2006 Year in Review: August

AUGUST

August 3, 2006

Money, time running out for Cindy

OXFORD/OMAHA, NE — Oxford’s Cindy Hensen, in Omaha for lifesaving intestinal surgery, began to run low on funds while awaiting a suitable organ donation.  The Advertiser updated Cindy’s long struggle with Chron’s disease and provided contact information so readers could make tax-deductible donations to help keep her on standby for her operation, which we were happy to report on two weeks later.

Court says chief deputy can’t carry any firearms

OXFORD COUNTY — An court-ordered protection from abuse cost Chief Deputy James Davis, second-in-command at the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department, his right to carry a firearm.  Davis his eventually retired, staying on administrative leave with pay long enough to preserve his benefits.

Hedgehog Hill Farm closes retail doors

SUMNER — After 35 years, and the death of his wife, Terry, Mark Silver closed the retail end of Hedgehog Hill Farm, in Sumner.  Silber said he would continue to welcome visitors to the farm’s vibrant perennial gardens.    

August 10, 2006

Pro-pot party moving to downtown?

NORWAY — Following repeated complaints of noise and trespassing, Norway selectmen voted to hold Aaron Fuda, accountable under the town’s new Disorderly House ordinance.  Selectmen held a public hearing, declared Fuda in violation of the ordinance, and compelled him to reach a consent agreement with the police chief and the town attorney.  By year's end, the attorney had not attended any meetings and the police chief would approach the problem from a new angle, by proposing a new ordinance banning large outdoor festivals, such as Fuda Fest, without a permit.

Growth Council head steps down

NORWAY — Following a contentious summer in which several area towns threatened to withhold funding, Brett Doney, CEO of the Growth Council of Oxford Hills, tendered his resignation from the local economic redevelopment group.  Doney left for a similar job in Montana and was replaced in early December by John Shuttuck, of New Gloucester.

Blank checks stolen from mailbox

NORWAY — Mail thieves struck although the actual thievery too place eight months earlier.  It was revealed that police were on the trail of whomever stole a box of checks out of a Norway mailbox last fall, subsequently forging and cashing more than $1,800 worth of bad instruments.

August 17, 2006

Future sparkles: New finds at Mount Mica

PARIS — Gary Freeman reported on his efforts to reopen Mount Mica, atop Paris Hill, and the exclusive arrangement with South Paris-based Creaser Jewelers to market the tourmaline found there.

Art group forges ahead in spite of president’s arrest

NORWAY — Only weeks after selecting Ralph Walen, of Peru, as its new president, the Western Maine Art Group (WMAG) was shocked to action when Walen was arrested for stealing $9,000 worth of copper from a former employer, with thoughts of cashing in on the resale market.  The arts group dumped Whalen and turned to Aranka Matolcsy, daughter of WMAG founder Lajos Matolcsy.

Harrison to snowbird: Don’t overstay welcome

HARRISON — Harrison wrestled with two seasonal residents who lived out of a mobil camper on property near Long Lake during the summer months, leaving the vehicle parked there in the winter.  Because the subdivided lot was not large enough to accommodate a “permanent structure, ” selectmen ruled the camper had to be registered and could only remain on the property 120 days out of the year.

August 24, 2006

Dog owners take leash law to lake

OTISFIELD — To keep their water-loving yellow lab, Tanner, from wading ashore down the banks of Saturday Pond from where he bounded in, thereby violating Otisfield’s leash law, a local couple came up with an ingenious buoyed leash to allow the dog to have his fun without risk of a legal crackdown.

No Wyman bank records at trial?

NORWAY — An attorney for Deb Wyman, Norway’s former community development director accused of pocketing more than $115,000 from state grants and town accounts under her care, made an unsuccessful attempt to suppress her bank records from an upcoming trial.

Residents petition state auditor to come to Poland

POLAND — As the convoluted history of Poland’s $2 million TIF snafu with the Poland Spring bottling company started to unravel, residents began to stump for intervention from the state auditor.

August 31, 2006

Norway has 30 days to ‘save’ Oddfellows Hall

NORWAY — Following abandonment by the Growth Council of Oxford Hills of its project to renovate the vacant Oddfellows Hall on Main Street, Norway selectmen were left with a state mandate to find a new developer within 30 days or else risk losing more than $400,000 in grant money awarded for the work.  By the time a new owner was found, after the Growth Council’s first choice backed out, about $265,000 was lost. 

Four Hebron students help to heal the world

HEBRON/MALAWI, AFRICA — Four Hebron Academy students shared their story of how they spent their summer vacation — working with abandoned children at the Littlefield Orphanage in Malawi, Africa.

Cache of pre-Civil War records found in Paris

PARIS — Wini Mott, of Paris Hill, found in her attic three reams of bound papers, all official town records  apparently kept by her late-husband’s ancestor, Hiram Hubbard, who was the Paris town clerk from 1846 to 1851.     The documents were returned to the town, with copies made for the historical society.