Bangor Daily News

Miller's Sale Marks End of an Era

The recent news that Miller's Restaurant will be closing next month after nearly 55 years has caused many of its dismayed loyal customers to wonder where they can go now to celebrate their big family occasions and holidays or just to enjoy an evening out. Considering that the Main Street landmark is the oldest family- run restaurant in a town that has few of them left - Pilots Grill closed in 2002, after 62 years - the answer to their question is becoming increasingly obvious.

Fda Blood Donor Rule Upsets Um Students Panel Seeks to End Drives with Red Cross

ORONO - Concern about a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy that prohibits blood bank donations by men who have engaged in homosexual activity has spurred controversy at the University of Maine campus. A resolution was passed Friday by the UM Student Government Inc., urging student organizations to "end blood drives with the American Red Cross, and instead hold drives with blood collection organizations in support of striking down the ban against blood donations from gay and bisexual men."

Border Patrol Checkpoint Uncovers No Violations

Federal border patrol authorities running a nine-day checkpoint north of Old Town earlier this month spoke with nearly 1,800 aliens and found no violations. The 1,788 aliens were from 41 nations and included tourists visiting or passing through the state and legal immigrant workers, Matt Zetts, deputy chief patrol agent for the Houlton sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, said Monday.

Tribe's Lng Plan Still May Have Life

PLEASANT POINT - The issue of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and a developer wanting to locate a liquefied natural gas terminal on tribal land on the Washington County coast isn't dead yet. An exclusivity agreement between the tribe and Oklahoma-based Quoddy Bay LLC to build a $400 million LNG facility on tribal land is scheduled to lapse on May 14. While opponents want the LNG plan to evaporate and go away at that time, some tribal officials aren't ready to give up.

Bia Working to Replace Monitors

BANGOR - Julie Dedam and her family weathered a blizzard, icy roads and a five-hour drive from Quebec to meet her younger sister flying in from Florida at Bangor International Airport. "Where is everything?" Dedam, 39, a firefighter and mom from Listuguj, Quebec, asked as she scanned BIA recently for TV monitors to give her family flight information.

Bangor Airport Picks New Port Director

BANGOR - A chief customs official in Seattle has been tapped to be the port director at Bangor International Airport. John Nadeau, chief Customs and Border Protection officer in the Seattle offices of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, was named as BIA port director recently.

Agency Celebrates National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is upon us, and it's time to celebrate the unselfish work of all who give freely of their time, effort, skill and talent to help others. Roberta Macko, director of volunteer services at Eastern Agency on Aging, based in Bangor, wants readers to know that more than 800 "dedicated people" volunteer time to that agency in a variety of capacities.

Pittsfield Council to Decide Violation Action

PITTSFIELD - After attempting for more than a year to get a Mill Street couple to clean up their property, the town's code enforcement officer has referred the matter to the Town Council. Councilors will decide tonight what action to take against Elizabeth Bernasconi and Robert Burt, who are accused by Code Enforcement Officer Claude Rounds of operating an illegal junkyard.

Editor Sheila Tenggren Dies at 66

LINCOLN - Sheila Tenggren was one of those newspaper people who never hesitated to let you know where she stood or where you were, either. That's why local leaders uniformly expressed sadness Monday at news of the Lincoln News editor and publisher's death Friday at age 66 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Belfast Manager Waives Fee for Debris

BELFAST - In his years as a city councilor, Jim Roberts has paid particular attention to the needs of his rural constituency. Roberts delivered the goods again last week when he convinced city hall to suspend the fees on the disposal of leaves and tree branches at the city transfer station during the annual spring cleanup.

Sad 31 Seeks to Limit Diesel Bus Emissions

HOWLAND - The SAD 31 transportation committee will be working with Superintendent William Ziemer to find ways to limit students' exposure to a significant health hazard: respiratory problems caused by exposure to diesel bus exhaust. Ziemer will discuss the problem with committee members at their May 15 meeting and await their directions, he said.

Smoking Materials Cited in Gouldsboro Barn Fire

GOULDSBORO - Discarded smoking materials appear to have started a fire that damaged a two-story barn on Crowley Island Road Monday afternoon. Assistant Fire Chief James Souders said about 18 firefighters from Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor were called to the barn in the village of Corea just after 3:30 p.m.

Controlled Burn Goes Wild, Fanned by Wind

ARGYLE - A controlled brush fire got out of hand on the Edinburg Road and burned several acres Monday afternoon. Firefighters were at the scene for about five hours making sure the grass fire was out and didn't spread farther, although Alton Deputy Chief James Feero said firefighters controlled it pretty quickly. Firefighters from Old Town and LaGrange joined Alton in putting out the fire.

Firefighters Battle Blaze at Sculptor's House

MONROE - Firefighters from seven communities rushed to the Back Brooks Road home of noted sculptor Forest Hart to quell a building fire late Monday afternoon. A dispatcher at the Waldo County Communications Center said the alarm was sounded at about 5 p.m. and that crews still were putting out hot spots at the rural home and studio more than five hours later.

6-Year-Old Hospitalized in Atv Crash

CARMEL - A 6-year-old boy who rolled over an all-terrain vehicle on Sunday afternoon near his home on Hinckley Hill Road suffered head injuries and was in stable condition Monday at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Officials from the Maine Warden Service went to the scene of the accident, which occurred around 3:45 p.m. Sunday while the boy was riding a youth model ATV in his yard during a family get-together.

Evidence Seized in Suspect Vet's Office

Investigators who searched the veterinarian's office early last week of a Texas woman suspected in the death of her Lee-born husband returned to her practice Friday because they believe she might have falsified entries in her controlled substance logbooks or destroyed evidence. "There is some concern that some evidence may have been altered or destroyed so the warrant was obtained to seize what could be items of an evidentiary nature to avoid their possible destruction," Lt. Curtis Milbourn o...

Down East Battles 16 Grass Fires

Maine Forest Service rangers were busy Down East all day Monday, containing as many as 16 wildfires between Bucksport and Cutler. The biggest grass fire covered 20 acres at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station at Cutler.

Benedicta 'Idol' Contest Exceeds Expectations Event Benefits Ski Team, Make-a-Wish Foundation

BENEDICTA - An event that officials at Benedicta Elementary School hoped would allow participants to showcase their talents and raise money for worthy causes exceeded their expectations Friday evening. The school's version of the TV series "American Idol" turned into one of the school's most lucrative fund-raisers.

American Freed in Bangor After Deportation

BANGOR - A U.S. citizen deported from Switzerland arrived Monday under police guard before he was released from Bangor International Airport and allowed to make arrangements to go elsewhere in the United States. Douglas Saxe, 45, an American teacher who has worked in Saudi Arabia, apparently had worn out his welcome in Switzerland.

Van Buren School Site of Public Health Fair

VAN BUREN - A health fair will be held noon-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the Van Buren District Secondary School. High school students are invited to attend from noon to 2:45 p.m., when there will be workshops on weight management, communication skills, athletic injury prevention, yoga and stress reduction.