Torch Run travels the County
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Participants in the annual Torch Run in support of Maine Special Olympics had perfect weather to run in Aroostook County June 7, with sun and blue skies and mild temperatures prevailing through the day — led again this year by local athlete Ryan Hansen.
CARRYING THE TORCH during the Presque Isle leg of the annual law enforcement Torch Run June 7 to benefit Maine Special Olympics 
was local athlete Ryan Hansen. Here, Hansen makes his way through downtown Presque Isle, joined by officers from various agencies throughout Aroostook County. Runners included, from left: Timothy Wilde, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Sgt. Dan Menard, Maine Warden Service; Robert Losienrecki, U.S. Border Patrol; Frank Thibodeau, and Kevin McKinnon, Jason Parmelee, all with U.S. CBP; Ryan Hansen; and Justin Carney, Robby Gross and Steven Wipperman, all of the Maine Forest Service.
“The Law Enforcement Torch Run was held on Wednesday, June 6, from Fort Kent to Caribou, and on Thursday continued from Caribou to Houlton,” said Officer Joey Seeley, of the Presque Isle Police Department, who has helped organize the event for the past several years.
Taking part in the Presque Isle leg of the run were members of several law enforcement agencies, including the Maine Warden Service, Maine Forest Service, Presque Isle Police Department and several members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. Carrying the torch into downtown Presque Isle was local runner and Special Olympian Ryan Hansen. Escorting the group into Presque Isle were members of the PIPD and members of the Presque Isle Fire Department.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
SGT. DANIEL MENARD, 
Maine Warden Service — a runner in this year’s Torch Run for Special Olympics — is greeted during a stop in downtown Presque Isle by Wayne Sharpe, of Presque Isle, as Kevin Stubbs, of Caribou, looks on.
“We went through the intersection of State and Main streets around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, where the group was greeted by several athletes,” said Seeley.
This year’s run saw an increased number of U.S. CPB agents taking part from the central Aroostook area.
“We picked up the torch in Presque Isle and ran to Houlton with it. Taking part from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and/or Office of Field Operations were: Timothy Wilde, Andrew Seder, Frank Thibodeau, Joseph Ewings, Kevin McKinnon and Erin Esposito. Participants from U.S. CPB and/or Border Patrol were: Peter Bates, Angela Ewings and Jared Drake,” said Joseph Ewings, CBP officer, field training officer, CTR Team, based in Houlton.
Other participants included: Maine Forest Service members Robby Gross, Justin Carney and Steven Wipperman; representing PIPD were Jocelyn Marquis and Pam Sutherland; Alan Dudley and Sgt. Dan Menard, Maine Warden Service; and Jason Parmelee, U.S. CBP/BP.
In a fund-raising letter sent to area businesses, PIPD Chief Matt Irwin indicated the purpose of the run is to increase public awareness “of the very special people the event focuses on and to raise money to help cover the cost of the Special Olympics.”
LOCAL SPECIAL OLYMPIANS visited with participants in the annual Torch Run June 7 during the runners’ brief stop on Main Street in Presque Isle. 
Pictured from left are: Ryan Hansen; Amber Schwendeman; Steve Wipperman, Maine Forest Service; Kathy Towle; Robert Losienrecki, U.S. Border Patrol; and Kirk Malenfant.
“Having attended several of the Olympic games over the years, I can personally tell you that the feelings that are stirred within you when you see these Special Olympians compete, defies description,” Irwin said.
Irwin said the police officers throughout Maine have raised over $2 million in the last 25 years.
“The state summer games were held in Orono the weekend of June 8. The fund-raising goal for law enforcement was to raise over $250,000,” said Seeley. A total of the amount raised to date has not been determined at this time. Anyone wishing to make a donation can still do so by sending it to the Presque Isle Police Department, 43 North Street, Suite 2, Presque Isle, ME 04769. For more information, call 764-4476.
