sentenced Tuesday to nearly six years in prison - the maximum allowed under federal guidelines - for stealing an elderly woman's morphine for her own use. Nancy Dean, 44, of Bangor was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 71 months in federal prison and three years' probation after her release. She pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of tampering with consumer products and causing the drugs to be misbranded.

Bird Expert to Speak at Land Trust Meeting

Woman to Share Story of Her Marital Abuse

Two-Vehicle Crash Injures 4 in Milford

An accident on Route 2 in Milford sent four to the hospital and blocked traffic for about 20 minutes Tuesday morning. Penobscot County Sheriff's Deputy Tom Burgess reported that the driver of a Ford Tempo was pulling out of the parking lot of the Milford variety store when she T-boned a van heading east. The driver said her view of the road was obscured by a parked vehicle.

Millinocket Council Recall Effort to Resume

MILLINOCKET - An attempt to institute a recall vote on three council members because of their membership on a regional economic development board will resume within a week, a recall organizer said Tuesday. Organizers of an effort to recall Councilors Matthew Polstein, Gail Fanjoy and Avern Danforth met with Town Manager Eugene Conlogue and held another meeting among themselves late Monday before deciding to refile petitions by Tuesday, said Ken Anderson, one of the recall effort organizers.

Brownville School Plans Political Rally

BROWNVILLE - Staff and pupils at the Brownville Elementary School will hold a political rally from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at the school. Highlights of the rally will include speeches by Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, Sen. Stephen Stanley, D-Medway, House District 27 Democratic candidate Sharon Libby Jones of Greenville, and by pupils on behalf of U.S. Sen. John Kerry and President Bush.

Brewer Opens Office for Voters Saturday

Sad 38 Board Opposes Tax Cap Initiative

ETNA-DIXMONT - The SAD 38 board of directors recently voted to oppose the Palesky tax cap initiative, saying that the school budget would take the hardest hit. Superintendent John Backus estimated that the district would lose $235,636 in local money and $567,952 in state subsidy, forcing half of the teaching staff at the kindergarten through eighth grade Etna- Dixmont School to be cut.

Nescom Offers Workshop for High School Girls

Although journalism and the print media have always been my first career love, my second was radio, which is why I am pleased the New England School of Communications is hosting a free "Women in Media" workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at Husson College in Bangor. As a high school student in South Paris, now home to Oxford Hills High School, I was not only the school reporter for our local weekly, but I also hosted my own radio show each Saturday morning, reporting on the acti...

Unity College Official, Student Vie in House Race

UNITY - The political incumbent is chairman of Unity College's board of trustees. The challenger is a senior at the school. The incumbent heads a nonprofit farm preservation organization. The challenger is a part-time farmer who wants to make a career of it.