100 years ago, 1909

Max Berman of Auburn wishes to correct the report that his engagement to a Lewiston young lady would be announced at a party to be given next Sunday evening. He says that if such an announcement is made, it will come as a great surprise to him.

50 years ago, 1959

A jet plane flying high over the Lewiston-Auburn area caused a sonic boom early yesterday afternoon, causing windows in homes to rattle and resulting in police and fire department switchboards being flooded with calls from inquisitive people.

25 years ago, 1984

For Bates College, dropping the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) as an admission requirement reflects a desire to send a message to high school students and their parents.

“What we’re trying to say,” says William Hiss, dean of admissions at the small private college, “is that what you do for the four or five years before you come here — and not just on one morning’s exam — is what we will be very carefully evaluating.” The decision to drop the SAT, announced in October, is effective with this year’s admissions.

The school’s decision to drop the SAT requirement for admission reflects a small but growing trend at colleges to make the admissions process more personal and to produce better-rounded freshman classes.