NORWAY – Robert S. Howe, executive director of the Maine County Commissioners Association, discussed the state proposal to consolidate county jails at the Jan. 8 meeting of the Oxford County Republican Committee at the Norway Masonic Lodge, Temple Street.

Following a ham dinner, Howe made a presentation on the controversial proposal by Gov. John Baldacci to consolidate county jails under state control.

During the business meeting following, Becky Kendall of Bethel, state committeewoman, discussed Republican caucuses to be held the weekend of Feb. 1 to 3, and described her efforts to get as many towns to caucus as possible. Others came forward and will help with the caucuses and candidate recruitment.

The Lincoln Day dinner was announced for March 1 at the Bethel Inn Conference Center. Since there will be caucuses in February and the Lincoln Day dinner in March, it was agreed not to have meetings in February and March, but resume them again in April prior to the state convention in May.