Letters to the Editor:

Newspaper did Sheriff Madore an injustice

To the editor:

I find it very strange that a story about Aroostook County Sheriff James Madore made the front page of the Aroostook Republican two weeks ago, trying to put him in a bad light (just before elections), filed by the Aroostook County Republican Committee but when the story was corrected by County Administrator Douglas Beaulieu, it was buried on page 10 of the paper. I believe Sheriff Madore showed real class not to respond to the lame, false statements the Republican Party were trying to use against him. The unethical campaign practices were not done by Sheriff Madore, but by the Republican Committee.

The Aroostook Republican should also check the facts before writing an article that tries to shed a poor light on a good man. The matter had already been addressed by the commissioners on Sept. 15, this should have been ample time for this newspaper to check the facts before printing hurtful lies.

I have heard forever that the Aroostook Republican was named properly as the paper is very Republican, it is always filled with articles about the members of the Republican Party in a favorable light and they hardly ever have anything about Democrats published. The paper should always stay neutral, just state the facts correctly and let the readers make up their own minds. I, for one, think James Madore is an honorable man.

 

To the editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have and continue to support the Maine Veterans Cemetery/Caribou and the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery Corporation, its officers and members. Repeatedly we see wonderful responses to any need we have and make every attempt to thank the many donors for their generosity.

The Cemetery Corporation members would like to correct an assumption that a recent concert held in Presque Isle by Stonewall Jackson had a portion of those proceeds donated to the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery Corporation. There was an article in the newspaper that indicated that was the case. We contacted the sponsor of the event and were informed it was a misprint and we would like to correct this assumption so that the people who anticipated an acknowledgement of this donation would understand that no donation from this event was received. We are hopeful that this event was a success and we simply want to keep our loyal friends accurately informed of fundraising activities focused to the continuing improvements at the Maine Veterans Cemetery/Caribou.

Thank you for all you do for the many veterans services initiatives throughout Aroostook County and we value your continued support to the many cemetery projects we are planning for the future.

Editor’s note: The Oct. 8-9 Stonewall Jackson concerts were, in fact, intended to benefit the Presque Isle Music Boosters, the Maine Veterans Home/Caribou, and the Hayward-Frazier VFW Post 2599. The Maine Veterans Cemetery/Caribou was included due to a reporting error and this newspaper regrets any confusion this may have caused.

 

To the editor:

The Aroostook County Commissioners reported they found no wrong doings of Sheriff James Madore’s campaign practices for his re-election for Aroostook County Sheriff.

According to the Charter, Article VI. Elections, Section 1, “… the manner of nominating and electing county officers (the sheriff) …. shall be the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State for nominating and electing county officers…” In other words, our county government defers to Maine law regarding elections. MRSA, Title 21-A, §32. Violations and penalties, states it is a Class E crime if that person: “Knowingly displays or distributes political advertisements in or on state-owned or state-leased property.” If a state employee promoted a political cause or candidate using a state owned vehicle, equipment or property, the employee would be fired immediately.

If the County Charter defers to Maine law regarding electing county officers, how can the County Commissioners allow county employees (the sheriff) to use county-owned vehicles, employees, equipment and property, paid for with our tax dollars, for campaign purposes?

The County Commissioners should be held accountable to abide by the Charter for which they were elected to uphold.

It’s time for some scrutiny in our Aroostook County government.

 

To the editor:

Well it is that time once again for you the citizens of Caribou to take control of your future and the future direction of your city. I hope everyone takes the time to cast their vote in person or by absentee balloting.

Citizens For Responsible City Management (CFRCM) and its board of directors on behalf of their membership has endorsed the following candidates as we feel they would do a great job for the citizens of Caribou by applying a self thinking and responsive process for what is best for all of Caribou’s citizens, while ensuring prosperity and growth for the future of the city of Caribou.

For the two Council seats, CFRCM supports Jim Cerrato and Doug Morrell. For the six seats on the charter commission CFRCM supports any of the following candidates, David Hansell, Joan Theriault, Wilfred Martin, Jason Shannon, Phil McDonough, Bryan Thompson, Maynard St. Peter, Paul Theriault and Scott Walker.

It is CFRCM’s hope that the citizens of Caribou will recognize the immediate need to implement well planned changes in the way our city government operates to ensure sustainable growth. The municipal government should be following growth by the residential, commercial, and agriculture sectors, not growing when these sectors are not. Please keep in mind that for every public sector job created it is estimated that is takes four to five private sector jobs to support it.

Look at our wonderful city and take note of what was here for businesses and growth in the past and you decide whether you think we are still heading in the right direction as a city, or should we start making some well thought out changes to try and stop the slide.

 

To the editor:

I am writing to urge the good people of Aroostook County to re-elect Sheriff Jim Madore. Sheriff Madore has chosen to run not against his opponent , but on his own record of exemplary accomplishments in the field of law enforcement on behalf of the citizens of Aroostook.

His opponent, David Selkind, has chosen to run on his record with various and varied out-of- state law enforcement agencies but has neglected to mention his brief and only Maine experience as an officer with the Limestone Police Department. This gives me pause.

Sheriff Madore’s opponent alleges “lack of morale” but when he is given an opportunity to address the officers he wishes to command, he declines. According to the editorial of Oct 20, the deputies unanimously endorsed Sheriff Madore. Is this the “low” morale that Selkind spoke of?

When I need the aid of law enforcement, I want an agency that is led by a man with a proven record of integrity and service! That man is Sheriff Jim Madore.

 

To the editor:

Before the voters went to the polls in June to vote on whether or not to establish a charter commission, Citizens for Responsible City Management, (CFRCM) posed the question on its website, CaribouWatch.com, as to whether or not the citizens favored the establishment of such a commission. Not only did that question receive the most responses of all questions asked, but 87 percent said “yes”!

I recently received an e-mail from a citizen. This is an excerpt from his letter: “You and your fellow citizens at CFRCM are doing important work and I enjoy reading your letters to the editor as published in the Aroostook Republican. Your vast knowledge of the inner workings of Caribou government is a resource I’d like to tap into and your letters provide me with an opportunity to learn things about the people in charge of the city in which I live. Please use your website and your letters to list the slate of candidates

I’ll be seeing in November and identify those who have the endorsement of CFRCM and those who don’t. I take casting my vote very seriously and wouldn’t want to accidentally vote for the wrong candidate out of

ignorance! So in closing, hit them hard and hit them often. After all, this is politics! If you’re in a fight you ought to be fighting like you’re trying to win it.”

I have also received phone calls of late, saying basically the same things, and also asking what it is that CFRCM would like to see changed in the charter. First of all, let me say that CFRCM, over the past several months, has taken that charter and read and dissected it, word for word. There are two members, who are also candidates, Phil McDonough and Maynard St. Peter, who know the charter inside out like the back of their hands. Any candidate running for charter commission ought to have a basic working knowledge of the charter. This is Caribou’s “Constitution.”

For me, personally, I will say it again: I have issues with the mayor voting. I have seen several times when the mayor has voted, and because a council member was absent, his vote actually caused a tie. When an issue voted on results in a tie, then that issue goes down as “dead.” In other words, it fails. At one meeting, when this happened, the mayor called the council impotent. Had I been on the council, I would have been insulted. The council certainly was not causing the impotency. The charter can change this.

I also did not like the way a vacancy on the council was filled. A mere five months after an election where Caribou had one of its highest voter turnouts and there were a number of candidates running for city council, the sitting council, with the exception of one, chose to appoint a former council member who did not run for re-lection. There were two other former councilors, who did run, and I might add, received over 1,500 votes each, who should have been asked if they would be interested in filling that vacancy, but they were passed over. We all know the reasons why, and I will not go into them again. But, I will say, another insult, this time to those 1,500 voters who supported these candidates. A new charter can change this, as well as how the candidates are listed on the ballots, and whether or not you get to vote on the city budget.

Another “rule” I do not agree with is having to go into the city office and ask to be put on the agenda to speak before the council. Recently, CFRCM had a two and a half minute statement prepared to present to the city council at one of its meetings, but was denied the right to do so. I think there should be time allotted before each meeting to give the citizens a chance to speak on issues without have to have “approval” before hand. There are many suggestions that CFRCM will be presenting to the commission, once it is seated.

Look around this town … look at the empty buildings and the vacant lots. Is this to be Caribou’s legacy? Every time a business closes or a building comes down, there are fewer tax dollars going into the city coffers. And there is more to come. What’s going to happen to Millers? Is the Maine Military Authority staying or going? I don’t believe they have renewed their contract yet. What about CCH? Who will go into that building once they are gone? And there will be changes coming to the Chamber of Commerce, of which I don’t even begin to understand. But I guess they will be vacating the office they now presently occupy.

So, let me ask a couple of questions. First, would you rather have a council who spends $4,700 to put three color pages into the town report? Or would you rather have a council who will be more frugal with your hard earned taxpayer dollars. You’ll have a choice when you go into the voting booth. Would you like to see changes in our charter that will give you, the citizen, more input into how our fine city is governed? There are those running for charter commission who do not believe changes need to be made in the charter. Needless to say, I am not one of them. You, the voter, will decide next week. Take that vote you cast seriously. And, whatever your views, thank you for voting.

Check out CFRCM on CaribouWatch.com and Facebook.

 

To the editor:

Outdoor enthusiasts across the state owe thanks to the efforts of Congressman Mike Michaud for his dedication to improving recreational opportunities across the state. Michaud sits on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has oversight over the Recreational Trails Program, which is administered by the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands. The RTP, which is funded by a small portion of federal gas tax revenues, has been a significant funding source for major trail projects throughout the state. Last year’s allocation to Maine was over $500,000. The program provides grants of up to 80 percent for motorized, non-motorized and multi-use trails, bridges and safety and education projects.

The current reauthorization of the RTP has not yet passed in Congress, but Michaud is leading efforts to not only expand the program, but also requesting that the Department of Transportation allocate $2.5 million for a study to ensure that the current funding formula adequately reflects actual fuel usage by off-road enthusiasts. That’s why groups as diverse as the Maine Snowmobile Association, Sierra Club and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine have endorsed Michaud’s candidacy this year. Mike Michaud deserves the opportunity to continue to improve the quality of life for Maine’s citizens.

 

To the editor:

Of all the candidates in this year’s race for governor, Eliot Cutler is the best choice for the future of education in Maine. The Education Equality Project (EEP) and Education Reform Now (ERN) recently released a report grading candidates’ education plans. Cutler was the only one to receive an A while Paul LePage and Libby Mitchell both received F’s. This is primarily because Eliot is the only candidate offering real, structural reform in a system that badly needs it.

Maine is one of the top five states in per-pupil spending. Yet over half of our elementary school students fail to meet national standards in reading and math, our graduation rates hover around 80 percent, and our teachers are some of the worst paid in the nation, ranking 43rd. Additionally, within eight years, nearly 60 percent of Maine jobs will require formal education beyond high school, yet currently only about a third of our high school graduates go on to earn a college degree.

Cutler values local culture and preserving schools as thriving centers connected to the communities they serve. He will allow for more local input than was experienced during the Baldacci days of school consolidation. He is proposing opening charter schools, as Maine is one of the few states that doesn’t have them, rewarding the best educators for good performance, and increasing collaboration with the University and Community College systems. Cutler has proposed opening magnet schools, like the Maine School of Science and Math in Limestone, near UMFK and UMPI and encouraging collaboration so students have more meaningful classroom activities and experience the excitement of higher education at a young age.

As a graduate of an Aroostook County high school with family members that are teachers, I believe that Eliot Cutler is by far the best candidate to move our educational systems forward.

 

To the editor:

On Aug. 28, 2010, my family and I held our second annual Scholarship Monopoly Run in memory of our son, Mark D. LeBlanc. I would like to thank everyone who came and made this Monopoly Run a success. I would also like to thank many local businesses who donated items that were used in a silent auction and as door prizes. We would like to give a special thank you to the American Legion Riders of Caribou for helping to organize this event, and the Caribou Police Department and the Fort Fairfield Police Department for escorting the riders throughout the Monopoly Run.

Again, thank you to everyone who helped plan, organize, and facilitate this Monopoly Run and a big thank you to all the riders who participated. We are planning on having a third annual Monopoly Run next summer. We hope to see you there.

 

 

To the editor:

Sometimes I get so excited and happy I could dance down Main St. of Caribou. Now wouldn’t that be a sight to see. The great side of my dancing would be that we could sell tickets on the event and use the money to buy a shelter building. The down side would be that it is Norma doing the dancing and that might not be a pretty sight. Our building will happen and I pray it will be in my lifetime — in fact, I refuse to die until we have a building for these darling animals.

Some people would question why I am so happy when we are facing a $3,400 vet bill — yes, thirty-four hundred. I am happy because this medical bill (with nice discounts in support of the service we provide) proves that we are desperately needed here and that we are doing our job. We accomplish our mission with each animal that we help.

Two weeks ago on a Sunday evening, Chance, a big gorgeous short-hair, deep orange unneutered male was hit by a car near McDonald’s. The car left the scene. Other cars drove by while Chance flopped in pain and blood came out of his rectum as he tried to get out of the way of more vehicles. Paula Levasseur saw this incident and ran out to pick him up. She brought him to the police station and was told that the local police consider cats “free-roaming” animals and have no obligation to help them. They called us at Paula’s request. There was no other help available to Chance on Sunday evening and he needed immediate emergency medical care, so we called the Presque Isle Animal Hospital and they opened their doors to help him. Chance required extensive medical care, including X-rays, etc. He was in the hospital for about a week and his bill was $455. Although still occasionally showing signs of pain when you pick him, he is purring, eating, cleaning himself and loving everyone that comes near him. He is a delightful pet and he is so grateful to have the loving care that he so needed. Chance desperately needed a second chance. He is now neutered, leukemia tested, has his shots, wormed, cleared of fleas and he will be ready for adoption in about another week. He will be a good cat for any family situation.

We have also had a couple of “lost or abandoned” cats turned in to us in the last few days. One is a large deep silver gray female with a white spot on her lower neck. Another is a huge male gray-black/tiger (but with a unique tiger color). Both of these are lovely, friendly, clean housecats and we are hoping we can find their owners. We will be placing them up for adoption at our Saturday, Oct. 30, Cat Adoption Fair, at Toby’s Treasures on 246 Sweden St., in Caribou from 12 to 3 p.m.

Because we have over 50 kittens/cats in our foster care system, we will be hosting Adoption Fairs each Saturday at Toby’s Treasures from noon to 3 p.m. until more kitties and cats are adopted.

I cannot express how grateful we are for every bit of help we receive. Each cat is treated as an individual and everything is done to give a second chance at a good life. I may be happy enough to dance down main street because I see us providing quality care for every animal we rescue, but I also realize that none of this great work could happen without your support. The cats are the reason, you are the way. Thank you so very much.

 

To the editor:

On Nov. 2, Maine people will have the chance to vote in support of the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program. 1 encourage you to vote “Yes” on Question 3.

The LMF program has already guaranteed that 250,000 acres of working forest stay open for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, hiking and other outdoor activities, while remaining in private hands managed for forest products.

LMF has provided money to protect rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, trails working forests, working waterfront, farm, and other important areas in every county of the state. Question 3 will authorize $9.75 million to further protect these types of lands. Without this bond, the state will have no funds to protect these areas; lands that are important to our heritage and our economy.

This program will serve our economy by protecting the backbone of our natural resource based industries and it serve our people both by providing greater public access to Maine’s outdoors and by protecting our heritage. Please join me in voting ”Yes” on Question 3 for the future of our working forests.

At Gerald Pelletier, Inc. we are proud in harvesting some these lands which in turn again serves the economy by providing jobs for woodsman and aiding in unemployment in Maine. Again I encourage you to vote “Yes” on Question 3.

 

To the editor:

I was shocked to see that Sen. Roger Sherman’s opponent chose to use his candidate profile in your newspaper to misrepresent Roger’s pivotal role in this year’s bond issue debate in Augusta. In fact, Sen. Sherman was a leader in ensuring the successful passage of the Aroostook Rail bond as part of the overall bond package.

Roger Sherman had the common sense and courage to oppose the Democrats’ preferred alternative of a massive and irresponsible $85 million borrowing package. His position is one that I believe most Aroostook County residents share. Unfortunately, Sen. Sherman’s opponent doesn’t seem to understand that Mainers are fed up with adding millions of dollars of unaffordable and unnecessary borrowing on top of Maine’s already-staggering $9 billion of debt. While the Democrats in Augusta pushed hard to do just that, Roger Sherman – and every Republican in the Maine Senate – refused to allow it.

Instead, Sen. Sherman was clear, forceful and successful in pushing for a smaller and more affordable package that prioritized vital funding for the Aroostook Rail. On the Senate floor, and in meeting after meeting, Roger Sherman advocated passionately and effectively for The County and the jobs that depend on the rail.

When Senate President Libby Mitchell cut off Senate consideration of the bond issue, and refused to participate in bipartisan negotiations to forge a reasonable compromise, Roger Sherman stepped in. He took advantage of an opportunity to speak personally with the Governor at a crucial meeting on the Aroostook Rail in Bangor, and shared his conversation with me. I followed up with the Governor, who agreed to intervene and bring legislative leaders together for bipartisan negotiations over the weekend of the legislative session.

Those negotiations produced the bipartisan agreement that cut the bond issue virtually in half, while establishing the Aroostook Rail as a priority. That measure of fiscal sanity, and its accompanying benefit for Aroostook County, would not have happened without Roger Sherman’s leadership.

Aroostook County is fortunate to have a man of integrity and common sense in the Maine Senate. We could use more like him in Augusta.

 

You have just taken your mother to an assisted living facility and in the process have identified the 14 prescription vials stored in various places around her former home. Or perhaps your employer has switched insurance carriers and you are learning that your prescription benefits have changed as well. Possibly you, who are never sick, have suddenly contracted the worst cold with a persistent cough that is preventing the sleep you so desperately need. What do you do? To whom do you turn?

The answer is simple and the solution is-wherever you look. The nation’s pharmacists stand ready to address these and many other issues the modern consumer has navigating the changing world of medicines, health care, and self care.

The pharmacist’s most visible role is certainly in the community. Quite a bit of attention has recently been directed to the fact that growing volumes of prescriptions and the increasing hassles of insurance coverage have caused pressures to mount in the community pharmacy. Nonetheless, consumers can turn to these pharmacists for more than they might realize.

After six years of college education largely focused on medications and how they work, pharmacists are truly medication experts. In what may seem like a simple act of filling a prescription, pharmacists do a lot. They check patients’ records to make sure that one prescription doesn’t duplicate another or interact badly. They may sometimes ask questions to monitor whether side effects are occurring and to avoid giving medications to which patients may be allergic.

Pharmacists can also be allies in getting the most value out of medication. When appropriate, pharmacists can recommend lower-cost generic alternatives or even over-the-counter medications. And they have information about programs that can help consumers access lower-cost medicines. Most important, pharmacists help consumers make the medicine work — so patients get the effect they are expecting. While consumers also need to inquire of their employer and/or insurer about how their prescription coverage is designed, pharmacists can help identify those medications that are and are not covered. They can discuss these issues and alternatives that will cost patients less money. Mostly, they can advocate for the very best medicine for your health.

Pharmacists aren’t only in traditional pharmacies. They are everywhere you look and even in places you might least suspect. Recent research studies have highlighted the life-saving role pharmacists can play in our nation’s hospitals. Supermarkets, health centers, and doctors offices are increasingly hiring pharmacists. In all settings, pharmacists are consulting directly with doctor’s and patients about selecting and using the right medications and monitoring patients’ progress on medication therapies. Pharmacists are consulting with assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other residential care settings where some of the most vulnerable older people reside.

October is American Pharmacists Month. So remember that when you have a question, problem, or even just a curiosity about medications, look around! You are not ever very far from one of the nation’s practicing pharmacists.
Christopher R. Gauthier, RPh is the executive director of the Maine Pharmacy Association.

To the editor:

Are you a 100 percent VA disabled married veteran? Do you and your wife understand what her benefits will be if she is widowed? Are you a woman who was married to a 100 percent VA disabled veteran when he died? Did you lose your benefits due to remarriage? Because laws have changed over the years veterans and their widows should get current on their benefits. Please contact me at 207-284-8147 or by e-mail at: drummin@maine.rr.com. I am not a benefits advisor but can direct you to the people who will be able to help you. Maine Veteran Services has seven Field Offices to serve all 16 counties, which can represent you in submitting a claim with the VA.

The gold star symbolizes that a family member has died of service-connected cause while the blue star symbolizes that a family member is currently serving. No longer must a death be war related to qualify a widow for gold star status and benefits. Women who are gold star wives were married to someone when he died of service connected illness or injury — meaning he had a 100 percent total and permanent disability rating with the VA and died from that cause, was killed in action or died while on active duty. If he had a 100 percent service connected disability rating with the VA but died of another non-service related cause his widow may still qualify for benefits if they were married for the specified number of years while he was totally and permanently disabled.

Those whose husbands died while on active duty or had retired from the military will receive medical coverage under Tricare which is paid by the Department of Defense. Other gold star widows would receive coverage under ChampVA paid from the budget of the Veterans Administration. Once a gold star wife goes on Medicare her military health benefits will become secondary. She may not need to purchase a Medicare supplement or drug plan. The law used to say that if a widow receiving compensation from the VA remarried she would never regain her benefits. The law now says that if a woman is over 57 years of age she can remarry and keep (some) benefits. Another change says that if a remarried gold star widow is alone again due to death, divorce, or annulment the widow may qualify to be reinstated on Dependent’s Indemnity Compensation and health care.. If she was on Tricare, she would be switched to ChampVA health coverage and may not need to purchase a Medicare supplement or drug plan.

All Vietnam veterans are encouraged to have a body scan at the VA facility. Because additional illnesses have been added to the Agent Orange presumptive list of illnesses I advise Vietnam veterans to get a determination of their health status. Widows of a Vietnam veteran should confirm that the cause of their husband’s death has not been added to that list. Sometimes the rating is awarded posthumously.

If you lost your spouse on active duty are you receiving all your benefits? If your spouse was a retiree did the benefits get switched over to you? For information about any survivor issue or to verify that your information is up to date, please contact Mary O’Mara, coordinator of the Survivor Outreach Service office in Augusta at 207-430-5930.

 

To the editor:
It is my pleasure to be able to write this letter in support of Sen. Troy Jackson who is seeking re-election in Maine State District 35.

I am a small self-employed cable skidder logger who resides in the mid-coast area of Maine. My family has been employed in the logging and lumber industry in this area of the state for many years. I am proud to say I have been able to follow in my father’s footsteps to work in the Maine woods.

While I do not reside in District 35, I have been so impressed with the tireless effort Sen. Jackson has put in on trying to improve the logging industry for those of us who are employed in that occupation. He understands how hard we have to work in the woods these days to make a living because as a logger himself, he understands this.

When I had the pleasure to meet Sen. Jackson for the first time, I did not find myself speaking to a politician but to another logger who has the same concerns as I do. He is the first elected official I have ever spoken with who I honestly felt had my best interests as a logger in mind. I thank you for that very much Senator!

During the upcoming election I will be paying very close attention to the District 35 race. The citizens of District 35 should feel very fortunate to be represented by Sen. Jackson. I only wish I resided in District 35 so I could cast a vote for him!