Rumford crime bulletin

The Rumford Police Department responded to 69 complaints from 6 a.m. on Sept. 13 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 17. This figure does not include traffic stops.

Arrests/Summonses:

Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m: Angela Woods, 28, of Rumford, was summonsed by Patrolman K. Scott Mills for an incident that occurred on York Street on charges of theft and violation of conditions of release. Woods is scheduled to appear in Rumford District Court on Nov. 3.

$4 tagging fee hike closing big-game registration stations

NEWRY — A shortage of natural food in the woods is driving hungry bears to bait stations where hunters are waiting.

"Natural foods for bear are much less plentiful this year compared to recent years, resulting in a higher bait interest and harvest," state bear biologist Randy Cross said. "This appears to be true statewide this year." 

However, finding a registration station at which to tag the bear within the state-required 18-hour limit is getting tricky since legislators hiked tagging fees to $5 this year.

Leaves of fall

Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

Jessica Robinson holds her son, 5-month-old Kevin, while helping her daughter, Anna, 3, create a brightly colored leaf Monday morning at Ludden Memorial Library's storytime for preschoolers. Tots ages 2 to 4 gather each Monday during the school year to hear a story read by story hour coordinator, Cathy Leonard, then they work on a seasonal craft. Everyone receives a healthy snack at the end of the session.

River Valley health group advises how to avoid H1N1 flu

RUMFORD — Preparations are under way to protect people from the H1N1 flu virus, the local Rotary Club was told Monday.

Patricia Duguay of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition said the agency is educating the public on precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. She said covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and staying home when sick are important to prevent or curb an outbreak.

"This is a shared responsibility. We all need to be involved," she said.

Irving works toward upgrading technology in Dixfield

DIXFIELD — A huge crane plucks up a pile of 8- to 16-foot pine logs, then slides them to the nearby debarking plant. In another production facility, an assembly line of almost finished pine boards speeds up a ramp where they are sorted according to quality.

And nowhere in Irving Forest Products is any oil burned for heat. When heat is needed, it's from sawdust, chips or other wood waste.

Naming town hall auditorium up to Nov. voters

RUMFORD - Faced with a choice between three names to christen the municipal building auditorium for upcoming entertainment, selectmen took the easy way out and agreed to put it before voters in November.

At Thursday night's meeting, Town Manager Carlo Puiia read the three names submitted by residents at a previous board meeting. The names are: The Clock Tower Auditorium, The Rumford Falls Auditorium, and Chisholm Memorial Auditorium.

Business exposition vendor provides heat for cold hands

Terry Karkos/Sun Journal

Board sees no reason for moratorium on wind farm

RUMFORD — By a 3-1 vote at Thursday night's meeting, selectmen decided not to convene a special town meeting to allow residents to vote on a petition-initiated moratorium of 180 days on any development of wind farms on town hills.

Their reasoning? Acting Chairman Frank DiConzo and Selectmen Mark Belanger and Robert Cameron all agreed that no emergency exists to warrant slowing the process.

Mexico tax rate falls below $20

MEXICO — Selectmen unanimously set the property tax rate at $19.85 per $1,000 valuation at Wednesday night's board meeting. That's a $3 drop.

Town Manager John Madigan said he believes it's the first time in the town's history that the rate has dropped below $20.

Madigan said the reduction can be largely attributed to a revaluation that now brings the town up to 100 percent of the state value, and using $100,000 from surplus toward the tax liability. The town's value has also risen by about $20 million. This year's tax rate is $22.85 per $1,000 valuation.

Federal grant to help laid off workers

RUMFORD - As the layoffs of up to 100 paper mill workers at NewPage Corp. began Thursday, announcement was made that the federal government will kick in more than $300,000 to provide retraining and other benefits for them, as well as increase services for others in the area looking for jobs.

Statements from Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and Rep. Michael Michaud's offices, said that about $325,000 in a National Emergency Grant would be awarded to the Maine Department of Labor.

Selectmen approve local referendum questions on building, bond issue

MEXICO — Residents will make decisions on the fate of the former SAD 43 central office building and the condition of town roads when they go to the polls in November.

CMP line crews upgrading powerline in Rumford

Terry Karkos/Sun Journal

Rumford Central Maine Power linemen Jerry Phillips, left, of Phillips, and Cory Greenleaf of Wilton install new electrical equipment for a new dual-circuit distribution line Wednesday along Route 2 on Falls Hill in Rumford. 

NewPage mill value drops nearly 30 percent

RUMFORD — The value of equipment at NewPage Corp. is expected to drop by nearly $100 million this year, which could mean a significantly higher tax rate for the town.

The impact could be as high as $1 million, Town Manager Carlo Puiia said.

NewPage's drop in value corresponds with the shutdown and removal of the No. 11 paper machine following a number of layoffs at the paper mill during the past year or so.

Wind power moratorium, abandoned properties on board agenda

RUMFORD — Selectmen will discuss a proposed wind power moratorium and an abandoned properties declaration at their meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the municipal auditorium.

According to former Town Manager Len Greaney, who is representing the Rumford Wind Turbine Petition Committee, the group will ask selectmen to convene a special town meeting this fall.

Automotive students to raffle pickup

MEXICO — The Region 9 School of Applied Technology board Tuesday granted contingent approval to automotive instructor Dan Richard to hold a raffle for a donated vehicle his students are repairing.

The money would be used to buy automotive equipment for use by students in the program.

Richard said a 1994 Ford F-150, 4-wheel-drive pickup was donated to the program to use in any way that would be beneficial to the students. It could be sold, torn apart or fixed up and raffled.

Arrest made in Free Store burglary

MEXICO — Police arrested Michael A. Parker, 27, of Carlton Avenue on felony charges related to a burglary of the Free Store in July.

During that incident, nearly $4,000 in new clothing acquired as part of the annual Santa's Helpers Christmas drive, was taken.

Parker was arrested at 8 a.m. on Sept. 10 at a Third Street home and charged with possessing or receiving stolen property, Sgt. Roy Hodsdon said. Police recovered about half of the stolen clothing from Parker's home on Aug. 22. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

Wind farm moratorium vote set

DIXFIELD — Townspeople will decide whether they want to place a six-month moratorium on the development of wind farms at a special town meeting Oct. 14.

Selectmen set that date, along with the time for a public hearing, Monday night.

State surveying anglers on wild brook trout

AUGUSTA — Seeking help from wild brook trout anglers, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will troll their waters of opinion during a survey.

The results are expected to help the department guide the future of Maine's brookie resources, according to a Monday report.

"The goal is to help anglers enjoy Maine's unique gift of wild brook trout waters in a responsible and sustainable manner while connecting them with fishing services from sporting camps to fly shops," John Boland, director of fishing operations, said.

2009 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Season dates, bag limits finalized

AUGUSTA — Favorable breeding conditions and waterfowl populations will give migratory game bird hunters full seasons again this year, according to game bird biologist Kelsey Sullivan of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

After meeting with the Waterfowl Council following an Aug. 19 public hearing at the Augusta Civic Center, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Wildlife Advisory Council set the waterfowl hunting season to a full 60 days, as allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Oxford motorcyclist charged with criminal speed during charity run

RUMFORD — Allegedly riding a motorcycle 39 mph over the speed limit during a charity run Sunday in Rumford Center netted an Oxford man a trip to Rumford District Court in November.

James A. Bowden, 30, of 874 Main St., was summoned on a charge of criminal speed at 9:55 a.m. Sunday, according to Rumford police Cpl. Doug Maifeld. He will be arraigned Nov. 3.

Maifeld said Tuesday that he clocked Bowden at 74 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Rumford police log

Arrests
• Theresa Nicholson, 24, Rumford, domestic assault, 11:15 p.m. Sept. 13 on Forest Avenue. She was released on $400 unsecured bail and will be arraigned on Nov. 3 in Rumford District Court.

 

Big red truck

Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

The 1924 American Lafrance fire engine owned by the Rumford Fire Department took second place in the pre-1930 firefighting vehicles division at the Maine State Federation of Firefighters parade Saturday in Kennebunk. Eric Giroux, secretary to the Rumford Falls Fire Relief Association, drove the engine with his father, Louis Giroux, and fellow call force member Dalton Bradley as passengers. The trophy is on display at the Rumford fire station. Eric Giroux is pictured with his stepson, 3-year-old Rilan Farnum.

Library still optimistic about expansion funds

RUMFORD — Although plans to move and enlarge the historic Carnegie Rumford Public Library may be on hold, library director Karl Aromaa says the Library Growth Committee will continue to push the project.

“We're in an in-between time right now," Aromaa said. "We thought we had stimulus money (for the move and addition). We'll use this time to get our message out.”

Tentative plans have called for moving the original library and building a 7,000-square-foot addition at the former Stephens High School site on Penobscot Street.

European trip OK'd for high school students

DIXFIELD — The Western Foothills School District board Monday night approved a trip to Europe in 2011 for high school students, who must pay their way.

The trip is open to students at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Dirigo High School in Dixfield and Buckfield high school.

Irving adds shift, hires new workers

DIXFIELD – Nine of the 60 employees who lost their jobs when the Ethan Allen Furniture sawmill in Andover closed last month have been hired at Irvings Forest Products in Dixfield.

Irvings' spokeswoman Mary Keith said from the central office in St. John, New Brunswick, on Monday afternoon that the former Ethan Allen employees are part of the crew that enabled the mill to add a second shift recently. That shift was started when a contract with national home improvement retailer Home Depot was signed, Keith said. The second shift works primarily on specialty pine items.