Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Lewiston, Maine
FARMINGTON — A Madrid Township man was sentenced Friday in Franklin County Superior Court to two years with all but four months suspended for furnishing illegal drugs.
In an agreement with the state, Jason Wing, 33, will also serve 90 days for aggravated trafficking of illegal drugs at the same time as his other sentence. Each conviction carries a mandatory $400 fine, and he will be on probation for two years.
FARMINGTON — A Madrid Township man was sentenced Friday in Franklin County Superior Court to five years with all but one year suspended for aggravated trafficking of illegal drugs.
FARMINGTON — A hearing to request the transfer of ownership of about 40 animals seized from a home in New Sharon last month began Friday in Franklin County Superior Court.
Justice Michaela Murphy decided to continue the hearing, perhaps to Nov. 30, after Carol Murphy, 65, representing herself, asked to testify shortly before the court was to close for the day.
HIGHLAND PLANTATION — Longtime environmental activist and wind-power supporter Jonathan Carter of Lexington Township joined forces this month with a grassroots coalition trying to stop sprawling industrial wind farms atop Maine's mountains.
WILTON — The Police Department has received an $8,148 grant to conduct traffic safety checkpoints and enforcement patrols as part of the 2009 High Visibility Holiday Enforcement campaign, Chief Dennis Brown said.
The money from the Bureau of Highway Safety will be used to check for drunken drivers and enforce the seat belt law, he said.
FARMINGTON — Winter Wonderland is the parade theme for the 33rd annual celebration of Chester Greenwood Day on Dec. 5.
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has released a partial list of events for the celebration of the earmuff inventor from Farmington. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and proceed through downtown. Judging of floats will begin at 10:15 a.m. with cash prizes awarded in four categories: theme, originality, appearance and youth group. Earmuffs must be incorporated into each float.
WILTON — The Mt. Blue Christmas Craft Fair keeps growing: This year at least 160 tables will fill the Nichols Expo on the Weld Road on Saturday, organizer Shannon Smith said. The 16th annual fair runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The junior and senior classes at Mt. Blue High School sponsor the event as a fundraiser for Project Graduation.
FARMINGTON — Watching traffic on the Wilton Road, Harold Cote sees some strange things, but it's the waves and horn toots from motorists that keep him glued to his seat watching the busy road, also known as Routes 2 and 4 in West Farmington.
"I wave to everyone and many of them wave back," he says. "If I miss one, they'll toot their horn."
The Grange opened its doors to local farmers and buyers this month. From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, the Sandy River Farmers Market and artisans grace the hall with an array of locally grown vegetables, meats, baked goods and other items.
WILTON — Selectmen opted to not accept a gift of property on Sunset Avenue by a vote of 3-2 on Tuesday.
David Friedman offered the lot, assessed at $41,000, to the town. Taxes on the property were partially paid in 2005 but nothing else has been paid since, Town Manager Rhonda Irish told the board. Taxes due on the property have accumulated to about $2,100.
Although a town pump station is located on the vacant lot, it's questionable whether anyone could build on the property, Code Enforcement Officer Paul Montague said.
WILTON — With an ongoing concern for properties considered potentially dangerous, selectmen reviewed a list of those sites Tuesday and gave one owner a deadline for clearing debris.
An excavator razed a building on the corner of Depot and Union streets Wednesday morning. Over the past few years, the board had worked with property owner Janis Stinson who wanted the building taken down, but some selectmen had run out of patience.
JAY — The local economy has taken its toll on another small business. Tasteful Creations on Route 4 began a going-out-of-business sale this week, and will close at the end of December.
"The area has been hard-hit with the mill closing and the economy," said owner Laura Fitzgerald, who has devoted herself to the business for the past 15 years.
She worked in the home decoration and flower shop prior to buying the business about seven years ago, she said.
WILTON — A former shop on Route 2 will once again showcase snowmobiles, parts and accessories.
Scott Frechette, owner of Frechette's Ski-Doo, now located in Dixfield, is preparing to move the shop to the former site of Trask's Inc. on Route 2.
He has bought the property including three sets of buildings and hopes to make the move to Wilton over the Thanksgiving weekend, he said Wednesday. The showroom has undergone some renovation and signs should be going up soon.
Barker & Sons crew members Joel Barker, Fred Ross and Mark Cochran work on the foundation for a new office building Tuesday at Narrow Gauge Square in Farmington. Optometrist Troy Norton went before the town's Planning Board last month for approval of the new building next to Tim Saulters, chiropractor, and Narrow Gauge Cinema.
Mark McKenna and Mark Richardson of Quality Fence Co. of Rumford work on 300 feet of fencing they have erected around the front yard of the Mallett School in Farmington on Tuesday. The front yard will become the school's playground during construction of the new elementary school behind Mallett.
