Mexico voters to determine fate of former SAD 43 central office, roads

MEXICO — When residents go to the polls next week, they will have two local questions to decide.

The first will ask residents whether they want the town to sell the former SAD 43 central office building next to the Mexico Recreation Center.

SAD 43 joined with the Western Foothills School District on July 1, a move that resulted in the c. 1960 former classroom building being accepted by townspeople at the annual town meeting. The insurance company values the building at $1.2 million.

Podunk town?

Podunk town?

You know podunk. It's a town next to nowhere where there's nothing to do, no place to go, and no one to meet.

But there are actual towns with that name: a hamlet in Ulysses, N.Y., not far from Ithaca, and others in Michigan, Oklahoma and Colorado. Podunk is also the name of a restaurant in New York's East Village and a large-scale bluegrass festival in East Hartford, Conn.

Municipal agenda

Tuesday

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

Mexico: Sewer District trustees, 4:30 p.m., Town Hall

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

Rumford: Performing Arts Committee, 4:30 p.m., Municipal Building

Wednesday

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

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

Dixfield: Wind Ordinance Committee, 1 p.m., Town Office

Veterans clinic move drawing closer

RUMFORD — Plans for moving the Franklin Street Veterans Clinic are drawing closer, an official said.

Jim Doherty, spokesman for the clinic in Augusta, said Friday afternoon that the veterans' organization is working toward a contract with the owners of a new site.

"We're still in contact, we're in the process," he said.

He declined to release further details about the location or when the contract may be signed or when the move may take place. He said it all depends on how much renovation must be done.

NewPage begins restaffing logging, chipping divisions

RUMFORD — The local NewPage Corp. paper mill is in the process of restaffing its log delivery and chipping divisions, but mill spokeswoman Janet Hall would not confirm the number of people affected or when the two operations will restart.

"We continue to evaluate what is cost effective based on economics," she said Friday afternoon.

Earlier this week, a Local Union 900 spokeswoman said that about 30 to 35 employees will be needed to run ground wood and long logs at an expected 50 percent capacity. Hall would not confirm the percentage.

Deer hunters warned about mosquitoes, Triple E virus

AUGUSTA — Sportsmen hunting deer this season in interior and coastal York County, coastal Cumberland County, and Kennebec, Penobscot and Waldo counties are advised to take extra precautions for mosquitoes: Transmission of Eastern Equine Encephalitis is primarily by mosquito bite.

Due to an outbreak this summer of EEE in Maine horses from mosquito bites, hunters should use insect repellents for personal protection from bites and use protective clothing until mosquitoes are no longer active.

Regular firearms deer season starts on Halloween for residents; Today is Youth Deer Hunt Day

AUGUSTA — Despite predicted blustery weather, young sportsmen hoping to bag a deer will take to the woods on Saturday with adult mentors for Maine's annual Youth Deer Hunt Day.

This year, hunters between the ages of 10 and under 16 can hunt bucks and antlered deer throughout the state. Doe-hunting-only for youths and adults is allowed in Wildlife Management Districts that are open to Any-Deer permit hunting during the regular deer season. Those districts are 15-17 in southern Oxford County and central Maine, and along the coast in districts 20-26 and 29.

Hanover residents approve $189,635 municipal budget, honor Susbury

HANOVER — About 20 residents Tuesday night approved a 2009-10 municipal budget of $189,635, or about 12 percent less than the current year's budget.

They also honored town librarian, Peg Susbury, as Volunteer of the Year.

Town Clerk Clem Worcester said townspeople also approved a revised Comprehensive Plan that replaces the original document written in 1974. The new plan incorporates a variety of state and town land use, subdivision, shoreland and floodplain ordinances.

Town learns it needs many new fire extinguishers

MEXICO — Selectmen learned at Wednesday night's board meeting that the town must buy several new fire extinguishers and check even more town-owned extinguishers for leaks and structural flaws.

According to fire Chief Gary Wentzell, 16 extinguishers need to be replaced, 18 others must be tested using a pressurized water system, and four are needed in areas that should have them but don't. Additionally, several highway garage trucks lack fire extinguishers.

Canton to consider seeking grant for dam work

CANTON — Selectmen set a public hearing and vote for Nov. 5 on an application for a grant to build a dam on Whitney Brook and consider an agreement to operate and maintain it.

The hearing begins at 6 p.m. at the municipal building.

The Community Development Block Grant would be for $500,000 to replace the temporary dam built by the town. The grant would require a 25 percent match of $125,000 by the town.

Selectman Scott Kilbreth said the Dam Core Committee has already raised $25,000, and several thousand dollars from donors has been promised.

NewPage: Ground wood, long logs to start up

RUMFORD — Two recently shut down sections of NewPage Corp. are expected to come back up by the first of the year, an official said Wednesday.

Sharon Burgess, vice president of Local 900, said Wednesday morning that management told union officials last week that long log and ground wood would start up at 50 percent capacity.

Cooperative agreement, hot lunch contract approved

MEXICO — The Region 9 School of Applied Technology board unanimously approved a revised cooperative agreement with its sending schools Tuesday night.

It also approved a contract for a hot lunch program with the Western Foothills School District.

Director Brenda Gammon said the new cooperative agreement, which set guidelines for sending vocational students from Mountain Valley, Dirigo and Telstar Regional high schools, primarily changed the name of the district that now sends students from Mountain Valley and Dirigo high schools.

Rumford man pleads guilty to federal gun charge

PORTLAND — One of three defendants charged with burglarizing a Mexico gun shop on Jan. 29 pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a federal gun charge late Wednesday afternoon, according to the U. S. Attorney's Office.

Keith Provencher, 27, of 206 Cumberland St., Rumford, admitted guilt to one count of theft from a federally licensed firearms dealer, Assistant U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee said.

She said Provencher would remain in U.S. Marshal custody in a Maine jail until his presentencing hearing in the Portland court in two to three months.

Public hearings on $2.9 million road bond, building sale draw small crowd

MEXICO — Public hearings Wednesday night on two referendum issues attracted 16 people. A few vented anger and displeasure at selectmen on a proposed $2.9 million road bond.

The issues, which will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, ask voters if they want to authorize selectmen to sell the former SAD 43 superintendent's office next to the Mexico Recreation Center on Parker Street, and if they will OK a capital improvement project to borrow up to $2.9 million to reconstruct several town roads in the next three to five years.

Rumford police log

Arrests

Unless otherwise noted, the following are to be arraigned on Dec. 8 in Rumford District Court:

• Casey Campbell, 27, Dixfield, warrant charging failure to appear on charge of criminal mischief, turned himself in at 9:15 a.m. Oct. 20 to the police station on River Street. He was released on $100 cash bail. An arraignment date has yet to be set.

Halloween costumes reveal creativity

Terry Karkos/Sun Journal

After getting their individual photographs taken on Tuesday afternoon by Bruce Farrin, editor of the Rumford Falls Times, for that newspaper's "Bewitching Bootique" Halloween costume contest, these four Mexico children attracted stares and smiles from passers-by outside the Times office on Congress Street. From left are Sevigny children Riley, 6, dressed as macaroni and cheese; Avery, 8, dressed as an aquarium; and Owen, 3, as a jack-in-the-box; and 3-year-old Emma Dupuis, dressed as an autumn tree.

Nine arrested in 2 Mexico incidents

MEXICO — Two of nine area people arrested in two separate incidents Sunday and Monday in Mexico remained behind bars early Tuesday evening at Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.

Keith A. Provencher, 27, of 206 Cumberland St., Apt. 4, Rumford, was arrested early Monday morning at 23 Osgood Ave. in Mexico on charges of aggravated criminal mischief, obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct, assault and violation of conditions of release.

Public hearing on roads bond in Mexico

MEXICO — Selectmen will take comment on two issues at a public hearing Wednesday night: a $2.9 million roads bond and a question on whether to sell the former SAD 43 superintendent's office next to the Mexico Recreation Center on Parker Street.

The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. at the Town Office.

The public hearing is required before these issues appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to First Selectman Barbara Laramee.

Rumford crime bulletin

The Police Department responded to 66 complaints from 6 a.m. Oct. 11 to 6 a.m. Oct. 18.

Arrests/summonses:

Oct. 12 at 10:10 p.m.: Matheau Wilson, 33, of Dixfield was arrested by Patrolman Scott Landis in Dixfield on a charge of violation of a protection order. Wilson posted $800 unsecured bail and is scheduled to appear in Rumford District Court on Dec. 8.

Bridge work done, beaver dam removal needed

NEWRY — Work this summer to replace one of three bridges on Branch Brook Road is winding down just as another engineering problem is cropping up elsewhere in town.

Selectmen at Monday afternoon's board meeting learned that contractor D. A. Wilson and Co. of Bethel has finished the $134,545 bridge project spanning Branch Brook.

This week, the crew is paving approaches to the 16-feet-wide by 40-feet-long bridge, according to Administrator Loretta Powers.