Thu, May 23, 2013

    News

    • Sumner food bank looking to grow

      Feb 03, 2011 12:16 am

      GIVING BACK — Sumner Food Bank volunteers, from left,  Steve Chesley, Vernon Bradeen, Earle Simpson, and Kate Chesley prepare a care package for a local family in need.

    • Poland eyes final mile on Route 26

      Feb 03, 2011 12:16 am

      POLAND — The massive reconstruction of Route 26 is mostly complete – but the “final mile” in Poland is still on the drawing board.

      This summer, the Maine Department of Transportation rebuilt Route 26 from the intersection of Route 122 to Brown Road in the Poland Village.

    • Poland struggles to balance budget needs

      Feb 03, 2011 12:16 am

      POLAND — The town’s draft budget is ready for scrutiny.

      “Our budget process started with me and the department heads putting together what we believe is the best draft budget from what we see and what we can cut,” said Town Manager Dana Lee. “The draft budget went to our budget committee and to selectmen at their meeting to save $5.00 to ship each package. Selectmen will review the draft and mark it up and then on February 9 we will begin deliberations with the budget committee and selectmen.”

    • Wind power will come before Woodstock voters

      Feb 03, 2011 12:16 am

      WOODSTOCK — Voters will be asked to weigh in on wind power during the next town meeting.

      On February 1, 2011, Dawn Hall, representing the Friends of Spruce Mountain presented the Woodstock Board of Selectmen with a proposed warrant article.

      The article asks "Shall the town vote to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a committee of Woodstock residents to develop an ordinance that will require a minimum setback distance between an industrial wind turbine and a residential structure of a nonparticipating owner?"

    • Oxford Fair faces changing times

      Feb 03, 2011 12:01 am

      OXFORD — The Oxford County Fair has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, with fewer animal exhibitors, larger crowds, and non-traditional, commercial attractions.

      Critics say that the fair has abandoned its agricultural roots and discouraged participation from "old-school" farmers, while supporters say that the fair is simply trying to survive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

      Personality conflicts

      Some exhibitors have abandoned the event, complaining of poor treatment and a lack of regard by fair organizers.

    • Towns earning less on reserves

      Feb 03, 2011 12:01 am

      AREA — The depressed economy is hurting municipal funds in many ways, and town leaders are being forced to face yet another loss of revenues in the form of slashed interest rates.

      Paris recently switched from TD Bank to Northeast Bank, lured in part by the bank's 1.35 percent interest rate on the town's idle cash.

      With the account fluctuating from $250,000 to $2 million, the account was earning anywhere from $300 to $2,250 every month.

      Last month, however, Town Manager Phil Tarr gave a disturbing report to the board.

    • Zoning committee draws few applicants

      Feb 03, 2011 12:01 am

      PARIS —Town leaders are disappointed in the number of people who have stepped forward to apply for what Selectman Lloyd Herrick termed "a very serious committee that needs to look at a very serious matter."

      The committee in question will be charged with developing a zoning ordinance that is in line with 10 goals set forth in the town's comprehensive plan.

      Six people have come forward to apply for the committee, but officials expressed concern that the applicants didn't represent the full spectrum of interests.

    • Cable TV hearing rescheduled

      Feb 03, 2011 12:01 am

      PARIS — A public hearing concerning cable television has been rescheduled for February 15.

      "Before engaging in franchise negotiations, the select boards would like to know if you have any questions or concerns that should be included in the discussions with Time Warner," read a statement released jointly by Norway and Paris.

      "Comments pertaining to programming, service experiences, subscription costs, service areas and reliability, along with suggestions for improvements, are all matters the boards will consider during this process."

    • Alarms cost taxpayers money

      Feb 03, 2011 12:01 am

      AREA — False alarms generated by electronic systems are costing local taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, but law enforcement officials say that there is no simple answer.

      "I've thought about it for almost 30 years," said Oxford Police Chief John Tibbetts. "There's no easy solution."

      One of the biggest alarm companies in the world is ADT, which claims that it handles 93,000 alarms every day for more than six million North American customers.

    • Foreign persons must report land holdings

      Feb 03, 2011 12:01 am

      SOUTH PARIS — Oxford County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Marcia Hall reminds foreign persons with an interest in agricultural lands in the United States that they are required to report their holdings and any transactions to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

      "Any foreign person who acquires, transfers or holds any interest, other than a security interest, in agricultural land in the United States is required by law to report the transaction no later than 90 days after the date of the transaction," said Hall.

    Syndicate content
    Copyright 2013 Sun Media Group