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    • High, elementary school buses may be combined

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      AREA — In an effort to address a looming budget gap, the SAD 17 school board agreed to explore the idea of combining children of all ages into a single bus run for the district.

      If approved, buses would pick up children from Pre-K to high school.

      Currently, the district conducts one run for middle and high school students, which ends at about 7:30 a.m., and a separate run for elementary school students.

    • District nabs grant for student-run farm

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      OXFORD HILLS — Schoolchildren will soon be growing food for needy families, thanks to a state grant that was awarded to SAD 17.

      Students from local elementary schools, the middle school, and the high school will come together to found and work a four-acre farm, with a goal of raising produce for local families that don't have consistent access to food.

      "Everyone is really cognizant of the fact that one in five Oxford Hills families has food security issues," said Pat Carson, the district's health coordinator.

    • Norway may be forced to eye tax increase

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      NORWAY — Times are tough and tough choices may have to be made, says Norway Town Manager David Holt. With decreases in revenue accompanying increases in local obligations, he is concerned that the town might need to raise the local tax rate for the first time in four years. 

      "There may have to be a tax rate increase this year," Holt said at the meeting of the select board Thursday, February 3. "Either that or we may have to find a way to do without things that we have always had."

    • Report: Local students gaining ground

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      AREA — Newly released testing scores from the Department of Education reveal that local students are not as proficient in reading and math as the state average, but the gap is closing.

      During a presentation to the SAD 17 School Board, Curriculum Director Kathryn Elkins reported that the district has made significant gains as compared to the state over the past few years.

      "We've got some momentum going in a lot of places, which shows the power of what we can do," said Elkins.

    • 075-06-FRONT

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      OUR SENTIMENTS EXACTLY — The Reverend Bob Celeste, of Harrison, sent along this postcard ... Although the location of this church is unknown, its message certainly resonates with many.

    • Local driver wins award

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      MILLIONS OF MILES — David Yates has been recognized as the Driver of the Year by Maine Motor Transport, after putting in over 3 million miles without a major accident.

    • Area Golf Travel League holds awards banquet

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      WEST PARIS — Affectionately known as the "little castle," the West Paris Public Library has recently received an addition which makes the first half of that moniker obsolete.

      Almost exactly one year ago, on February 6, 2010, the town opened the doors to a library which had almost tripled in size.

      Since then, usage at the library has skyrocketed.

    • Conservation group growing in Oxford County

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      OXFORD COUNTY — An organization that formed to combat the disastrous Dust Bowl in the 1930s is starting to gain new recruits in the battle against environmental degradation.

      The Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been adding new members and launching new programs, says Project Program Manager Michele Windsor.

      "We've been trying to rebuild our board," said Windsor. "It's kind of, through attrition over the years, gotten really thin."

    • Winter snows strain Buckfield budget

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      BUCKFIELD — The season's numerous storms have added up to big bills for the town, forcing a purchase of thousands of dollars worth of sand.

      The storms have also cost certain taxpayers a mailbox, as a new plow blade has proven to be too high for the roads that run past many resident's homes.

      "These little piddly storms have really taken a toll," Buckfield Town Manager Glen Holmes told the board of selectmen during its most recent meeting.

      Chair John Lowell noted that the town had used more sand by late January than it had used for the entire winter last year.

    • Motor vehicles may be banned from Hall Pond

      Feb 10, 2011 12:03 am

      PARIS — The state is considering a bill that would prohibit recreational vehicles from using Hall Pond.

      The bill, "An Act to Improve the Water Quality of Hall Pond in Paris,"was introduced to the legislature last week, and was designed to help protect the drinking water of the Hebron Water Company.

      "It bans motorboats, it bans personal watercraft, it bans snowmobiles and ATVs," said the bills sponsor, Senator David Hastings (R-13) of Fryeburg. "It's a pristine water source."

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