99 Years Ago – October 22, 1925
Eight counties raised a ban on big game — The big game season in the eight upper counties in the State of Maine opened at midnight Thursday night. Hunters were limited to one deer in accordance with an amendment to the laws adopted by the previous legislature, while moose were to be protected for another four-year period. According to reports from various sections, deer were plentiful and already many sportsmen from other states had arrived in Maine and were on their way to the big woods. Hunting of partridges, woodcock and other birds had been carried on for the previous few weeks, and in some parts of the state, this small game was said to be abundant.
50 Years Ago – October 23, 1974
Kennel fun match — The Aroostook County Kennel Club held its second fun match of the year Sunday, Oct. 20. Entered in the show were 71 purebred dogs from throughout the state and New Brunswick. Owners and their dogs competed for top honors in both conformation breed classes and obedience trials. The show was held at the Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute auditorium. At the end of the day, Rip Tide’s Kula of Ninth Turn, and Afghan Hound, was awarded best in match by Judge Kenneth Fordham. The dog was exhibited by the owner, Nany Upton of East Orland. Best puppy in the match went to Anka Von Kamar, a Doberman Pinscher owned by Linda Clark of Farmington. High scorer in the obedience trials was Glenda’s Tamarisk Honey, a Golden Retriever owned and trained by Glenda Armandi of Farmington. The dog achieved a perfect score of 200 points.
Local man outstanding employee — Aldeo Belanger of Presque Isle was awarded the Coles Express “Outstanding Employee Award” for 1974 Saturday night, Oct. 19, at Coles Annual Safety Banquet held in Brewer at the Twin City Motel. Belanger won the award for “risking his life in order to protect the life of Mrs. Philip Walton of Presque Isle on Jan. 21, 1974. Belanger entered Walton’s store in Presque Isle and confronted a man trying to rob Mrs. Walton. The man was threatening her with a knife. Belanger grabbed the man and managed to force him away from Mrs. Walton and into the street. The attacker was later picked up by police. Ken Plourde of Fort Kent was presented a National Safety Council award for two million miles of accident free driving, the first award to a common carrier truck in New England. Five other drivers, including Sidney Alley and Edward Gillespie of Presque Isle, won one million mile accident free driving awards from the National Safety Council.
25 Years Ago – October 27, 1999
Moose hunt statistics — Preliminary numbers from the October 4-9 moose season were in, and out of the 3,000 permits issued, 2,610 hunters were successful in their quest for a moose. Calls made to 24 tagging stations at the end of the six-day hunting season revealed that 2,610 moose were registered at area tagging stations. That converted to an 87 percent success rate. The previous season, there were 1,866 moose harvested with 2,000 permits issued. In 1999, 744 more moose were registered, but there was an increase in permist by 1,000. The year’s success rate of 87 percent was down from the previous year’s rate of 93 percent. State wildlife biologists manned 15 of the 24 tagging stations dispersed through the state during the week, gathering statistical and biological data on the moose harvested.
LeBlanc Foods made a catalog — LeBlanc Foods Inc., producers of Gourmet Lobster Stew, was again included in the holiday issue of the Williams-Sonoma Gourmet Foods Catalog and also in the new issue of the regular food catalog. Williams Sonoma had a catalog circulation of more than 1.4 million customers. LeBlanc’s Gourmet Lobster Stew had been shipped all over the United States including Hawaii and Alaska. It also featured in various gourmet publications and on the web site for nationally syndicated TV shows and publications.
Grass honored — Louis Grass was honored for his 12 years of service to the U.S. Immigration Service as a border agent. Grass retired in August and received a certificate acknowledging his service, and a Special Achievement Award, from the U.S. Department of Justice.
