In announcing the “privatization” of the remaining oil fields in his country, Venezulean President Hugo Chavez bellowed “Down with the U.S. empire!”The screech of fighter jets above served as his punctuation, seemingly to create the impression of a military coup.Chavez was declaring victory over powerful American oil companies, which, to keep drilling rights in Venezuela, […]

The city of Lewiston doesn’t need to sell the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.What it needs is someone to buy it.The chronically undersold arena houses one overachieving franchise, the Lewiston Maineiacs, whose recent rush through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs, en route to the President’s Cup final, has energized the community and kept the Colisee […]

Retail is personal.Consider the sentiment in Lisbon, where unquenched thirst for shopping led to the planting, for a few days, of a “We Want Reny’s” banner near the town’s welcome sign on Route 196. Reny’s is a wicked populah cutprice Maine retail chain, ala Marden’s, but writ smaller.How about the shuddering groans when the Twin […]

It’s time for Joey McLafferty to retire.The veteran pharmacist is popular in Rangeley, but his continued scrapes with state regulators and police irreparably breaks any lingering belief in his ability to responsibly dispense, and warehouse, medications. The latest incident, the mis-filling of a diabetes prescription, is the last straw.McLafferty has been fined and placed on […]

The impasse between Sheriff Guy Desjardins and the Androscoggin County commissioners has reached its inevitable crescendo: there are now lawyers involved.After receiving a legal opinion, Desjardins has moved to hire an additional patrol deputy appropriated in the county budget. The commissioners, according to Chairman Elmer Berry, will respond after conferring with their lawyer. Suits with […]

Marilee Jones’ image might be tarnished, but her message remains clear and strong.Jones is the deposed head of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was revealed this week to have “embellished” her resume to earn a position at the prestigious university some three decades ago. She fabricated having degrees from three New York […]

The years may change, but the sentiments stay the same.That’s Ray Berube’s assessment of the Auburn School Committee, a board that he served on decades ago, in a district that educated his six children. The retired Berube is the Auburn City Council’s designated liaison to the committee, and now one of its sharpest critics.A critic, […]

In gambling, it’s best to avoid getting in over your head. Just ask Mike Peters.On April 18, the Maine Gambling Control board member from Dixfield resigned from his post to protest slot machine proliferation in the Pine Tree State. He feels, as many do, that increasing the availability of casino gaming will cause “grave harm” […]

The phrase is stamped on the license plate on the 6,247, or so, registered motorcycles in Androscoggin, Oxford, and Franklin counties: “Ride Safe.” Short and sweet, these two words together are a mantra, and a caution, for everyone sitting astride a motorcycle.Its meaning is broad. Don’t drink alcohol before riding. Don’t speed or weave through […]

Nicholas Plagman, of Atlanta, Ga., says he graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in biology, wishes to attend medical school or pursue a career in teaching or journalism. This is all we know about the person who has embroiled Lewiston in turmoil. Plagman posts writing on “associatedcontent.com,” which allows users to contribute, well, whatever […]