Lewiston watches closely as migrants flow into Portland

Mark LaFlamme Sun Journal

Mark LaFlamme is a Sun Journal reporter and weekly columnist. He's been on the nighttime police beat since 1994, which is just grand because he doesn't like getting out of bed before noon. Mark is the author of eight published novels and rides a dual sport motorcycle everywhere he goes. Unless it's winter, in which case he just sulks a lot.

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Published
June 13, 2019

Lewiston watches closely as migrants flow into Portland

LEWISTON — Portland is experiencing an influx of migrants that some worry could spread into Lewiston. On Tuesday, Portland City Manager Jon Jennings set up an emergency shelter to accommodate more than 200 asylum seekers heading to the city from the South. As Jennings prepared to get the emergency shelter staffed, he said he would […]
Published
June 9, 2019

Mark LaFlamme: As easy as falling off a bike

Taking it to the streets On Tuesday, one of my downtown friends reported a woman dragging a vacuum cleaner up Pine Street just a few minutes before midnight. Finally there’s someone willing to get out there and clean up the downtown. A-OK, good buddy Well, it finally happened. While attempting to fix a broken knob […]
Published
June 7, 2019

‘No ordinary class:’ Lewiston High School graduates

LEWISTON — Kayla Berry is one of those rare teenagers. When her father offered advice about her schoolwork, Kayla took it to heart. “I worked my whole life and never really got an education,” said Troy Berry, the dad in question. “I’ve always drilled it in to my kids that education is key in this […]
Published
June 6, 2019

Lewiston police investigating fatal motorcycle crash

LEWISTON – A man was killed on North Temple Street early Thursday night when he lost control of his motorcycle, crashing through a row of bushes before coming to rest at the side of a house. Several witnesses said it appeared that the rider had been heading toward Sabattus Street when he lost control of […]
Published
June 5, 2019

Mark LaFlamme: It’s a great world when the simple things thrill you

I was riding down Walnut Street in Lewiston when I happened upon a young boy playing with what appeared to be an old curtain rod. It was one of those flimsy L-shaped things but the boy seemed to have crafted it, through sheer imagination, into the best toy on the block. For a little while, […]
Published
June 2, 2019

Mark LaFlamme: Ode to Elizabeth Ann and nakedness

Elizabeth Ann So, I rode over to this store at the corner of East Avenue and Sabattus Street in Lewiston the other day and figured I’d stop in for old time’s sake. Ever since I moved to Lewiston, Elizabeth Ann was The Store, the place you’d go at midnight for absolutely everything you needed. You […]
Published
May 31, 2019

Bees and Smokey Bear to rise above 2019 Great Falls Balloon Festival

Happy birthday, Smokey Bear. The 2019 Great Falls Balloon Festival theme centers on bees, bears and fire prevention. “Bee Safe,” the theme advises. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” Confused? “This year’s theme was based on Smokey Bear celebrating a major milestone: his 75th Birthday!” according to a festival news release. “We welcome you to […]
Published
May 30, 2019

‘Get ready to change the world:’ St. Dom’s graduates 2019 class

St. Dom’s graduated 38 students Thursday night.
Published
May 30, 2019

A short list of Rachel Desgrosseilliers’ accomplishments at Museum L-A

• Worker reunions and major Oral History project that now counts over 260 histories completed. • The saving of three major collections that have become national treasures. • The many successful exhibits of textiles, shoes, brick, music, immigration and who we are as a people. • Having brought people in from 42 states and 12 […]
Published
May 30, 2019

Museum L-A director Rachel Desgrosseilliers stepping down

Elliott Epstein, Museum L-A founder and president, once said of Desgrosseilliers: “We thought we had brought on a hurricane in Rachel but discovered that we were actually dealing with a tornado.”