Roxbury Riders ATV Club getting defibrillator, training

ROXBURY — On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Roxbury Riders All-Terrain Vehicle Club will become the first ATV club in the state to get an automated external defibrillator, selectmen learned at Tuesday night's board meeting.

To make it happen, Med-Care Ambulance in Mexico and and NewPage Corp.'s paper mill in Rumford teamed up with the club to provide the life-saving device.

Mexico PD gets OUI, safety-belt grants

MEXICO — Additional patrols for drunken drivers and safety belt violators began Wednesday thanks to a grant from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety.

Sgt. Roy Hodsdon said the Mexico Police Department received $2,400. This is at least the sixth year the department has received such a grant.

The funds will allow additional four-hour OUI patrols and two-hour safety belt check patrols in addition to the regular police patrol coverage.

Rumford crime bulletin

 Incident Report Statistics:

Between 6 a.m. Nov. 1 and 6 a.m. Nov. 8, patrol officers responded to 73 complaints.

Arrests and summonses:

On Nov. 1 - 8:59 a.m., Amanda Pingree, 24, of Rumford was charged by Ptl. K. Scott Mills with operating after suspension on Hancock Street. Pingree is scheduled to appear in Rumford District Court on Jan. 5.

On Nov. 1 - 3:10 p.m., James Groves, 18, of Rumford was charged by Sgt. Tracey Higley with assault on Erchles Street. Groves is scheduled to appear in Rumford District Court on Dec. 8.

Veterans: Ordinary people doing extraordinary things

RUMFORD — While every war has its own unique problems, one thing is common among all — ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.

That was the message by Vietnam veteran Joseph Roberts, the featured speaker at Wednesday morning's Veterans Day ceremony.

"Rich, poor, black, white, men and women — some veterans have endured great hardships, all have sacrificed something so we all could enjoy the freedoms we have today," he said.

Board gets petition naming wrong ordinance

ROXBURY — Selectmen on Tuesday received a petition asking for discussion and review of the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance voted on June 15.

But the petitioners were mistaken: It was actually the Floodplain Management Ordinance that was defeated 17-10 on that date.

The document also asks whether the town should vote to reverse the decision on the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.

Rumford arrest log

Rumford Police

Arrests

• Carl Morrissette, 47, Mexico, operating after suspension, 10 p.m. Nov. 4. He was released on $300 unsecured bail and will be arraigned on Feb. 2 in Rumford District Court.

Wrong date

RUMFORD — The date for an event sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Rumford Performing Arts group and a local church is Dec. 12. A story on page B2 of Tuesday's River Valley edition had the wrong date.

Board OKs working toward new sports announcer tower

DIXFIELD — Selectmen on Monday night gave the green light for Dirigo High School coach Mark Thompson to work toward construction of a new announcer's tower at the school football field.

Thompson must now discuss his plans with Western Foothills School District Superintendent Tom Ward and the district's buildings and grounds director, Kenny Robbins.

Because the school's athletic fields are on town property, town officials must approve any changes at the site.

Mexico police log

MEXICO — The following incidents were handled by the Mexico Police Department:

Arrest

William Weymouth, 50, Alder Street, Mexico, operating after suspension, at 12:31 p.m. Nov. 7 on Main Street. He was released from the Mexico Police Department on $200 unsecured bail. He is scheduled to appear in Rumford District Court on Jan. 5.

Theft

Petition-driven moratorium on wind farms prompts special meeting

RUMFORD — Despite a lack of proposed commercial wind power development projects in town, backers calling for a 180-day moratorium on such projects still believe the action is warranted.

That's why the Rumford Wind Power Education Committee continued to seek signatures this fall on its moratorium petition even after selectmen voted against holding a special town meeting to put the matter before voters.

Now, that's a moot point.

Rumford crime bulletin

Incident Report Statistics:

Between 6 a.m. Nov. 1 and 6 a.m. Nov. 8, patrol officers responded to 73 complaints.

Criminal Mischief:

On Nov. 1 — 10:49 a.m., officer on patrol observed graffiti spray painted on Rumford Avenue. The case is under investigation

On Nov. 1 — 1:34 p.m., more graffiti was observed on Falmouth Street. The case is under investigation

On Nov. 1 — 3:09 p.m., additional graffiti was observed on Rumford Avenue. The case is under investigation with possible suspects.

Toiletries, snacks wanted for soldiers in Afghanistan

DIXFIELD — When Vickie Carrier and the other women in the Town Office sent out a call a few years ago for personal and snack items to send to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq, they were overwhelmed with the response from local residents.

They gathered enough items to fill 12 boxes and enough money to ship them to the 82nd Airborne.

Now, six years later, the town clerk is asking for more items, this time for soldiers serving in the 82nd Infantry in Afghanistan.

Flu vaccination clinics rescheduled

DIXFIELD — Some clinics planned for schools in the Western Foothills School District have been rescheduled because H1N1 flu vaccine wasn't received in time, Superintendent Tom Ward told the board at Monday night's meeting.

He also said that absenteeism in one of the district's four elementary schools has risen to 15 percent, a number that requires a report to the state, while such rates are rising districtwide. He did not identify the school.

Community Concerts series to end after 62 years

RUMFORD — The long-running Community Concerts series will end next year due to finances and lack of younger subscribers, an official said Monday.

Dee Holman, a longtime member of series, said she believes it's the last one of its kind in New England. She said the board that runs the series voted to end its association with Live on Stage of Nashville, a booking agency, because costs keep going up and younger people aren't taking advantage of the professional performances.

"We have individual donors who are sorry to see it go," she said.

Wind farm info center

Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

Tom Carroll, project manager for two proposed wind farms in Dixfield/Canton, and Carthage, sets up some informational displays at the former Holmes' Market on Main Street in Dixfield on Monday. The projects are being planned by Patriot Renewables LLC of Quincy, Mass. Carroll will staff the storefront Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays to answer questions and concerns about the project. He may also be reached on his cell phone at 781-789-7073 and by e-mail at tcarroll@patriotrenewables.com

She came back

Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

Stormy, a nearly 10-year-old American Eskimo, was thrilled to see her owner, Barbara Stevens, after waiting outside the Dixfield Post Office for her to return. Stevens adopted the fluffy, white dog from the Androscoggin County Animal Shelter in September.

This week's meetings

Tuesday

Bethel: Airport Master Plan Committee, 7 p.m., Town Office

Mexico: Water District Trustees, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall

Roxbury: Selectmen, 6 p.m., Town Office

Rumford: Park & Recreation Commission, 4 p.m., Hosmer Field

 

Wednesday

Bethel: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Office (town office is closed)

 

Thursday

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

Selectmen to appoint someone to fill six-month term on board

RUMFORD — People interested in seeking a six-month term on the Board of Selectmen will be interviewed by the board during a workshop at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, in the municipal building jury room.

Then, during the board's regular business meeting at 7 p.m., selectmen will appoint someone chosen during that workshop.

The half-year term became available last month when Selectman Robert Cameron resigned due to prior commitments. Cameron, who has 18 months remaining in his three-year term, agreed to serve until after the board's second meeting this month.

Eleven chosen for National Honor Society

DIXFIELD — Eleven juniors and seniors at Dirigo High School were tapped Friday afternoon to become the newest members of the National Honor Society.

The informal ceremony, held as part of the monthly student assembly, is preliminary to the official candlelight induction ceremony set for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the high school's community room.

Dakota Turnbull, president of the DHS society, said the school's faculty council chose the 11 based on the four pillars of the organization: character, scholarship, leadership and service.

Veterans Day ceremony set

RUMFORD — The annual Veterans Day ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the auditorium of Mountain Valley High School.

Vietnam veteran, Joseph Roberts will be the featured speaker. He served in the Air Force from 1971-1976, including a year in Vietnam. He is also the commander of the local Sundown Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.

Members of that youth group will serve as color guard, and will perform the missing man ceremony, which depicts an empty place setting for a soldier missing in action.

Cold dog

Amber Waterman/Sun Journal

"Snowy," an Eskapoo (American Eskimo-poodle mix), warms up in John Brennan's jacket as he watches his son play for the Winthrop Ramblers against the Dirigo Cougars in Saturday's semifinal football game in Dixfield.

Flu vaccine clinic postponed

Terry Karkos/Sun Journal

A Regional School Union 10 sign beside Route 108 in Peru alerts parents of Dirigo Elementary School children that Saturday's free H1N1 flu vaccine clinic was rescheduled for next week. School officials were not available to say why. 

Wind farm forum brings ill breeze

DIXFIELD — More than 60 people turned out Friday night for the first public informational meeting on a proposed wind farm project on a ridgeline in Dixfield and Canton.

Most spoke against siting a wind farm on the Colonel Holman Mountain ridge, stating beliefs that noise and shadow flicker could cause a variety of illnesses in people who live within 2 miles of a turbine.

Canton man convicted in March 15 shooting deaths of two dogs

PARIS — A Canton man pleaded no contest Thursday in Oxford County Superior Court to two charges that he shot and killed his neighbor's two dogs March 15 when they got loose and came onto his porch.

Judge Donald Marden found Thomas E. Averill, 42, of Dearborn Road, guilty of two counts of animal cruelty in the deaths of pit bull-mix dogs Keisha, 5, and Ding Ding, 2.

A felony charge of reckless conduct with a firearm was dismissed in the plea arrangement.

Wrong cost

CANTON — The cost to build a new dam on Whitney Brook, which drains Lake Anasagunticook, would be $653,500. The cost was incorrectly reported in a story on B1 in the River Valley edition Friday.