Saturday, November 7, 2009 in Lewiston, Maine
FARMINGTON — A Waterville man was arrested Friday on charges connected to a string of vehicle thefts in Farmington and Temple, and a burglary at Rick's Market in Wilton in October.
Robert Charles Lacroix, 22, of Winslow was arrested on charges of felony passing a road block and misdemeanor theft by unauthorized use of property, Franklin County Sheriff's Lt. Niles Yeaton said Friday.
Lacroix is one four people police believe were involved in the theft of five vehicles and burglary the evening of Oct. 19 into early Oct. 20.
A powerful explosion at a pellet mill in Strong has two men still counting their blessings three months later.
Jim Smith, 41, and Gregg Toothaker, 42, both of Wilton, say they are thankful to have survived the explosion that did an estimated $8 million damage to the manufacturing plant. The explosion was ruled an accident by state fire investigators.
NEW VINEYARD — Fire tore through a two-story house on Softtail Boulevard, off Route 27, Thursday night destroying the post and beam structure and its contents, New Vineyard fire Chief Doug Churchill said Friday. No one was hurt, he said.
About 40 firefighters from New Vineyard, Farmington, Temple, Strong and New Portland responded to help put out the fire that was reported at 7:24 p.m., he said. The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, Churchill said. Most of the place had already fallen into the cellar, he said.
LIVERMORE FALLS — Several people Friday took brisk walks on the new bicycle/pedestrian path that runs along the town's recreation field and the Androscoggin River.
The path, which has been in the works for five years was officially opened Friday, with a cutting of a red ribbon Town Manager Jim Chaousis set up.
"It's a nice walk," Cindy Peart said as she walked the path.
It's nice to walk down and not have to worry about cars behind you, Lisa Bilodeau said.
FARMINGTON — The following were recently booked at the Franklin County Detention Center:
• Jeremie Lane, 25, Wilton, criminal mischief domestic violence, Oct. 31, $1,500 unsecured bail, Wilton Police Department.
• Frederick Brown, 47, Wilton, possession of a weapon by a felon, Oct. 31, $2,500 unsecured bail, Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
• Joseph Sniadecki, 25, Strong, operating under the influence, Oct. 31, $1,500 unsecured bail, Rangeley Police Department.
FARMINGTON — An Augusta man was ordered held without bail Thursday on a probation violation in connection with the theft of vehicles and driving a van that struck a Wilton police cruiser and injured an officer in October.
Jacob Hastings, 20, was arrested on warrants while reporting to a probation officer in another county on Wednesday, Franklin County Sheriff's Lt. Niles Yeaton said Thursday.
The Sun Journal is looking to find out who created these rock sculptures of angels along Route 17 in Livermore Falls near Moose Hill Pond. If you know who created these sculptures, please contact Staff Writer Donna Perry at 778-6772 ext. 4103, or 1-800-482-0753 ext. 4103, or e-mail dperry@sunjournal.com.
JAY — If Jay joined with another school system, it would be neighboring Livermore Falls and Livermore, according to a community survey discussed at Thursday night's School Committee meeting.
Superintendent Robert Wall reviewed the results with committee members. An ad-hoc committee from Jay and Regional School Unit 36 in Livermore and Livermore Falls has been working to find ways the two systems can work together. Those discussions have included combining the middle schools, Wall said.
LIVERMORE FALLS — If you don't know the particular area of Route 17 as well as Don Simoneau does, you may not have noticed a newly erected, angel monument down a grassy embankment.
The monument, made out of several rocks in various shapes, definitely appears as an image of a small angel, with possibly a larger angel guarding it.
It is near the Moose Hill Pond, about half a mile from Simoneau's home in Fayette, just over the town line.
LIVERMORE — Construction on the new transfer station building began Wednesday and is expected to be completed in three weeks, select board administrative assistant Kurt Schaub said.
The new trash compactor will also be installed, he said. He gave the select board an update on the project and on the Norlands Road project during a selectpersons' meeting Monday. Paving on the reconstructed portion of the Norlands Road was to begin Wednesday.
FARMINGTON — A German couple has appealed a $6.9 million court award against them for compensatory and punitive damages based on accusations of defrauding a former wealthy Phillips doctor and her estate of millions of dollars.
John and Gudrun Stifel of Germany appealed the Franklin County Superior Court decision to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The Stifels attorney, John Whitman, was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
RANGELEY — Voters here and in several plantations approved a school consolidation plan by a combined 698-238 vote Tuesday. The new school system will replace Union 37 as of July 1, 2010.
Four of the communities in Franklin and Oxford counties that make up Union 37 approved the reorganization plan while two rejected it.
LIVERMORE FALLS — A special session of the Livermore Falls High School's Bagels & Books featuring "Bringing Longfellow to Life" will be held Thursday, Nov. 19 in the library.
"We are reading a biography of Longfellow titled "Longfellow: A Rediscovered Life" by Charles C. Calhoun and the author will be joining us on Nov. 17 for our discussion," library media specialist Cathi Howell said.
FARMINGTON — A Wilton man was charged Saturday with stealing a Farmington resident's truck and dirt bike and then leading police on a chase in September.
Samuel Thibault, 27, was arrested on warrants for several charges including theft, eluding, and passing a roadblock pertaining to the truck theft, Franklin County Lt. Niles Yeaton said.
Police say Thibault stole a pickup truck with a dirt bike in it from a Farmington residence on Sept. 20.
Ann Bryant/Sun Journal
A duplicate bridge group meets every Wednesday at 1 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Wilton. All bridge players are welcome, said Elizabeth Cushman, left, preparing to play a game with Paul Brown and Tony McLaughlin.
FARMINGTON — Climate change and greenhouse gas effects are up for discussion Thursday during a Climate Forum featuring two international climate experts.
The event held at the University of Maine at Farmington offers three presentations throughout the day that are open to the public. Each event will be held in Lincoln Auditorium of Roberts Learning Center.
Author Paul Mayewski will present a program on "Climate Change: Perspective, Surprises and Opportunity," at noon.
FARMINGTON — It took two months, 1,000 used lawnmower blades, 250 two-by-fours and hours of welding, but the newest piece of art on the University of Maine at Farmington campus was completed Wednesday.
Contemporary artist Christopher Fennell's work depicts three leaf-like blades gracefully blowing in the wind. The piece stands 24-feet-tall in front of the most "green" building on campus, the Education Center on High Street.
RANGELEY — With five of six communities reporting voting results late Tuesday, a plan to reorganize six school departments in Franklin and Oxford counties into one regional school district was passing 213-139.
Only Rangeley had not reported results as of late Tuesday.
If approved, the plan would go into effect July 1, 2010.
Three of the five communities reporting approved the plan.
RANGELEY — A local man accused of threatening two people with a rifle late Monday was arrested early Tuesday after police went to his house on Loon Lake Road, police Chief Dennis Leahy said.
Mark McLain, 44, of Rangeley was arrested on a charge of reckless conduct with a firearm, Leahy said. He was having an argument with two other Rangeley men and threatened them and then went to bed, Leahy said.
Smith Reuter Lull Architects and a consultant have been working with a county Building Committee for more than a year to find a solution to the county's woes. Representatives will draw up detailed plans and cost estimates on the options to be brought back to commissioners.
JAY — Verso Paper Corp. has been awarded a $9.3 million federal grant to implement waste energy recovery technologies at three mills in Maine and Minnesota to reduce energy by 33 percent overall.
Maine Rep. Mike Michaud and the U.S. Department of Energy made the announcement Tuesday. The grant is among more than $155 million being awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for industrial energy efficiency projects across the country.
Ann Bryant/Sun Journal
Farmington voters gather outside the Community Building shortly before 9 a.m. waiting for polls to open on Tuesday. The line inside the building was about as long as the one outside. By mid-afternoon, just over 1,200 votes had been cast including 750 absentee ballots, Town Clerk Leanne Pinkham said. The number of absentees is high for an off-election year. The town processes about 2,400 during presidential and gubernatorial elections. "I think question one is bringing voters out," she said.
FARMINGTON — Downtown stores are gearing up for the annual Early Bird Sale Saturday morning. Early risers can expect jammie-clad clerks to open most stores at 6 a.m.
Moviegoers won't miss out on purchasing special movie passes as they have done previously at Mickey's Hallmark.
| News | Obituaries | Funeral Notices | Lewiston/Auburn | Franklin | Oxford Hills | River Valley | New England | State | National | Business | Matter of Record | Money-saving Tips | Submit a news tip |
| Lifestyle | Encore | Entertainment | b Section | Submit your event |
| Sports | Local | Community | National | Tailgate Talk | Submit a tip |
| Opinion | Our View | Letters to the Editor | Guest Columnists | Write a letter to the editor | Advice |
| Community | Connections | Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries | Well Done |
| Services | Subscribe to the Sun Journal | Manage your account | Your guide to contacting us | Place a classified ad | Send us a press release | Write a letter to the editor | Coupons |
| Advertising | Search classifieds | Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Legal Ads | Contact advertising | Advertising rates and information |
| SunJournal.com | Contact Us | Advertise with us | Commenting Policy | Privacy Policy | Submit a news tip |
| Sun Media Group | Sun Journal | The Forecaster | Bethel Citizen | Advertiser Democrat | Rumford Falls Times |
