Haunted corn maze deemed success

FARMINGTON — Farmington Fire Rescue's Haunted Maize drew a large crowd both Friday and Saturday nights, said chairperson Patty Cormier on Monday.

The 950 people entered the maze on Friday night and another 500 on Saturday, she said.

The department invaded York's Corn Maize both nights, making it spooky with costume clad members stationed throughout the labyrinth.

This was the first time the department and auxiliary had sponsored the event and they did the best they could, she said. It did give them ideas and a base to work from for next year.

Students to participate in Autumn Community Book Week

FARMINGTON — Once again, W. G. Mallett School and Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers have teamed up to offer literary events this week as part of Autumn Community Book Week.

An evening of community bedtime stories, the 13th annual Prime Time Reading Night, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Mallett School with Maine author Fran Hodgkins reading from her newest book, "Who's Been Here? : A Tale of Tracks"

Everyone is welcome to dress in jammies, bring a stuffed friend and come back to school for bedtime stories.

This week's meetings

Tuesday

 

Wednesday

 

Thursday

Fayette: Fayette School Board, 6 p.m., Fayette Central School

Jay: Jay School Committee, 6 p.m., Jay Middle School library

Livermore Falls: Planning Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

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

 

Vehicle windows broken on Halloween

FARMINGTON —  Two vehicles were reported damaged Sunday in what appears to be separate random acts on Halloween night, said Farmington officer Matthew Hunt.

The rear window of a Jeep Cherokee at 520 Weeks Mills Road was shot out with what appears to be a small pellet gun, he said. No other damage was done to the vehicle and it appears to just be an isolated case, he said.

Katahdin author to give program at library

FARMINGTON — Author John Neff will give a presentation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Farmington Public Library.

Neff, author of "Katahdin: an Historic Journey," co-founded the Friends of Baxter State Park. He is a retired minister, active trail maintainer and avid hiker. 

The event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

Municipal agenda

Franklin

Fayette: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m., Starling Hall

Fayette: Selectmen, 7 p.m., Starling Hall

Livermore Falls: Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Office

Oxford Hills

Buckfield: Planning Board, 6:30 p.m., Municipal Center

Hartford: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Hall

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

Newry: Selectmen, 4 p.m., Town Office

Oxford: SAD 17 Board of Directors, 7 p.m., Central Office

Paris: Recreation Committee, 6:30 p.m., Town Office 

Arrest log

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

Eric Urdsick, 29, Wilton, violation condition of release, Oct. 28, no bail listed, Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

Troy Asselin, 21, Fayette, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer/criminal mischief, Oct. 28, no bail listed, Farmington Police Dept.

Zachary A. Chickering, 53, Sanford, failure to appear on operating after habitual offender revocation, Oct. 29, no bail listed, Franklin County Sheriff's Dept.

Tuesday voting polls in Franklin County

Nov. 3 — Polls in Franklin County

 Avon 9 a.m. — 8 p.m. Avon Town Hall

Carrabassett Valley 8 a.m. — 8 p.m. Town Office

Chesterville 10 a.m. — 8 p.m. Town Office

Dallas Plantation 10 a.m. — 8 p.m. Town House

Eustis 10 a.m. — 8 p.m. Town Office

Farmington 9 a.m. — 8 p.m. Community Building

Fayette 8 a.m. — 8 p.m. Starling Hall

Farmington voters to weigh in on proposed police station

FARMINGTON — Voters will decide on the proposed construction of a new police station by secret ballot at the polls Tuesday.

The ballot asks residents if they are favor of a capital improvement project for construction, engineering and design costs by appropriating $2.75 million. The question includes authorizing the town treasurer and chairman of the Board of Selectmen to secure the bonds needed on behalf of the town.

Possible arrest pending in Friday incident in Sweden

SWEDEN — A Sweden man faces possible charges stemming from a Friday incident, which led to authorities surrounding his home for a brief period of time.

Deputy William Nelson of the Oxford County Sheriff's Office said that the case against Tim Kelly, 41, remains under investigation. The Waterford Road man could face charges stemming from an assault earlier in the evening that led to police arriving at his home late Friday night.

Painting creations galore in Wilton

Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Children gathered in downtown Wilton on Friday afternoon for window painting and a little face painting for Halloween. Decked out as a witch, organizer Cory Black paints a skeleton bone on the face of Devin Ridley, 5, of Wilton.

Man sentenced in fiery New Vineyard crash in 2007

FARMINGTON — A Lincoln man was given a six-month sentence Friday after his conviction for aggravated operating under the influence accomplice liability in connection with a fiery fatal car crash in 2007.

Justice Michaela Murphy sentenced Ryan Hurd, 23, to two years with all but six months suspended, two years probation, a $2,100 fine and a mandatory loss of license for six years. All aspects of the sentence were put on hold pending the appeal. Murphy advised Hurd to continue with his personal recognizance bail conditions and to not drink.

Preparing for the Haunted Maize

Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Grant to help reconstruct tennis courts

Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Leaves are falling and temperatures are dropping, but that doesn't stop ardent tennis players from enjoying the courts at Hippach Field in Farmington on Wednesday morning. A grant will help reconstruct the courts that have outlived their life expectancy, said Joe Nelson, assistant director of the Farmington Recreation Department. Next summer, players can expect a totally redone court.

 

Emergency services tested

FARMINGTON — The atmosphere was calm but emergency management personnel were handling a 24-hour test seriously Thursday as they dealt with an ice-storm scenario.

Franklin County Emergency Management Agency joined 14 other county agencies across Maine to test the work of their Emergency Operations Centers. The test began at 8 a.m. Thursday and will end Friday morning.

Hearings set on brain-injury services

AUGUSTA — Public hearings have been scheduled in October and November to learn more about the unmet needs of people with brain injuries in Maine.

The hearings will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 31, at Franklin Memorial Hospital, 111 Franklin Health Commons, Farmington, and Saturday, Nov. 7, at Calais Regional Hospital, 24 Hospital Lane, Calais.

Flu shots available in Mt. Blue Regional School District

FARMINGTON — Flu shot clinics for students in Mt. Blue Regional School District will be held next week, Assistant Superintendent Susan Pratt said.

Both seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines will be administered and students can receive one or both vaccines. One is a nasal spray and the other a shot. Organizers hope to have enough of the H1N1, she said.

Parents who want their children vaccinated should call the school where their children are enrolled to make an appointment.

The clinics take place throughout the week in district towns:

Man injured in wood accident

A logger was brought out of the woods off Route 4 in Farmington in the back of a neighbor's pickup truck Thursday after a tree he cut fell on his leg. A Franklin County Sheriff's Department ATV that went in with medical supplies follows the truck out.

Marijuana valued at $35,000 seized from Wilton home

WILTON — Wilton police officers searched a home at 5 Applegate Lane on Wednesday and discovered an indoor marijuana grow operation, said Lt. E. Page Reynolds. The street value of the drugs seized is estimated to be about $35,000.

Eric Urdsick, 29, the owner of the home, was arrested on a charge of violation of conditions of release, Reynolds said. Other charges are pending as police continue their investigation.

County denies request for copies of land records

FARMINGTON — A request from a business for copies of electronic land records from the Franklin County Registry of Deeds' database has been denied.

County Attorney Frank Underkuffler denied the Freedom of Access Act request Tuesday in his response to a letter received last Friday from attorney Sigmund Schutz on behalf of his client, MacImage of Maine LLC from Cumberland Foreside. An answer was expected by this Thursday or else they would consider the request denied and appeal that denial to Maine Superior Court, Schutz wrote.

Farmington board reviews status of properties

FARMINGTON — Selectmen gave a Farmington tenant more time to clear the property at 466 Industry Road after a public hearing Tuesday held to determine whether it is an illegal junkyard.

James Hasty, the tenant of the property owned by Marc Hand, had accumulated a variety of appliances, cars and other materials across a yard in view of Route 43.

Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser discovered the accumulation earlier this summer while checking on other properties, he said. He was told by the owner it would be cleaned up.

Pay decrease expected for Farmington employees

FARMINGTON — Town employees can expect a pay cut in 2010, Town Manager Richard Davis said Tuesday, because the national rate of inflation is down, which is what the town uses to adjust wages.

An employee earning $45,000 a year would lose just over $300 next year, he said. An employee earning $17 per hour is looking at an 11- to 12-cent loss per hour.

Last year, employees received a 4.8 percent pay raise.

Franklin County arrest log

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

• Daniel L. Rowe, 51, New Vineyard, violation condition of release, Oct. 26, no bail listed, Maine State Police.

• Donnie A. Fletcher, 21, Livermore, warrants for failure to appear, Oct. 27, no bail listed, Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

• Zachary M. Givens, 18, Jay, unpaid fines/fees on criminal trespass, Oct.27, no bail listed, Jay Police Dept.

Phillips town manager placed on hot seat by citizens, Avon selectmen

PHILLIPS — Town Manager Jim Collins was put on the hot seat Tuesday night at the selectmen's meeting by the Avon Board of Selectmen and a group of discontented residents.

At issue with the Avon selectmen were: They said they're being overcharged for use of the transfer station and they're very unhappy with the threatening e-mails they've received from Collins.

Jay school's LEGO team focuses on distracted driving

JAY — When Rob Taylor's FIRST LEGO League team met in September to decide on a topic for this year's transportation-themed competition they all agreed on one thing: They wanted to change the world with their project.

"They don't want to just do a simple project that explains that they learned something," said Taylor, who is the gifted and talented coordinator for the Jay School Department and adviser to the team. "They want to do something that makes a difference in their community and brings about changes."