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    • Catholic priest exonerated

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      STATE — Allegations against Father Maurice Lebel, formerly of St. Catherine of Siena in Norway, have been found to be unproven.

      "I write at the time to report that the allegation was thoroughly investigated, a canonical trial was held, and a three-judge panel of canon lawyers from outside the Diocese of Portland has determined that the allegation was unproven," writes the Most Reverend Richard Malone, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, in a letter to parishioners.

    • Main St. fender bender

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      MINOR INJURIES — Traffic on Main Street was stopped for about a half hour after a crash in Norway. According to Norway Police Officer Ron Cole, Karen Wilson, 42, of Norway was stopped in traffic when her 1997 Ford Explorer was struck by a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder driven by 20-year-old Peter Dickerson of Greenwood. Dickerson said he saw her car late but nearly came to a complete stop before the collision.  Cole said neither vehicle sustained any visible damage. Wilson was treated and released at Stephens Memorial Hospital after complaining of back pain.

    • Bill seeks extra 2 percent of casino dollars

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      AREA — Senator John Patrick (D-Rumford) has submitted a bill to the state legislature that would seek to carve an additional 2 percent from the Oxford County casino's gaming revenues.

      If approved, the money would be used to establish a Casino Remedial Fund, which would be disbursed to a nonprofit corporation that can demonstrate that it has been financially harmed by the operation of a casino.

      The non-profit, which is not named, would have to be located within 35 miles of the casino.

    • Wind company offers to bail out school

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      WOODSTOCK — It started with a throw away line at the Woodstock Elementary School PTA meeting on February 3.

      Tom Carroll, of Patriot Renewables, asked what his company could do to help the PTA. A parent jokingly said "Cut us a check for $120,000." Earlier that week the SAD 44 School Committee had voted to cut the WES budget by this amount, possibly leading to staff cuts at the last public school in Woodstock.

    • Bill seeks to exempt farmland from estate tax

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      AREA — Estate taxes are driving Maine's large family farms out of business, according to Rep. Jeffrey Timberlake (R-Turner), who has introduced a bill to address the issue.

      "It's the greatest way in the world to put, especially the small family farms, out of business," said Timberlake.

      Right now, if a farmer dies while owning a family farm valued at more than $1 million, Timberlake says that the estate will be hit with a $200,000 tax bill, even if the farmer seeks only to pass the farm on to children.

    • Oxford officials fear flooding

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      OXFORD — When the winter's snow and ice starts to turn back into water, Oxford and other area towns could be subject to lots of flooding, says Town Manager Michael Chammings.

      "We're petrified, we're so ripe right now for flooding," said Chammings. "We have a lot of snow and obviously the frost is not out ... if we get rain like [has been] predicted, the state's gonna have a lot of problems."

      The issue came up during the March 3 meeting of the board of selectmen after a citizen pointed out that a drain near the American Legion at 112 King Street is blocked.

    • Sumner hoping to reinvest scholarship money

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      SUMNER — Sumner could be changing the way it invests its Bicentennial Scholarship funds.

      The fund currently contains an impressive $59,786, and anyone in the town can apply for access, be they retirees seeking to enrich their later years or high school graduates on their way to college.

      Currently, the funds are invested in CDs, where they bring 3.5 percent yearly returns. At the next town meeting, officials will be asking the town to move the funds to a Maine Community Foundation investment.

    • State fees increase, local fees dropped

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      OTISFIELD — There will be a substantial increase in state plumbing inspection fees, Richard St. John, Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) and Licensed Plumbing Inspector (LPI) for Otisfield told the Board of Selectman March 2.

      The board agreed to drop an inspection fee to help mitigate the added cost to residents.

    • Town leaders propose Woodstock budget hike

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      WOODSTOCK — Woodstock's proposed budget for 2011 is $2,559,260.72. The estimated amount to be raised from taxes is $2,081,769.88.

      Outside of the town's school commitment, the budget is up $133,000 from last year. "Of this amount, an estimated $90,000 for a new plow truck will come out of the savings account, $30,000 is for the dam and Fire Department, so the actual town budget is up only [$8,000 or $9,000]" said Town Manager Vern Maxfield.

      As presented, the budget would raise the mil rate to .01514 or $1,514 per $100,000 property valuation.

    • New facilities planned, old bridge decaying

      Mar 10, 2011 12:01 am

      WOODSTOCK — Town leaders are discussing the possibility of closing Johnnie's Bridge.

      In response to correspondence from Greenwood about possibly replacing the bridge, Selectman Ronald Deegan commented that he had rerouted school buses last year so as to avoid the decaying bridge. The option of just removing it and blocking the road at either end was discussed. All agreed it would save Greenwood money.

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