SABATTUS – Last Friday evening both the upper mills of the Webster Woolen Company closed down for an indefinite period. The shutdown was expected as the lower mills had been shut down for sometime before. The closing down of the mills throws 250 people out of employment, and the residents are feeling quite discouraged over the situation.

• The principal attraction at the Food Fair Tuesday afternoon, outside the various booths, was Thewlis, the handcuff king and jail-breaker. His entertainment yesterday consisted of getting out of different styles of handcuffs.

50 years ago, 1958

• In case of a disaster, how many homeless persons could be housed in Auburn? How many could be fed? How many automobiles would be available? Auburn Civil Defense wardens will try to answer these and other questions in a citywide survey which starts tonight. The wardens will start the door-to-door survey at about 7 p.m. They can be identified by their helmets and badges.

AUGUSTA – Gov. Edmund S. Muskie said today he has decided that he “should not seek a third term.” Muskie, Maine’s first Democratic governor in 20 years, said the decision he now faces is this: “Either I decide to seek a life career in public office or I return to private pursuits. A third term candidacy would be inconsistent with either alternative.”

25 years ago, 1983

GREENE – A motion to establish a driver-education course at Leavitt Area High School was tabled by SAD 52 directors Thursday night in order to give high-school principal Jack Biscoe time to accurately estimate the cost of the program. Prior to the vote, Biscoe told directors he thought a driver-ed program could be offered students at a cost of about $90 a pupil, providing 30 or more students enrolled.

• Greyhound Bus Lines, the only bus operation licensed for intercity service to Lewiston and north, has petitioned the state to discontinue service in a number of smaller towns from Kittery to Bangor.