River Valley election times, palces

River Valley election times and places for Nov. 3

 

Andover 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Town Hall

Albany 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Grange Hall

Bethel 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Crescent Park School

Byron 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Town Office

Buckfield 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Town Office

Canton 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Town Office

Carthage 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Town Office

H1N1 vaccines ready for two school districts

The Western Foothills and Bethel-area school districts will administer H1N1 flu shots starting this week.

In the Western Foothills district, shots will be given on three consecutive Saturdays, starting this weekend. They will be given only to students whose parents accompany their child, so they can sign a waiver, said Laurie Soucy, school health coordinator. Students ages 18 and older do not need parental permission.

All shots are free, and any child in the region may attend the clinic for that area. All clinics will run from 8 a.m. until noon. They are:

Saturday stroll

Terry Karkos/Sun Journal

A driver waits for more than a dozen wild turkeys to cross Route 2 a few miles west of Rumford Center on Saturday afternoon. The birds lined up on the edge of a field of brush, then the lead turkey marched the flock across the road, heads held high and taking their time.

Carthage woman charged in brutal Mexico assault

MEXICO — A South Carthage woman remained behind bars on Saturday, charged with elevated aggravated assault in Friday night's brutal beating of a Mexico woman.

After turning herself in to police following the assault, Jennifer Hodgkins, 28, formerly of Peru, was taken to Oxford County Jail in Paris where she remained, unable to post $5,000 cash bail, said Chief James Theriault of the Mexico Police Department.

Deer season brings early success for two Paris hunters

WEST PARIS - Less than an hour after entering the Paris woods on Saturday morning, hunter Ernie Fitts of South Paris bagged the largest buck of his life as it unwittingly approached him.

Judging by its large neck, Fitts said the 8-point, 196-pound deer was in full rut, despite the fact that mating season for deer doesn't peak until the second or third week of November.

Opening day deer-hunting memories

I come from a long family line of successful deer hunters, so you'd think some of that ingrained ancestral talent would rub off on me like springtime velvet on a tree from a buck's antlers.

Opening day of Maine's firearms hunting season for deer is one of my favorite times of the year.

I have old photos of my dad and his three brothers — and their father and five uncles and even my great-grandfather — at the family camp in Wilton, proudly showing off the deer they got during the season.

Spirits of departed inn guests refuse to check out

Over its 96-year-history, the Bethel Inn has seen many guests come and go.

But some who departed the inn, and this earth, may have returned.

Housekeeping Manager Laura Taylor believes they have, and that she's seen them.

"My first experience was over in The Oaks," she said. "Our crew was over there, and out of the corner of my eye I saw someone. I thought it was one of the girls, and I looked toward the door.

Woman airlifted to Lewiston hospital after pipe attack

MEXICO — A woman was flown to a Lewiston hospital Friday night after being struck in the head with a metal pipe, and police were investigating and unavailable to give details.

The assault happened at about 6:15 p.m. A Med-Care Ambulance parked in front of the Paradise Day Spa business and near a three-story brick apartment complex opposite the fire station took the unresponsive woman to Rumford Hospital. At about 7:30 p.m., a LifeFlight helicopter took her to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

Dixfield chief adding patrol for Halloween safety

DIXFIELD — Police Chief Richard Pickett is beefing up patrol during Halloween events Saturday to ensure safety for all.

The town's annual Halloween Walk begins at 5 p.m. Saturday at Main and Weld streets, with an extra police patrol on through the evening and four or five members of the Mexico Police Explorers.

"They volunteered to help out as a public service," Pickett said.

The young Explorers will help ensure that the several hundred expected trick-or-treaters will be safe not only on Weld Street, but also on the side streets.

School districts expecting state cuts this year and next

The reduction in state aid to the Western Foothills and Telstar school districts for the current school year may not be as deep as originally expected because of the state deficit, but next year promises to be extremely challenging, superintendents said.

Regional School Unit 44 Superintendent David Murphy of Bethel said preliminary estimates show a reduction of more than $200,000 in state aid, compared to last school's figure of about $168,000.

Federal grant provides kids, parents with after-school programs

RUMFORD — Using a PowerPoint presentation, stuffed owls and a stuffed bald eagle, Ryder Scott talked about raptor ecology to 50 Rumford Elementary School students and parents during Thursday's after-school program.

The Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center program director's presentation and a simultaneous one on bats at Meroby Elementary School were offered as part of a national awareness campaign for after-school programs.

Dead trees felled, removed along Hancock Street

Terry Karkos/Sun Journal

A Lucas Tree Experts crewman waits Wednesday morning for a Rumford Public Works bucket loader operator to remove a felled tree on Hancock Street, which is also Route 2. The crews were removing dead trees lining the street at the request of Central Maine Power Co. That block of Hancock Street was closed to traffic during the operation.

Firefighters not suspended

RUMFORD — A story published in Wednesday's edition had an incorrect headline. Four Mexico firefighters charged with underage drinking were placed on probation. It was an editing error.

Rumford man pleads guilty to federal Internet sex charge

A Rumford man remained in federal custody on Wednesday in Montana, a week after admitting in federal court that he e-mailed sexually explicit photos of children from his Pine Street home to undercover investigators in Montana.

Wrong surname

RUMFORD — River Valley Chamber of Commerce President Cheryl Dickson's surname was incorrectly reported in an article on Page B1 in Wednesday's River Valley edition. 

RSU 10 to set long-term goals, approves European trip for high school students

DIXFIELD — The Western Foothills School District board approved a field trip to Europe next summer for any student in the district's high schools in Rumford, Dixfield and Buckfield.

Superintendent Tom Ward said approval was given Monday night for Mountain Valley High School Spanish teacher, Vicki Ojeda, to escort high school students to Spain, France and Italy from July 8 to July 21. The cost for each student will be $3,361, and for adult chaperons, $3,846.

Halloween walk, haunted hayride set for Saturday

DIXFIELD — Youngsters of all ages will have a chance to celebrate Halloween in style Saturday night thanks to the annual Halloween Walk and a haunted hayride at McGouldrick Park.

The Halloween Walk, sponsored by townspeople who raise money through donations from businesses and individuals, will run from 5 to 8 p.m. along Weld Street.

Hanover tax rate drops slightly

HANOVER — Assessors on Tuesday set this year's property tax rate at $6.82, which is 33 cents lower than last year.

Town Clerk Clem Worcester said that means a home valued at $100,000 would see a reduction of $33 in taxes.

Last year's rate was $7.15 per $1,000 of property value.

Bills are expected to be mailed next week. Townspeople have until Oct. 26, 2010, to pay their bills in full. If not paid by that time, a tax lien will be applied.

Family left homeless after Rumford fire

RUMFORD — A mother and her three young children escaped from their burning apartment on Wednesday morning, after one child accidentally set her bed on fire while playing with matches, according to a neighbor.

While firefighters from Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield and Peru worked to extinguish the 7:45 a.m. fire at 25 Erchles St., neighbor Cindy Tuttle said the mother, Jennifer Moody, had taken the children to Rumford Hospital to be checked.

Roast chicken to Job Corps

Just in time for autumn apple pie - oh and cranberry raisin, pumpkin, too -- and heart-warming pot roasts - yes and roast turkey and pork and braised beef ribs - we took delivery of our new gas range. Shiny black and perfectly clean, and level (!).

We were happy to buy locally and to enjoy the perks attendant: free delivery and disposal of the beastly old range. One of its burners had to be lit with a match, and we could have lived with that for another eon. But when the oven went ...

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.

Wind farm developer to open storefront

DIXFIELD — Wind farm developer Patriot Renewables will soon set up a storefront in the downtown to provide information on a tentatively planned project.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said Tom Carroll, the community liaison with the Quincy, Mass., firm, told selectmen Monday night that the former Holmes Market will be staffed to field questions starting next week. Expected hours are Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Burglaries, thefts net thieves more than $2,900 in items, cash

RUMFORD — Police investigations continued Tuesday into last week's complaints of two burglaries and four thefts of items valued at more than $2,900.

• Oct. 24, 5:33 a.m.: A Fort Fairfield resident told police that someone stole a laptop computer, car key and $30 cash from their hotel room. The laptop is valued at $1,200.

• Oct. 22, 9:40 a.m.: A Cumberland Street resident said someone had burglarized the home and stole $1,100 in electronics and prescription drugs.

Heavy equipment hauler loses load on Route 232 corner

RUMFORD — A Woolwich man was injured Tuesday morning while rounding a sharp curve on Route 232 after a flatbed trailer he was hauling behind a dump truck, flipped over, spilling an excavator into the woods, police said.

Chamber administrator Crockett resigns

RUMFORD — After more than a year in the job, River Valley Chamber of Commerce Administrator Cherri Crockett of Peru resigned as of Friday, Nov. 6, to pursue employment elsewhere.