South Portland Mayor: Split Maine Into Two States

The concept of two Maines is a familiar one to northern Maine residents.  Southern Maine, with it’s rampant  industrialization, has an entirely different set of concerns and priorities than the northern half of the state.

The Boston Globe takes a look at the issues in this article. 

Typical snowstorm here in northern Maine.

Lousiana Pacific Donates $80,000 to Arts Project

The Houlton Community Arts Center received a major boost from Louisiana
Pacific Corporation with the announcement of an $80,000 grant to the
organization through LPs Community Impact Grant initiative.

Here’s the full story.

Tolerance Video from Houlton High School’s Beacon Media

Houlton Council Acepts Contributions

The last Houlton Town Council meeting of the year saw
councilors accepting a number of donations that will benefit
the youth of the community. Local businessmen David
Harbison, Peter Chase, Mitch Holmes and the Savings Bank of
Maine made the contributions.

The council  also paid tribute to a Houlton native who
was killed in Iraq earlier this month.

Read the BDN story.

2007 Saw Houlton Chamber Grow

  In 2007, the town celebrated its 200th birthday, saw a spike
  in construction and made great strides in the economic
  development arena.

   It also has been the year the Greater Houlton Chamber of
  Commerce has seen the most growth in some time, and
  officials with the organization are confident the momentum
  will continue.

  The Bangor Daily News has the complete story.

Foggs sold to Caribou Firm

Two of the oldest businesses in Aroostook County are now one.

S.W. Collins Company purchased the Almon H. Fogg Company of Houlton April 30..

The purchase combines hundreds of years of experience in the hardware and building products trade. Both companies can trace their origins to prior to the Civil War.

The purchase of the Shiretown business adds a third retail store and expands the geographical reach of the Caribou-based firm.

(WAGM-TV story)

Court Ruling In Local Tribal Case Could Have National Impact

A 1st Circuit Court of Appeals panel issued a ruling in an employment discrimination case that impacts the tribal sovereignty and immunity of the Aroostock Band of Micmacs and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. 

The only recourse left for the tribes is an appeal to the full six-member en banc appeals court or a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read the full story here.

New England’s Biggest Wind Farm

Did you realize that the wind farm project on Mars Hill Mountain was the largest of it’s type in New England?

Follow this link to a story with  two video clips.