RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board has agreed to pursue the acquisition of a parcel of land and associated buildings.

Although no formal vote was taken following a 20-minute closed session, Curriculum Coordinator Gloria Jenkins said the board was “receptive” to the idea.

Superintendent James Hodgkin had said that although he can’t disclose the land owner or location of the parcel and buildings, the acquisition could fit into regionalization discussions with neighboring school districts.

These discussions, held during the past few months, seek to find ways to provide broader and less costly services for the districts. One idea is to create a central location for a common bus garage to be shared by the area’s districts.

Lewiston:

City’s Bates Mill exit proceeding

LEWISTON – Councilors paved the way for a Bates Mill exit over the next few months, agreeing to let City Administrator Jim Bennett sign a contract with developers Bates Mill LLC.

Bennett said he expects to sign the contract with the business’ principal, Tom Platz, and his partners, after city attorneys have given the agreement one last look.

“Then, we’ll take a little time on both sides to work everything out,” Bennett said “I expect to close in about 90 days.”

Bennett said there have been few changes made to the deal since councilors last discussed it on Nov. 25.

“Mostly, it’s been word-smithing between our lawyers and their lawyers,” Bennett said. “They’ve finally gotten to the point where the words say what we told you they said, and both sides agree about what they say.”

Lewiston:

Changes made

in Wal-Mart plan

LEWISTON – Wal-Mart’s grocery warehouse will be slightly taller and farther back from River Road and Plourde Parkway than planned.

Work on the retailer’s distribution center is to begin in April. “We’re getting closer to it, and the plans are getting more concrete,” said Deputy Development Director David Hediger.

Plans include adding another 6 feet on top of the warehouse, but reducing the building’s footprint by about 43 feet along the southern side. Original plans set the building height at 100 feet, and the size at 485,000 square feet.

“The end result is that the building is moving farther away from the intersection of River Road and Plourde Parkway,” Hediger said. “It’s a little change and shouldn’t have much impact.”

Hediger said the designs of machinery to be housed in the warehouse made the shape change needed. The building will be a huge grocery and produce transfer facility, full of conveyor belts and storage areas.

“Originally, they were planning to build a shell and then put the mechanics inside,” Hediger said. “Now, they’re planning on building the actual conveyors and mechanics into the building. To do that, they needed more room on top.”

Lisbon:

Selectmen seek to extend contract

LISBON – Selectmen have authorized Town Manager Curtis Lunt to begin negotiations for a new, longer contract with Earthtech Inc., the firm that operates the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

Their decision came after a performance review Tuesday night indicating “significant improvement” in the first six months of a one-year contract that began July 1.

Minot:

Lack of water closes school

A crisis at the Minot Consolidated School gave students and teachers an early start on their holiday vacation.

A failed well prompted school officials to cancel school due to lack of water. No water means no school lunches and no use of bathrooms for the approximately 300 kindergarten through eighth-grade students. It also may mean between $5,000 and $20,000 in unbudgeted expenditures to resolve the problem, said school Principal Don Bilodeau.

“This has really created a crisis for the school,” said Bilodeau.

The school’s 50-year-old well is 220 feet deep and normally pumps 20 gallons per minute.

The problem was originally thought to be a failed pump caused by a power surge during high winds and heavy rains and snow. However, the problem has become more complicated and will probably mean putting in a new well, said Union 29 Assistant Superintendent Bill Doughty.

Minot:

Expansion at school supported

MINOT – School Committee officials said they support a parent group’s efforts to push forward a $2 million expansion at the Minot Consolidated School and that they have no problems with selectmen dealing directly with a parent group.

Selectmen Dean Campbell and Steve French told the School Committee that their board had received a draft copy of a petition that would place the expansion plan on the March town meeting warrant. Selectmen were asked to determine whether the petition’s wording passed legal muster.

“We are feeling stuck in the middle. If you folks aren’t thoroughly behind us, we want to know,” Campbell said.

Turner:

Stolen car found on frozen river

TURNER – A car reported stolen was found on the ice after being driven across the frozen Androscoggin River Wednesday morning.

Androscoggin Sheriff’s Sgt. Dan McGinley said investigators believe the car was driven onto the river at the boat launch on Center Bridge Road.

The car struck the bank on the other side of the river before being abandoned, according to McGinley.

Lewiston:

Warren man’s charges reduced

LEWISTON – Charges were reduced Tuesday against one of two suspects nabbed a day earlier in a stick-up at a Lisbon Street pharmacy.

Originally arrested for robbery, 35-year-old Stephen Peterson was charged instead with hindering apprehension.

Police believe the Warren man waited in the car while Asa Troy Thorn, 30, went into Rite-Aid and demanded OxyContin from a store clerk.

The two men drove away from the scene moments before police arrived at the scene, according to witnesses. Investigators believe Peterson may have driven the getaway car at some point during their escape.

The pair was caught when a police officer pulled over the vehicle at Ferry and Apple roads minutes after the heist was reported.

Auburn:

Homeowner, neighbor douse fire

AUBURN – A homeowner and her neighbor fought a small Hotel Road fire with an extinguisher Monday, helping to douse the fire before firefighters arrived.

No one was hurt and “minimal damage” resulted in the blaze at 253 Hotel Road, Fire Investigator Gary Simard said.

Reported to emergency workers at 1:27 p.m., the fire broke out in a second floor wall.

Homeowner Gerry Brushwein said plumbers had been working in the same spot earlier in the day, soldering a heating pipe.

A neighbor who saw the smoke called for help and came over with an extinguisher.