News

2 months ago

‘Camp Invention’ tests creativity of Aroostook County youth

Innovation filled the hallways of the campus center at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Wednesday as a group of young engineers demonstrated their original snow plow designs.  Instead of steel, these vehicles were made of cardboard boxes, plastic cups and paper plates. They were the creations of a group of third and fourth […]

3 months ago

Madawaska residents approve budget, 3 ordinances at town meeting

MADAWASKA, Maine – About 75 packed into the Madawaska High School gym on June 24 for the town’s annual meeting, in which they approved a $9.96 million municipal budget and three new ordinances. The budget is up by roughly $910,137 this year, with major increases including an additional $254,385 for the town’s ambulance department, an […]

3 months ago

3 Aroostook school districts cut more after budgets shot down

FORT KENT, Maine – Officials in three Aroostook County school districts are making additional cuts after voters rejected their budgets.  Caribou-based RSU 39 voters rejected their school budget earlier this month, and the school board has since recommended a budget with a $60,000 reduction. The district will hold a public budget meeting on July 1 […]

3 months ago

Mainers travel hundreds of miles to dine at quirky Katahdin-area restaurant

SHERMAN, Maine — Two or three times a month, the regulars travel two or more hours to dine at the Aroostook County restaurant in the 135-year-old purple Victorian mansion.  After opening last year, Sherman’s quirky Salted Butter Farm restaurant now draws big crowds from both the northern- and southernmost parts of the state, said Jenny […]

3 months ago

Judge continues blocking closure of Job Corps program with Maine locations

A federal judge in Manhattan Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration — at least for now — from continuing its effort to shut down Job Corps, the nation’s largest job training program for low-income young adults which has two training centers in Maine. “Once Congress has passed legislation stating that a program […]

3 months ago

Northern Maine is getting its 1st-ever Amazon warehouse

The world’s biggest online retailer, Amazon, is opening a warehouse in Caribou to speed up delivery times in northern Maine, a company spokesperson confirmed to the Bangor Daily News Wednesday.  “We’re close to completing construction work on a small delivery station that will support faster delivery and better service to customers in Caribou and across […]

3 months ago

How a former librarian aims to use those skills as Presque Isle city manager

For 30 years until last October, Sonja Eyler worked as a librarian, a profession she chose because it put her on “the front lines of literature.” A career change put her a quarter mile down the street on the front lines of municipal government.  The city of Presque Isle hired Eyler to be its assistant […]

3 months ago

Houlton will turn its controversial surveillance cameras back on

HOULTON, Maine — An Aroostook County town is turning its controversial surveillance cameras back on this week, following more than a year of public backlash about their use.  The 50-plus cameras, equipped with technology that can identify facial characteristics, led to a year-long public saga about the legality of their use. The subsequent public outrage […]

3 months ago

Houlton’s blow-out summer fest slated for July 3

HOULTON, Maine – One of Aroostook County’s biggest summer events that draws close to 8,000 kicks off next Thursday, July 3.  For the 29th year, Midnight Madness will feature food, vendors, artisans, game booths, three bands and grand finale fireworks in downtown Houlton.  This year’s theme, Treasure Island, has inspired vendors, said event organiser Jane […]