Allied Van Lines says Maine was the seventh most moved-into state in the United States with a split 58.3 percent in-bound versus 41.7 percent out-bound.

Good news for our stagnant population.

Until you read United Van Lines’ report.

Its customers moved out of Maine with a split of 50.4 percent out-bound, 49.6 percent in-bound, putting Maine solidly in the middle of the pack.

So we’re either hot, or not.
– Kathryn Skelton
One dollar at a time
For the fourth year in a row, a Bates College class has prevented tons of pollution from being released into the air.

Students in an environmental economics class have bought and retired nine government permits for the release of sulfur dioxide, a pollutant that causes acid rain. The $292 permits would have allowed a coal-burning utility to release nine tons of sulfur dioxide into the air.

“This equals the amount of sulfur dioxide that would be emitted if you were to leave 3,600 100-watt light bulbs burning for one year straight,” said associate professor Lynne Lewis, who started the permit purchase in 2001.

In the past, students have pooled their money to buy one permit. This year, the class received a $1,200 challenge grant from an environmental organization in Colorado. Students matched the gift by selling T-shirts and soliciting donations.

“We sold sulfur dioxide by the pound,” Lewis said. “Five pounds for a buck. You can’t beat that.”
– Lindsay Tice
Jail birds
The Lewiston School System lost two of its officials this week when they were arrested and taken to the Ground Round in Auburn.

The men were freed about an hour later after friends bailed them out with donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Business manager Dean Flanagin and Lewiston Regional Technical Center Assistant Director Jim Horn were “arrested” by police Wednesday as part of the MDA’s annual “Lock Up” fund-raiser. The men appeared before a judge who set bail at nearly $1,000 each.

The MDA gave Flanagin and Horn a cell phone to call friends, family and colleagues for pledges.

“My pitch was, They finally caught up with me and now I need your help to get out,'” Flanagin said.

Like all 85 participants, the school officials were asked to join the fund-raiser about six weeks before it happened. Their arrest was no surprise.

But the men planned few of their pledges in advance. With just an hour to make their calls, they raised about $1,500 together.

“Folks were real nice, real receptive,” said Flanagin, whose pledges ranged from $25 to $100. “One person said, Do you need me to come down there right now? I’ll come down.'”

The MDA raised $33,000 through the Lewiston-Auburn event. The group holds nine similar fund-raisers throughout the state every year. The next one is scheduled for Portland on June 16.
– Lindsay Tice

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