Bangor Daily News

Bangor Workers Training Replacements in Mexico

BANGOR - Ever since Osram Sylvania announced two years ago that it would be moving its Bangor-based operations to Mexico, the light bulb manufacturer has been preparing for its departure by asking some of its employees to train the people who will take their jobs south of the United States border. At least six of the now 66 Bangor workers have traveled to Mexico to show employees how to operate the equipment that also is being shipped south from Bangor, according to Stephanie Anderson, manage...

Heavy Trucks Pose Risks in City As Weight Crackdown Continues

BANGOR - As he started to get out of his legally parked car on Harlow Street, Kevin Witham was stunned a week ago as a logging truck nearly ripped the door from its hinges.The driver didn't stop and may not have known he hit the vehicle, causing an estimated $2,800 in damage. Although he wasn't injured, Witham was in shock and didn't get the license plate off the overloaded truck, he said Thursday. A passer-by stopped to let the Bucksport resident use her cell phone, and Witham called the pol...

Poll: Support for Bear Baiting Referendum Declining

BANGOR - A new poll released Thursday indicates that Question 2 - the referendum to ban bear trapping and hunting with bait and dogs - is behind, with just a small portion of the electorate undecided. Of voters who said they were certain about their decision, 54 percent said they intended to vote no and 44 percent said they will vote in favor of the ban.

Tax Cap Vote Too Close to Predict Poll Shows Party, Economic Split

BANGOR - Mainers are split in more ways than one over a proposed property tax cap, according to a poll released exclusively to the Bangor Daily News on Thursday. Overall, Maine voters were evenly divided over the issue with 47 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed to the Palesky tax cap referendum, which would limit property taxes to 1 percent of a property's assessed value.

U.S. Judge Cites Fraud by Gnp Ruling Says Credit Union Can Defend Loans to Inexcon Maine

BANGOR - Great Northern Paper Inc. fraudulently transferred several of its properties to its owners, Inexcon Maine, for use to secure $3.1 million in loans from Katahdin Federal Credit Union, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled this week. But the Millinocket-based credit union may have acted in good faith when it gave the loans to Inexcon Maine and can defend its loan agreements at a trial, U.S. Bankruptcy Chief Judge Louis H. Kornreich said in his ruling Wednesday.

Maine's Business Costs Give State Low Ranking

WASHINGTON - The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released a ranking of the states Thursday that put Maine 46th in the country in terms of the costs elected officials impose on entrepreneurs, small businesses and their employees. The ranking was determined by the group's "Small Business Survival Index." The index considers a number of taxes and regulatory costs.

Late Irs Deadline Near for 12,000 Mainers

AUGUSTA - Although most taxpayers have long since filed their 2003 federal income tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service says nearly 12,000 Maine taxpayers still face the Oct. 15 late-filing deadline. The IRS reminded taxpayers who received an additional extension in August that they should file their returns by Oct. 15 to avoid the late-filing penalty, which is generally 5 percent per month of any unpaid tax.

Federal Grant Assists Laid-Off Tartan Workers

Cafe, Antiques Market Opens Today in Bangor

BANGOR - Paul Cook, owner of the new Antique Marketplace and Cafe, announced this week that the store will open today, with grand opening festivities continuing throughout the weekend. Cook said the two-floor, 15,000-square-foot marketplace is located at 65 Main St. in downtown Bangor, across from the Discovery Museum. The marketplace features more than 100 display areas filled with antiques, rare books and collectibles, while the first-floor Espresso Cafe offers a quiet place to relax and en...

Small-Business Group Praises Collins Record

WASHINGTON - The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's largest small-business group, has named Sen. Susan Collins a "guardian of small business" for her voting record in the 108th Congress on behalf of small-business owners. The group said she had a 100 percent NFIB voting record.

Penn National Ceo Gets National Award

Talk to North Korea

The first presidential debate has drawn a clear line between George W. Bush and John Kerry on what the United States should do about North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Except for the continuing war in Iraq, it is probably the worst security threat facing this country. Under the skillful and persistent questioning by Jim Lehrer, both nominees put it first. Mr. Bush wants to go on with the six-nation talks, which China brokered against initial coolness by the Bush administration. The object...

Drop the Nader Fight

Perhaps to demonstrate once and for all that Democrats have not lost sight of the big themes for which they traditionally have stood, the Maine party this week did not appeal a Superior Court decision on whether independent Ralph Nader's name would appear on the ballot. Instead, its chairwoman appealed to the state supreme court as an individual rather than party leader, neatly defining a distinction without a difference. The dispute is over one of paperwork - whether a certification of unenr...

Tax Cut Overdue

After reading for several weeks in the BDN about the dire consequences of the Palesky Tax Cap initiative one would wonder why anyone in their right mind would vote for it. I must say that I am disappointed in the BDN in not bringing its readers the other side of the story. If there is supposed to be so much support for this initiative why haven't we seen one article explaining why this ever came to vote. The property owners of Maine have had it with the unfair tax system in this state. The st...

Signs of Political Divide

A week or so ago, someone removed the Democratic campaign signs from the roadside in front of my house. I lost my Damon and Pingree signs, but fortunately was able to retrieve my Kerry-Edwards sign from the ditch. I understand that I am one of many to lose Democratic campaign signs in Hancock County. I don't know who the pranksters are, but obviously they believe their candidates cannot win on merit alone.

System Fails Children

Reading the article regarding the struggle Yvonne and Norman Thibeault have had in trying to obtain custody of their grandchildren makes me wonder how many other children are in the custody of this system? It's always been my belief that DHHS works in protecting our children from abusive situations. It appears they might need more education in that field. How could those abused children remain in the custody of a system that continues to place them in yet more abusive situations, when it appe...

Get Environment Facts

As a political independent and a professional economist, I have over the last 30 years had the privilege to consult on environmental policy with the World Bank, the United Nations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection among other organizations. During that time I have been gratified and energized by the strong and unwavering support that sound environmental policy has received from the entire Maine Congressional delegation, regardless o...

Sen. Kerry All Talk

John Kerry reminds me of what ex-Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry said of Jesse Jackson when Jesse was going to run against him for mayor. Barry for better or worse had been running D.C. and knew what was involved. He said, "Jesse can't run anything but his mouth." Barry won. Kerry has no management experience. The presidency is the most complex huge operation in the world and requires managerial skills only obtained by running a large corporation or a large state. Being a senator for 20 y...