RUMFORD FALLS – The government contract for the manufacture of postal cards for the next four years was tonight awarded to the Oxford Paper Co. Maj. Edgar H. Shook, the U. S. postal card inspector and agent will be retained here for the next four years. Under the previous contracts, which expired recently, the Oxford Paper Co. manufactured an average of 800,000,000 per year or a total of 3,200,000,000 for the four previous years. The largest number of postal cards manufactured for any one month was in June of this year when 60,000,000 were turned out.

50 Years Ago, 1955

With 15 shooting days remaining to Maine’s current deer season, the human toll is running slightly ahead of 1952 when a record equaling 19 hunters died in pursuit of game. Two fatalities Saturday raised the year’s total to 11. Three years ago the 11th hunting death did not occur until Nov. 15.

25 Years ago, 1980

AUGUSTA – In a decision described as “strictly business,” the Maine Lottery Commission voted unanimously Thursday to end its six-year-old weekly game.

The last drawing of 50-cent weekly tickets will be held Jan. 22, and a final $50,000 “super drawing” based on the weekly game probably will be held two or three weeks after that date, said Lottery Director Richard J. Carey.

Because ticket sales have declined steadily in recent years. Carey recommended that the weekly game be eliminated. The decision has no effect on the instant games or daily numbers game.

, which now provide the lion’s share of lottery revenue.