Kiwanis and Rotary auction set for Friday and Saturday at OHCHS

PARIS —The two largest service clubs in the Oxford Hills have again combined forces as they prepare for their biggest fund-raising event of the year, the two-day auction that kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 10, under the big tent at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

For the 10th year, the Oxford Hills Rotary Club and the Norway-Paris Kiwanis Club are sharing energy, manpower and resources for the huge event that provides much of the money the clubs use to fund their community service projects.

Oxford Hills outdoor festivities on track for weekend

NORWAY — The rain this week prompted Harrison Old Home Days to reschedule its fireworks display to dusk Thursday.

It was originally scheduled Wednesday evening, but due to the rain and the four hours needed to set up the show, it was postponed, Old Home Days President Chris Searles said.

"We go tonight (Wednesday) and run through Saturday," he said of the events while standing on the muddy grounds by Crystal Lake just hours before the event was set to open at 6 p.m.

Rec board expands to 12 members with growing interest

BUCKFIELD — With 12 applications for a seven-member Recreation Commission, selectmen voted Tuesday night to raise the number of members to 12 to give all the volunteers a chance.

The decision caused outgoing Recreation Chairman David Chabe to pull his application. He said a 12-member board was too large to work with in short meetings.

He was challenged by another member who said he had wanted to enlarge the board to nine a few years back and now he didn't want more people.

Bike rally rolling out from Fryeburg

FRYEBURG — For the second year, Fryeburg Academy will host the Maine Bike Rally as a focal point for dozens of rides through western Maine and the White Mountains.

The rally, in its 21st year, will take place from July 12 to July 14. More than 35 rides, ranging in length from 5 to 100 miles, will be offered to bicyclists. In addition, the event will include music, movies, a bike parade and an ice cream social.

Corner Store Too opens Friday

NORWAY — The Corner Place Too opens Friday at 5 a.m., less than a week after its predecessor, Dad's Place, closed unexpectedly on Main Street.

"It's a takeoff from where we are," said owner Lisa Gallant, who signed a lease agreement with building owner Larry Roy this week to operate the new convenience store and deli at 26 Main St. Gallant owns the Corner Place at Nichols and High streets in Paris.

Floodplain ordinance readopted

NORWAY — Voters unanimously adopted a new floodplain management ordinance during Tuesday's special town meeting.

In a 7-to-0 vote, voters unanimously agreed to adopt the new plan and rescind one that was passed June 15 at the annual town meeting.

The ordinance had to pass by July 7 or the town would be removed from the program. The action was necessary after the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected the one approved in June because of problems with map names and dates.

West Paris voters accept ambulance donation

WEST PARIS — Voters unanimously accepted a used ambulance from United Ambulance Service as a gift to the Fire Department. The decision was made at a special town meeting June 25.

Town Manager John White said the vehicle will replace the 1991 rig now being used by the department.

The donated ambulance will be used as a utility vehicle to transport equipment that can not be stored on firetrucks such as air packs and other related articles needed at fire scenes.

Moore Park antics

Leslie Dixon/Sun Journal
Perry MacKinnon, an 11-year-old student from Coaticook, Quebec, stopped with his family Monday at Moore Park on Route 26 to play with a flying disc and have lunch. The family was traveling in their RV to a campground in Bath near Popham Beach for vacation.

FEMA To Inspect Oxford County Damage

PARIS - Teams from the state and federal emergency management agencies will be in Oxford County on Wednesday to assess damage caused by the recent heavy rains that washed out roads and at least one bridge.

Scott Parker, director of the Oxford County Emergency Management Agency, said the county has exceeded its threshold of $150,000 in damage for a declaration. "Our draft numbers are over $220,000," Parker said Monday. He noted the Rumford bridge damage alone was estimated at $500,000.

Oxford Hills arrest Log

PARIS - The following arrests were recorded at the Oxford County Sheriff's Office.
• Tony Sanders, 58, of 92 Roller Rink Road, Oxford, charged with operating a vehicle without a license, 8:35 a.m. July 5 in Oxford.
• Jacki Cliché, 28, of 332 Main St., second floor, Norway, charged with disorderly conduct, July 5 on Oak Street.
• Duane Allen Day Jr., 23, 734 Colcord Road, Porter, charged with criminal mischief, 2:51 a.m. July 5 at his home.

Motorcyclist remains in critical condition

NORWAY - A New Gloucester man remained in critical condition Monday afternoon, a day after his motorcycle and a car collided on Route 118 by the Little Red School House.
Carroll Francis, 52, was flown to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston shortly after the 6:20 p.m. crash Sunday. A spokesperson said Monday that Francis was in critical condition.

Norway special meeting to address flood ordinance

NORWAY — A special town meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday to vote again on a Floodplain Management Ordinance, which was approved at the June 15 annual town meeting.
The action is necessary because the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected the first ordinance due to problems with map names and dates.
Passage of the ordinance must be made by July 7 or the town will be removed from the program.

Kean pulls wind power application

BUCKFIELD - Kean Project Engineering President Kirk Nadeau pulled his application for three wind turbines on Streaked Mountain, after Planning Board members and residents expressed doubts about the project. The application was due to be signed by Code Enforcement Officer Glen Holmes on Tuesday.
Planning Board members and residents alike were distressed to learn that with the permit signed, they could not stop the installation because there is no ordinance.

Art, music, fireworks in Bethel

BETHEL — A huge number of activities highlight the 20^th annual Independence Day Festival on Saturday, beginning with food, art and artisans offerings at 9 a.m., and ending with a grand fireworks display at dusk.

Crowds swarm to Perham's closing sale

WEST PARIS — Hundreds of people turned out Friday in just the first few hours of the three-day going-out-of-business sale at Perham's of West Paris gem store on Route 26.

Paris police arrest motorist

PARIS - The following were booked at the Oxford County Jail.
• Jason M. Place, 33, 8 Lords Lane, Paris, charged with driving under the influence and speeding; 8:50 p.m. July 2 on Main Street, Oxford, by Sgt. Rickie Jack.
• Kevin Richardson, 47, of 97 Durgin Road, Paris, charged with obstructing the report of a crime, 5:40 a.m. July 2 at his home by Paris Police Department.
• Carlos Boyd, 37, 951 Route 232, Bethel, charged with domestic assault, 4:15 a.m. July 3 at 816 North Road by officer George Gould of Bethel Police Department.

Solid Waste reappointment stirs controversy

NORWAY — A Paris representative to the Norway-Paris Solid Waste Committee unsuccessfully asked Norway selectmen Thursday night to not reappoint a Norway committee member who she claims is not adhering to the bylaws.
"If we appoint the same people who only will abide by rules and bylaws subjectively and selectively as they see fit, are we really doing the best for the citizens of Norway and Paris?" Janet Jamison asked the board in a three-page statement she read.

Hartford officials requesting cable TV service

HARTFORD - The Board of Selectmen signed a letter Thursday night asking Time Warner to consider bringing cable TV service to the town.

Police lights, sirens fail to stop teen driver

NORWAY - Police say a 16-year-old Bethel driver was apparently oblivious to a police cruiser's loud siren and flashing lights Thursday afternoon as police tried for more than a mile to pull her over on Route 26.

The teen was stopped at about 1:30 p.m. and charged with failure to stop for a police officer after cruisers from Paris, Norway and Oxford converged on her 1999 Dodge Durango in front of Johnston's Auto & Radiator Shop on Route 26 near the Oxford town line.

Pollis sentenced to one year for robbery

Man sentenced in Mexico thefts

By M. Dirk Langeveld
Staff Writer

Norway forum focuses on homeless teens

NORWAY — One thing is certain. Homelessness among teens is a real problem in the Oxford Hills, community leaders and educators said this week.
About 60 people gathered at the Second Congregational Church on Tuesday evening to discuss the problems, including the current services, where they are falling short and how to meet the needs of homeless teens. The group agreed that education is the first step in addressing the problem.

Volkswagon to be relocated

NORWAY — The little red 1969 Volkswagen Beetle being raffled off by the Norway-Paris Lion's Club has a new home. Sometime this week it should be parked outside the Sideline Variety Store on Alpine Street or Weltners General Store on Route 117 by the entrance to Lake Pennesseewasee, said Lion's Club member Terry Twitchell.

Route 117 work

Leslie Dixon/Sun Journal
Corey Flagg of Livermore Falls helps direct traffic at the intersection of Route 117, going toward Harrison, and Old Stage Road in Norway. The Department of Transportation is reconstructing a portion of the road. This week the work is focusing on diverting a road side stream and clearing trees from the upper end of the road. Traffic is being kept to one lane.

Power restored in Waterford

DEP increases action against mill owner

OXFORD — The Department of Environmental Protection has told the president of Robinson Manufacturing Co. that it has reconsidered a promise to show "discretion" in its enforcement action regarding the wastewater treatment plant at the former woolen mill.
In a letter dated June 25 from the DEP to John C. Robinson of Raymond, state officials said the department's earlier assurances no longer apply because Robinson failed to meet the conditions of the enforcement action.