JAY — Selectmen voted unanimously Monday not to uphold the fire chief's termination of a firefighter, and instead demoted former Capt. James Butler Jr. to the rank of firefighter, according to minutes provided Tuesday by Town Manager Ruth Marden.

The action came after nearly four hours in executive session, according to the minutes.

Butler, 23, of Jay appealed Jay Fire Rescue Chief Jim Shink's decision to terminate him in early October to the Board of Selectmen, Butler said Tuesday.

Shink was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

FARMINGTON — A public hearing on proposed low-altitude flight training over Western Maine will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in Lincoln Auditorium at the Roberts Learning Center on the University of Maine at Farmington campus.

The Massachusetts Air National Guard's proposal would lower jet training flights from 7,000 feet above the ground to 500 feet.

JAY — Selectmen agreed Monday to revisit a request from residents to install signs asking truckers to limit use of engine brakes.

Previous boards of selectmen have denied requests for the signs because the state Department of Transportation has said the brakes are a safety function of a truck and the signs are unenforceable, Town Manager Ruth Marden said.

FARMINGTON — Politics will mix with the blues Friday, Nov. 13, when the Western Mountains Alliance hosts an annual meeting and fundraiser at 6 p.m. Friday at the University of Maine Farmington Olsen Student Center.

It will feature presentations by five gubernatorial candidates and music by the David Mello Blues Band. Reservations for the Nov. 13 event are still being accepted through Tuesday, Nov. 10.

FARMINGTON — American Legion Post 28 will begin its Veterans Day services at 11 a.m. at the World War I Monument on Main Street, according to Legion District Commander for Franklin County Charles Bennett.

From there, the observance continues at Meetinghouse Park with prayer and wreaths to be placed, he said.

The Post, located on the corner of Middle and High streets, will then offer a beef stew lunch following the services and prior to an annual celebration held at Wal-Mart starting at 1 p.m. The public is welcome to the luncheon at the Post, he added.

JAY — It looked like the former Wausau Paper Otis Mill was just closed for the day.

On a tour of the facility Monday, a steady hum of overhead lights was about the only sound heard.

Absent were the hundreds of people who worked there and the noise of the papermaking machines. Tools, equipment, forklifts and furniture were among the items left behind when the mill closed for good in June.

Mary Howes and Tim DeMillo, wife and husband of Jay, make up Otis Ventures LLC, the new owners of the mill that straddles the Jay, Livermore Falls line.

LIVERMORE FALLS — A Rumford man was arrested early Saturday after he entered a Tucker Road home while occupants were sleeping and sprayed a man with pepper spray and attacked him with a hammer, according to police.

"The suspect and victims were known to each other but police are not releasing a motive at this time," Livermore Falls police Lt. Thomas Gould said.

Officers Stephen Allen and Robert Samson responded to a possible domestic disturbance about 1:30 a.m. at the residence. Tucker Road is near the Wayne line.

FARMINGTON — The town's winter parking ordinance takes effect Sunday, Nov. 15. Owners of vehicles parked from midnight to 6 a.m. on any street, public way or town-owned or town-leased parking lot may be fined $20 and/or the vehicle may be towed at the owner's expense.

FARMINGTON — The Maine-made film "The Way We Get By" will be shown on Veterans Day at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Lincoln Auditorium of Roberts Learning Center at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Warren Cook, the film's executive producer and CEO of Saddleback Resort in Rangeley, will personally introduce the film as UMF shares the story with the community.

Saddleback will also hold a special event Wednesday, Saddleback Veterans Day, when veterans and members of the Armed Forces can ski free.

NEW SHARON — Two Starks residents were arrested Friday on charges of selling illegal drugs in New Sharon.

Kirt Newton, 39, and Dawn Steuber, 38, both of Starks, were arrested after Maine Drug Enforcement Agents set up a surveillance on Newton, MDEA Supervisor Gerry Baril said Monday.

They had suspected Newton of "diverting his prescription narcotics," Baril said and while watching him they witnessed him engaging in a drug action while parked at the Little League baseball field on Route 134 in New Sharon.

FARMINGTON — The following arrests were recently logged at Franklin County Detention Center:

• Robert Bernier, 41, Kingfield, violation of conditions of release, Nov. 5, no bail listed, Maine State Police.

• Judith Burgess, 44, Jay, driving under the influence, Nov. 5, $3,000 unsecured, court appearance Dec. 17, Jay Police Dept.

• Christopher Norris, 22, Winslow, driving after suspension, Nov. 6, no bail listed, Franklin County Sheriff's Dept.

Tuesday

Jay: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Office

Wilton: Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, 7 p.m., Town Office

Thursday

Wilton: Road Committee, 3 p.m., Town Office

LIVERMORE FALLS — Air quality test results done on four rooms in the Livermore Falls Middle School basement show that any concern over elevated mold counts has been abated, district Maintenance and Transportation Director Ken Vining said Monday.

Results on two of the basement classrooms where the mold concerns originally arose, had previously come back abated after thorough cleaning and students were moved back in, he said.

The remaining two classrooms that were cleaned passed tests Monday and the rooms have been OK'd to go back into use, he said.

LIVERMORE FALLS — Veterans will assemble at George Bunten Post 10 at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, prior to holding services to recognize fellow veterans.

The first stop is at 8 a.m. at the Livermore Falls Memorial Bridge. The organizations will then proceed to the monument on Route 4 in Livermore and then move next to a newly discovered grave of a veteran of the War of 1812.

Next, they'll stop at the war memorial in Chisholm Square in Jay, then to Union Park/Geneva Hodgkins Memorial Park in Livermore Falls.

JAY — School Committee members voted to add three student early release days to the school calendar to allow teachers to develop intervention and supports for students who struggle to meet behavior and learning benchmarks.

The early release days are scheduled on Wednesday, Dec. 9, Wednesday, Jan. 27, and Wednesday, March 10.
The additional days bring the early release day total to six for the school year, Superintendent Robert Wall told the School Committee Thursday.

Franklin

Jay: Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Office

New Vineyard: Selectmen, 6 p.m., Town Office

Oxford Hills

Bethel: Selectmen, 7 p.m., Town Office

Bethel: SAD 44 Board of Directors, 7 p.m., Crescent Park Elementary School

River Valley

Dixfield: Selectmen, 5 p.m., Town Office

Dixfield: Western Foothills RSU 10 Finance Committee, 5 p.m., Central Office

Dixfield: Western Foothills RSU 10 Board of Directors, 6:30 p.m., Central Office

FARMINGTON — On Saturday night, 41 years after he was wounded in Vietnam, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gerald C. Webber of New Vineyard received his Purple Heart medal.

Webber was one of more than 100 World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans honored at the Veterans Recognition Ceremony through the State of Maine Gold and Silver Star Honorable Service Medal presentation at the Farmington Baptist Church.

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.

Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal