HARRISON — There has always been something a bit odd in the way Jeff Stern walked. As a kid growing up, people thought his gate was off and over the last decade, people often asked him if he was limping. He didn’t think so but began noticing more “weird spasm[s]” happening in his legs. “I thought […]
Community
Coming up short: Oxford Hills departments need more firefighters
OXFORD HILLS — There is a growing problem plaguing local fire departments and some chiefs say it’s not just their towns, but statewide, in fact a countrywide issue – firefighter shortages. So much so that Paris Fire Chief Brad Frost and Oxford Fire Chief Wayne Jones have each put out the call for more people to […]
Norway Snowshoe Festival kicks off next Friday
NORWAY — The sixth annual Norway Maine Snowshoe Festival is Friday, Feb. 12, through Sunday, Feb. 14. The event features a unique exhibit of historic Norway-made and native North American snowshoes and Paris Manufacturing Company sleds, skis and wagons, snowshoe walks, snowshoe races, snowshoe games for the whole family and the Mellie Dunham Valentines’ Contra Dance. Recognized in 2012 […]
Private Roads, public expense: Emergency vehicles at risk on unmaintained private roads in Oxford Hills
OXFORD HILLS — Living in rural, western Maine where lakes and ponds are abundant means there’s plenty of private, camp and discontinued roads for firefighters to deal with during an emergency when seconds count. After the recent rollover of Harrison’s Engine 4 down an icy slope on a private road, the Advertiser Democrat decided to take […]
SAD 17 and RSU 10, 44 looking for local produce through Norway pilot program
NORWAY — Farmers are one step closer to getting their produce into local schools and businesses as the Oxford Hills Micro Distribution program continues to gain momentum. Farmers and buyers met at Norway’s Center for an Ecology-Based Economy on Jan. 20 to work out more of the logistics for the pilot program that has been nearly […]
Paris Budget Committee wants more policing proposals from sheriff
PARIS — The budget committee did not make any recommendations for funding the police department last week but instead requested selectmen negotiate with Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant about possible coverage for the town. At the Wednesday, Jan. 13 budget committee meeting, member Rick Little made a motion to zero fund the Paris Police Department and […]
Some Oxford Hills cops to give Narcan, save lives … but not all agree
By A.M. Sheehan PARIS — On Thursday, Jan. 14, some 30 to 40 members of law enforcement gathered to train to administer naloxone, commonly referred to as Narcan, in the case of opiate/opioid overdose. The training was in part an initiative of the Western Maine Drug Addiction Task Force and the Paris Police Department, according to […]
Owner’s lack of communication detriment to Norway’s Main Street
By Leslie H. Dixon NORWAY — Pigeon droppings cover the wooden floor boards. Sunlight filters through the plywood coverings of the two upper floors. The large glass and wooden front doors of three-story, brick building are locked. The historic Odd Fellows Hall is a noncontributing asset to the Downtown Norway Historic District and its economic resurgence. […]
The Fox School in Paris is slowly getting heat back
PARIS — Interim Town Manager Sawin Millet is cautiously optimistic a temporary solution has been found to heat the Mildred M. Fox School after the boiler went down over the weekend. The pellet boiler at the three-story brick building school at 10 E. Main St. in Paris hasn’t worked properly since Sunday night, he said. The […]
Forever young: High View Farm in Harrison to remain farmland for good
HARRISON — As a way to keep small, family farms alive, High View Farm owners Bill and Darcy Winslow have taken a major step to ensure their land will always remain an operational farm. In November, the Harrison-based dairy farm on Leander Harmon Road earned the designation of a Forever Farm through the Maine Farmland Trust […]