Bangor Daily News

Bangor Man Gets Prison Time in Theft-by-Shopping-List Case

BANGOR - The man who told authorities he stole large and small appliances for two Hampden women who he said gave him a shopping list of items they wanted was sentenced Monday in Penobscot County Superior Court to 18 months in prison. In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Michael T. Hughes, 38, of Bangor pleaded guilty to one felony theft charge. Last week he testified against Evelyn Dempsey, 60, and Judy Gariepy, 61, who now lives in Arizona. A jury Thursday found them not guilty of receiving...

Hot Line Links Homeless to Shelter System Set to Work All Over the State

FAIRFIELD - Jan Lightfoot Lane, an advocate for Maine's homeless, is setting up a hot line to link homeless people with landlords or homeowners with available space. She is calling her program "Home for the Holidays." The founder of Hospitality House Inc., which has provided advice and other services for homeless people for more than 20 years, Lightfoot Lane said her goal is to find a place for at least 10 families or individuals by Christmas.

Maine, 3 States Form Education Coalition Group Seeks to Redefine High School for 21st Century

AUGUSTA - Maine and three other New England states have formed a groundbreaking regional partnership aimed at transforming high school for the 21st century. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island have joined to form the New England Secondary School Consortium that will work to redefine the traditional concept of the American high school. The plan is to ensure that every student in the four states will be competitive with peers worldwide when it comes to academic performance and educat...

Usda Official Lauds Efforts to Help Salmon

Some of the people working to revive Atlantic salmon in eastern Maine got a rare chance to show off their handiwork Monday to the head of a federal agency that has funneled millions of dollars into local stream restoration projects. Arlen Lancaster, chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, praised the cooperative effort among nonprofit groups, government agencies and private landowners to improve stream and river habitat in Down East Maine.

High Court: Indian Case Belongs in Tribal Venue

PORTLAND - The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled unanimously that a Passamaquoddy woman's lawsuit against the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Housing Authority was properly heard in tribal court and should not have been in Superior Court as the plaintiff had argued. The court issued its decision Thursday in the case of Pamela Francis v. Colleen Dana-Cummings, the housing authority and five of its former commissioners. Justices heard arguments in the appeal in October, when it convened at Sa...

City Eyes Parking Garage Upgrades

BANGOR - The city of Bangor is prepared to invest more than $2 million for maintenance at two downtown parking areas in hopes of prolonging their useful lives for years to come. Members of Bangor's finance committee voted Monday to move forward with a proposal for repairs to the parking garage at Pickering Square and authorized city staff to solicit proposals to rebuild the parking deck on Columbia Street.

Area Police Agencies Get Funds for Holiday Patrols

AUGUSTA - More than 40 law enforcement agencies around the state have received state grants to beef up patrols during the holiday season. The goal of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety grant program is to keep holiday highway deaths to a minimum from late November through the end of this month.

Committee Rejects Dover-Foxcroft Probe

DOVER-FOXCROFT - The Board of Selectmen's administrative committee on Monday announced it found no grounds for an investigation requested by a board member into possible corruption and misappropriation of funds by two town officials. Earlier this fall, Selectman Joyce Perry called for an official investigation into the activities of the chairman of the Board of Selectman, Elwood Edgerly, and Town Manager Jack Clukey relating to contracts and payments made by the town to Edgerly, who operates ...

Ronald Mcdonald House to Mark 25 Years

BANGOR - The Ronald McDonald House of Bangor will open its doors to the public at 1 p.m. today to mark a major milestone - 25 years of housing the families of seriously ill children. The celebration will feature remarks from Brent Folster, a member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities board of directors; Bangor City Council Chairman Gerry Palmer; and Chris and Ashley Parker of Hartland, who will discuss how the facility has positively affected their family in difficult times.

Health Care Discussions On Tap in Rockland

ROCKLAND - Coastal Senior College will hold Health Care Community Discussions from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 16 and 23, at the First Universalist Church, 345 Broadway. The discussion will be moderated by William Newman. All are welcome. Share your experiences, concerns and ideas for reform of the health care system.

Nomination Papers Available in St. Albans

ST. ALBANS - Nomination papers are available at the St. Albans town office for these positions: . Three budget committee members - three-year term.

Christmas Concert On Tap in St. Albans

ST. ALBANS - The Skowhegan Community Band and Federated Church Bell Ringers will hold a Christmas concert at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the St. Albans Town Hall. Donations will be accepted and will be applied to the Save The Town Hall Fund. The event is sponsored by the town of St. Albans to help fund repairs to the town hall, such as electricity upgrades, storm windows, and repairs to the front steps and handicapped ramp.

Garden Club Scholarship Applications Available

Students who are residents of Maine are encouraged to apply for scholarships offered by the St. Croix District of the Garden Club Federation of Maine and for the GCFM Horticulture Scholarship, Patricia Curtis of Bar Harbor reports. Curtis believes that, with students now home for the holidays, this is an appropriate time to apply for the scholarship.

Weight Watchers Class at Belfast Hospital

BELFAST - The next Weight Watchers program at Waldo County General Hospital is scheduled to begin Jan. 14, contingent on signing up 15 paid members. Classes will be held at 7 a.m. Wednesdays. The classes, held at the WCGH education center, are open to anyone interested in losing weight.

Verso Paper Machine Rolling Again After Fire

BUCKSPORT - A papermaking machine at the Verso Paper mill that was shut down after a fire Sunday is back on line, according to a mill official. The cause of the fire that broke out in one of the grinder motors at the mill has not yet been identified.

Down East Men Charged with Stealing $18,000

MACHIAS - Two local men are expected to appear in Washington County Superior Court on Monday, Dec. 22, in connection with the alleged theft of more than $18,000 from a Jonesport lobster company. Joseph H. Dougherty, 28, of Jonesport and Anthony W. Merchant, 49, of Machias have been charged with theft by unauthorized taking.

Bangor-Area Broadcaster Don Perry Dies

PEAKS ISLAND - A well-known Bangor area broadcaster died Sunday on Peaks Island. Don Perry, who was 67 at the time of his death, spent his career in radio and television, starting at WGUY Radio in Bangor shortly after his graduation from Brewer High School in 1959.

Five New State Troopers Get Badges, Assignments

Five new state troopers took their oaths of office earlier this month when they graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro. Gov. John Baldacci spoke at a recent graduation ceremony for the five, who were sworn in by Maine State Police Col. Patrick J. Fleming and received their badges.

Cause of Lubec Man's Death Unknown

LUBEC - The cause of death of a 27-year-old local man who died earlier this month while harvesting periwinkles in Lubec Channel not far from his home is still unknown. On Monday, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner's office said only that the cause of death of Kristopher Fergerson was not being announced "pending further studies."

Icy Train Wheel Slips, Snarls Brownville Traffic