Residents of Smutty Lane Road in Saco are agitating the matter of changing the name of the road. The story of the origin of the name is that about the time this piece of road was built an extensive forest fire raged in the vicinity, leaving many acres of ground looking very black and smutty. Someone referred to the new piece of road as Smutty Lane, which name has clung to the road ever since. The road is certainly deserving of a prettier name.

50 years ago, 1958

ORONO – University of Maine officials said today between 75 and 90 students were made ill over the weekend after a meal at one of the dormitory dining halls. Dr. Percy A. Leddy, campus physician, said the students became illl after Friday night’s meal at the Commons Dining Hall, which serves about 400. The menu consisted of oyster stew, fruit salad, and milk.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A bewhiskered, beret-topped disc jockey was carted to the police station last night after a publicity stunt of burning of 600 rock ‘n’ roll records, mostly Elvis Presley. Leslie R. (Great) Scott! – who says the exclamation point is part of his name – is an announcer at radio station WMAK. He said he was tired of rock ‘n’ roll in general and Presley in particular.

25 years ago, 1983

• The nation is beset by a “farm depression,” but Maine farmers are faring better than their counterparts in most states, a state official said Tuesday as the Agricultural Trades Fair opened. Still, a continuing flow of imported potatoes, wobbly federal milk-price supports and possible elimination of federal credit programs are sowing hard times for Maine farmers, Agriculture Commissioner Stewart Smith said.

• While a spokeswoman for the city of Portland expects no problems enforcing a recently enacted anti-obscenity ordinance, a Lewiston committee will be studying a proposed similar law to see what its ramifications could be.