Sen. King shows his appreciation for police

Before touring the sites of the three recent downtown fires on Friday, U.S. Sen. Angus King stopped by the Lewiston police station in a nod to National Police Appreciation Week.

“Like most citizens, you go through life, you don’t think too much about the police except the guy behind you with the blue lights,” King said.

That changed when he was elected governor in 1994 and assigned 24/7 coverage by Maine State Troopers. King said then he could finally appreciate how much police did and how much they were driven to serve.

“Mary said if she ever wrote a book about our experiences it would be (titled), ‘The Trooper in the Kitchen,'” King joked. “I really came to realize how important it is, the work you do.”

King was referring to his wife, Mary Herman.

Events such as the 1998 Ice Storm and Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon brought home the importance of all first responders.

“I think it’s really appropriate to take a moment to say thank you to people who day-in and day-out do their jobs, but the key thing is when something dangerous or harmful comes our way, they’re the ones that stand between us and the danger,” King said.

— Kathryn Skelton

AMS Odyssey team off to Michigan

The Auburn Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team, which last month won the state competition qualifying them to compete at the nationals, had a hurdle to clear.

Money.

They needed $10,000 to go to the World Finals in Michigan. After weeks of fundraising, Principal Jim Hand announced last week the team has raised the $10,000; they are Michigan bound.

The team, coached by Angela Campbell and Jim Rowe, is planning to leave on May 21.

— Bonnie Washuk