Bank retains control of Oxford marina after auction generates low bids

OXFORD — Norway Savings Bank retained control of a marina near the defunct Robinson Mill on Thursday after a foreclosure auction failed to generate a bid high enough to satisfy the lender.

The bank, which previously approved two mortgages for the property owner totaling $260,000, bid $250,000 on the 4.02-acre marina on the shore of Thompson Lake. Janet Ross, vice president in charge of special assets with Norway Savings Bank, said the bid was meant to protect the bank's interests.

Paris to vote on recall ordinance

PARIS — Voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve an ordinance that would give residents the ability to recall elected officials.

The ordinance was drafted by the town's policy and procedures committee after residents expressed concern that elected officials in the town cannot be removed before their terms are up.

Oxford County drills for ice storm

Leslie H. Dixon/Sun Journal

Oxford County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott Parker gets updates at the emergency operations center from various county representatives during a drill for a severe weather event.

Chip truck driver rear-ends Rumford landscaping trailer, truck

BETHEL — Three men escaped serious injury Thursday afternoon after the driver of a tractor-trailer loaded with 32 tons of wood chips, rear-ended a left-turning Rumford landscaping truck and trailer on Route 2, according to all three men.

Corey Mills, 26, of Peru, said he was driving a Michael J. Mills Landscaping truck and trailer east on Route 2 at about 3:45 p.m. when he slowed to turn left onto Sunday River Road opposite the Sunday River Brewing Co. His passenger was Eric Welch, 30, of Mexico.

Backing still lacking for water district's proposed deed changes

BETHEL — The Bethel Water District's Board of Trustees continued Thursday to lobby for community support for its attempt to amend an 84-year-old deed trust prohibiting the district from harvesting more than $4,000 worth of timber per year in its watershed.

After 90 minutes of discussion with members of the Mahoosuc Land Trust, land trust officials decided to wait until after the Office of the Maine Attorney General decides the case, which will then head to court for a final decision.

Traffic stopper

M. Dirk Langeveld/Sun Journal

Terry Cram, head custodian at Guy E. Rowe Elementary School in Norway, directs traffic in a scarecrow costume on Wednesday at the close of school. "We try to dress up for all occasions," Cram said. "I don't know how many costumes I've got."

Paris police chief turns down firefighters' tollbooth fundraiser request

PARIS — A deputy fire chief is vowing to speak to legislators about changing state law, after the Police Department denied a request to hold a tollbooth fundraiser.

Deputy Chief Willie Buffington of the Paris Fire Department said he would like to set up a tollbooth on Route 26 near the post office to raise money for the Fireman's Association. Buffington said the funds would go toward helping hospitalized people, purchasing new fire equipment, and other causes.

Paris selectmen approve fire tanker retrofit

PARIS — Selectmen unanimously voted to have the Fire Department retrofit a poly tank onto the chassis of a tanker truck after the former tank developed a leak.

Chief Brad Frost of the Paris Fire Department said a leak of about eight to 10 gallons per minute was spotted on the tanker when it was used at a fire several weeks ago. Frost said the tank had also done some damage to the chassis, which is the third one it has been placed on.

Some vaccines arrive at Oxford schools

OXFORD — Two hundred doses of injectable H1N1 flu vaccine have been received by the Oxford Hills School District, and another 1,600 in mist and injectable forms are due by the end of the week, head nurse Ann Johnson said Wednesday.

"We are very excited that we'll be able to get our kids all vaccinated," she said. Cases of the H1N1 flu in the Oxford Hills School District continues to remain "spotty," Gray added.

Oxford home manufacturing plant still in limbo

OXFORD — The president of Excel Homes, a Pennsylvania-based modular home-building company since 1984, said this week that plans to re-open the former Oxford Homes site on Route 26 were still on hold.

"We're still in the holding pattern," said Steve Scharnhorst, president and chief operating officer of Excel Homes. "The housing market has deteriorated."

Scharnhorst said he believes things will eventually turn around, but until the company sees increases in business, it is unlikely the Oxford site will reopen soon.

County panel seeks budget cuts

PARIS — The Oxford County commissioners have recommended reducing the requests of several county budgets to lower a proposed increase in taxes.

County departments have asked for a total of $5,894,851, with capped expenditures to the Oxford County Jail amounting to an additional $1,228,757. The department requests also projected a total revenue of $2,244,867, leaving $4,898,241 to be raised by taxation. The amount would be an 8.75 percent increase over last year's taxation amount.

Drainage damages town roads

SUMNER — Road Commissioner Jim Keach explained to selectmen Tuesday night that drainage from Abbott Pond Road is having adverse effects on Redding Road.

According to the Maine Municipal Road Manual, improper drainage is the leading cause of road deterioration. State law authorizes municipalities to construct ditches, drains and culverts when necessary either along the road or over adjoining private property to properly care for a road.

Panelists discuss health care

NORWAY — A panel of speakers said Tuesday that proposed federal health care reform would have both potential benefits and drawbacks to the state.

The forum was sponsored by Western Maine Health and the Oxford County Chamber of Commerce. Joel Allumbaugh, CEO of National Worksite Benefit Group, said about 80 percent of Americans are "reasonably happy" with their health insurance, but two-thirds favor health care reform.

Economic committee backs casino

OXFORD — Members of the town Economic Development Advisory Committee lent their support to a renewed effort to bring a resort casino to the town Tuesday, unanimously voting to recommend that the Board of Selectmen support the venture.

Peter Martin, spokesman for Black Bear Entertainment LLC, said the group of local business owners in support of the initiative want to put the casino in an area of the state where it would provide employment for an available work force and revitalize the economy.

Ethics requirements urged for Paris

PARIS — A resident has asked that the town voluntarily adopt the guidelines of the Maine ethics commission to require any political organization to disclose its contributions.

Rick Jackson said the town is not subject to disclosure requirements because it has a population under 15,000.

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Submitted photo

Corporation willing to take over Opera House

NORWAY — The Norway Maine Opera House Corp. is set to buy the structurally damaged Opera House, if the town is able to negotiate the purchase of the three-story brick edifice on Main Street.

Vote on new gym, theater set Nov. 3

BETHEL — On Nov. 3, residents will have a chance to decide whether to go ahead with construction of a second gymnasium at the Telstar Middle/High School complex on Route 26. They will also decide whether to build a performance arts center at the same time.

The estimated cost for the two structures is more than $5 million. Financing would over 15 years. The loan, at virtually no interest, would come through the federal stimulus package. If SAD 44 does not use the money, it would stay with the state state for use during next year's round of funding.

Trick or treat or vote for me

It has occurred to me that it is quite appropriate that Election Day comes on the heels of Halloween. I think there are a lot of similarities between the two.

On Halloween, the kids get a little giddy with anticipation of what they are going to get for goodies from their door-to-door canvassing. On Election Day, the politicians running for office also get a little giddy in anticipation of how many votes their door-to-door canvassing efforts will bring them.

Oxford County arrest log

PARIS — The following arrests were recorded at the Oxford County Jail:

Joseph M. Brown, 49, of Denmark, Oct. 23, criminal threatening, terrorizing, $2,500 bail, Maine State Police.

Constance Melenie Brown, 38, of Denmark, Oct. 23, kidnapping, criminal threatening, terrorizing, bail unavailable, Maine State Police.

Richard E. Barden Jr., 23, of Denmark, Oct. 23, kidnapping, $1,000 bail, Maine State Police.

Matthew Stephen Peavey, 18, of Oxford, Oct. 23, kidnapping, assault, $2,500 bail, Maine State Police.

Paris subdivision changes going to MMA

PARIS — A selectman said Monday that amendments recommended for a new subdivision ordinance will be sent to the Maine Municipal Association to ensure that necessary requirements are met.

Selectman Troy Ripley said a committee of residents, selectmen and Planning Board members has reviewed recommendations on the ordinance from senior planner John Maloney of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments and town attorney Geoffrey Hole. He said a public hearing will also be scheduled on the amendments and they will later be sent to the Board of Selectmen.

Scholarship supper deemed success

Leslie H. Dixon/Sun Journal

School Health Coordinator Patrick Carson and Kate Goldberg of Healthy Oxford Hills prepared fresh produce for Friday night's scholarship supper at the Hebron Station School.

Award presented

Submitted photo

 Wayne Chandler, left, current president of the Weary Club in Norway, presented Helen Heath and daughters Diana Heath Nadeau and Mindy Heath a plaque honoring the late Clayton "Tim" Heath Jr. of Norway, their husband and father, respectively. The plaque formally known as the Weary Club's Legion of Merit Award, has been renamed the Clayton E. "Tim" Heath Jr. Legion of Merit Award in honor of  Heath's years of dedication and support of the Weary Club, the town of Norway and the

Coming to Main Street

Municipal agenda

Tuesday

Casco: Selectmen, 7 p.m., Central Fire Station

Greenwood: G&W Transfer Station Committee meeting, 6 p.m., Town Office

Hartford: Road Committee, 6 p.m., Town Hall

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

Wednesday

Bethel: Public information meeting on Farwell Estates, 6 p.m., Town Office

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

 

Thursday

Hartford: Universal waste drop-off, 1 to 6 p.m., Town Hall