• James Bernier and wife of West Kennebunk are rejoicing over the birth of their 24th child. Mr. Bernier is a French-Canadian who works in the mill there. There are 10 children at home. The rest are scattered so that Mr. Bernier does not know where they all live.

• The first launching of the year 1908 will take place from the New England yard at Bath today. It is of more than usual importance for it is not only the first launching of the year from a Bath yard but the first the New England company has had since 1906.

50 years ago, 1958

• If your dog bites your postman, you’re going to have to pick up your own mail. Delivery to your home will be stopped, at once. Postmaster General Summerfield said so today in announcing new instructions to post offices over the country to protect letter carriers from dog bites.

• Another nine inches of snow yesterday compounded the Twin Cities’ difficulties following last week’s storm, and there is more to come, the weather bureau said.

• The snowstorm in Rumford was reported to be about 12½ inches. The storm which dumped about 7 inches of snow in the Farmington area had changed to occasional flurries Wednesday night. About 8 inches of snow fell in Norway during the day.

25 years ago, 1983

• “M-A-S-H,” the anti-war comedy series that survived repeated cast changes to remain one of television’s most popular shows for over a decade, strikes its tent this week. The last scene will be filmed Friday on Stage 9 at 20th Century-Fox Studios, where for 11 years Hawkeye Pierce and his pals indulged in hijinks to forget their heartbreaking labors in the surgical tent near the frontlines during the Korean War.

• Recent rain and fog have coupled with an overall mild winter to make ice on central Maine lakes and ponds “treacherous,” and people should use “extreme caution” before going out on ice, warned Maine Warden Service Sgt. Eric Wight of Rumford.