Bangor Daily News

Palestinian Resolution

With American focus on our presidential elections, particularly now with Washington, D.C., hearings that discussed Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration and the media have allowed us to forget the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war. Yes, this conflict is now at the level of civil war. "The road map to peace" is no longer mentioned and with the Israeli building of the wall and the killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassim the conflict of 30 years is at the level of civil war.

Police Seek Clues On Missing Teen ; Caribou Officer Appeals to Public

CARIBOU - Local police don't have any strong leads in their investigation of a Caribou teenager who has been missing for seven days, but they are hoping to locate someone who might know where she is. Simone Willett, 17, disappeared March 29 from Caribou, though police do not know if she is still in the area.

9-11 Cause for Outrage

In the world of make believe we could just hit the rewind button and Sept. 11, 2001 never happened. This is not a world of make believe and Sept. 11 did happen. As the words of a popular song say, "Do you remember how you felt that day with our nation under fire and our people blown away?" I remember. You should be outraged at that, not to our response to that. In World War II, when our ships were blown up at Pearl Harbor, every man, woman and child stood shoulder to shoulder in support of ou...

Support in Sad 48

I am a teacher in SAD 48. I was born, brought up and attended school here. I am also a taxpayer. Most taxpayers will agree that our state needs to find an alternative to property taxes for funding education. This is a battle to be fought in Augusta if the true agenda is tax reform.

Bring Back Huber

Neither nationally nor on the Maine scene is anyone talking about recycling and reusing to minimize the disposal stream. Where are the annual reports on how municipalities are doing? I know they are there at the State Planning Office. Which towns are continuing to attempt meeting the goals outlined years ago?

Pwc Rules of the Road

The editorial, "Water Fight" (BDN, March 25), said that the Great Ponds Act "put a good process in place." This is outrageous. The only process that the Great Ponds Act put in place was discrimination against one class of boaters. Thankfully it has expired and the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee voted against its renewal. Maine's lakes are public bodies of water, for all to enjoy them. While the proposed LD 1675 might not appear to target personal watercraft just like the Great Ponds ...

What Bush has Decided

I strongly urge the people of Maine to re-elect President Bush if they want higher taxes for the low income people, education and health care; continue to lower taxes for the rich and their giant corporations, who contribute to his gigantic election funds. He has cleverly decided to not include the billions being spent for his "war" in Iraq in his budget until after the November election.

Park Biker Dies After Riding Into Gate

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK - A man from Washington state died Saturday afternoon in Acadia National Park after riding his bicycle into a closed gate on Park Loop Road, according to park officials. Stephen Kennedy, 63, of Washouga, Wash., died after his bicycle collided with a closed barrier gate near the intersection of Otter Cliffs Road, park officials indicated Sunday in a press release. The barrier gate is kept closed in the winter to block vehicular traffic from using the portion of Park Loop R...

Aspiring Wrestlers Learn 'Bumps' Professionals Teach Classic Moves at Clinic at Mattanawcook Academy

LINCOLN - Seconds after Mike "Spike" Dube stepped out of the ring corner, the amateur grappler landed with a hard smack on the canvas mat after being hip-tossed by Randy "The Wrecker" Reed. Agile and energetic, Dube leapt up from the mat and promptly laid Reed flat on his back with a hip toss of his own.

Rockland Rowing Program Pulls in Teenagers

ROCKLAND - Row, row, row your boat means much more to Station Maine youths than just a classic tune. Imagine a bunch of teenagers awakening before the crack of dawn to paddle around Rockland Harbor. Then picture 10 of them pulling on 18-foot-long, 50-pound oars to power a 38-foot Bantry Bay gig as the sun rises.

Belfast Lawyer Sued Over Advice in Custody Case

ELLSWORTH - A Belfast lawyer is being sued in Hancock County Superior Court for allegedly giving negligent advice to a former client from Sedgwick, according to court documents. C. Clifton Fuller is accused of giving legal advice to Jacob D. Berry that led Berry to break Massachusetts law in a custody dispute over Berry's son, court documents indicate.

Ellsworth Hospital Cancels Services Contract

ELLSWORTH - The local hospital has dropped a company hired to provide management and consulting services to the facility and is affiliating with a different medical services company, according to a hospital official. Maine Coast Memorial Hospital on March 31 officially ended its 10- year association with Quorum Health Services, two years before its five-year contract with the company was expected to expire, Doug Jones, MCMH's president and chief executive officer, said Thursday.

Society Supports Study of Ecopark

MILLINOCKET - The Wilderness Society, a national conservation organization, is channeling $25,000 into a feasibility study for an ecology park proposed for the area. In 2002, Harpswell-based Peregrine Technologies Inc. proposed a park for the town with a wood-fired biomass plant at its core to provide heat and electricity to the park's commercial tenants at below-market energy costs. The park would be home to companies with intensive energy needs, such as commercial greenhouses and wood- proc...

Reactions to Raceway Ruling Mixed

BANGOR - A court ruling Friday regarding two groups seeking a role in the recent deliberations over a racing license for Bangor Raceway predictably yielded mixed reactions from the various factions involved. In his written decision, Penobscot County Superior Court Justice Andrew Mead determined that the Maine Harness Racing Commission did not err on Feb. 17 when it rejected as "untimely" requests for legal standing in the Bangor Raceway licensing matter.

School Board Sets Final Budget Review

EAST MILLINOCKET - New teacher and administrative positions compose a significant part of the 15 percent increase in next year's proposed $4.1 million school department budget. The school board has discussed the proposal twice and is expected to take a final look at it during a 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday at Schenck High School before sending it on to voters for consideration in mid-May.

Pair Draw Drug, Conduct Charges

Two Bangor brothers were arrested early Sunday morning for disorderly conduct after allegedly arguing with police near Benjamin's on Franklin Street about drug charges. Bangor Officer Shawn Green saw two men, identified as Darrin Pinette, 33, and Dennis Pinette, 42, both of Bangor, standing in an alley near the bar. The officer suspected possible drug activity, his report said, and Green left his cruiser to investigate.

Probation, Parole, Police Enjoy Shared Space

DOVER-FOXCROFT - Dover-Foxcroft police and local probation and parole officials have found there are perks to their close association. The juvenile and adult probation officials, who now operate from adjacent offices in the new Dover-Foxcroft Police Department, have found ways to share services and information.

Rep. Treadwell to Seek District 33 Senate Seat

CARMEL - Rep. Russ Treadwell, R-Carmel, has announced that he is running for a seat on the Maine Senate in District 33. The district is composed of 17 towns in southwestern Penobscot County. Treadwell has served for eight years in the Legislature representing District 124, five years on the local board of selectmen, and nine years as a member of the school board. He has promised to promote educational opportunities, affordable health care for all, good-paying jobs, improved roads and infrastr...

Millinocket Regional Hospital Plans Health Fair

MILLINOCKET - Millinocket Regional Hospital will hold a health and wellness fair this week that will feature 10 free health screenings and a number of interactive displays. More than 40 health-related exhibitors will gather for the event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at Stearns High School Gymnasium. The fair is free and open to the public.

Conference Scheduled On Living with Cancer

AUGUSTA - The American Cancer Society will hold its 26th annual Living With Cancer conference from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, at the Augusta Civic Center. The topic for this year's conference will be "Caregivers: A Source of Strength," with keynote speaker David Treadwell, a professional writer and caregiver to three family members with cancer. Featured workshops will include issues of caregiving, complementary therapies, palliative care, updates on treatment options and new tec...