75 Years Ago – Aug. 16, 1945
Commended by President Truman — With the First Airborne Army occupying Berlin, Harold E. Hansen of Presque Isle was among those commended by President Harry S Truman during his stay at the Big Three Conference in Potsdam.
Cpl. Hansen, who was a member of the 1669th Eng. Utilities Detachment, was one of the 3300 officers and men who operated and administered the American section of the Big Three Conference area.
Lt. Nathan White awarded Bronze Star — With the Third Infantry Division, Seventh Army, Germany, 1st Lieutenant Nathan W. White of Presque Isle was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in actual combat while fighting with the Third Infantry Division in France, Germany and Austria. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice White, resided in Presque Isle.
50 Years Ago – Aug. 19, 1970
Received honor — John Johnston, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Johsnton of Presque Isle, was announced as the winner of the 1970 Dekalb Agricultural accomplishment Award. This award is given to outstanding seniors in vocational agriculture departments. Johnston was chosen to receive the award on the basis of scholarship, leadership and his supervised farming program. John attended Presque Isle High School and had been secretary of local and Northern District FFA chapters, a member of the Junior Soil conservation District, played in National FFA Band, was a member of the Maine Trio that won a Gold Emblem in Kansas City, and a member of the Potato Marketing Committee.
Steering committee — A group of St. John-Aroostook Resource Conservation and Development Project Steering Committee members and their guests met at the Conservation-Education Camp on Mud Lake Aug. 4 for their regular meeting. Before the meeting, they observed activities around and about the camp and enjoyed a cook-out with the boys.
Baby Beef prices hit a two year high point — The annual 4-H Baby Beef Auction was held on Aug. 13 at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds with the highest average price per pound for two years. There were nine young people with their 4-H animals participating, and 81 cents a pound was the high bid.
25 Years Ago – Aug. 16, 1995
National winner — Scott Boucher of Mapleton was honored in Baltimore and in Washington, D.C., for being selected as a national winner in the SERVISTAR/Coast to Coast All-American Vocational Student Award. The awards program is a major component of the Tools for Tomorrow program, a national initiative sponsored by the SERVISTAR and Coast to Coast to support and promote vocational education in America. Since its inception, the All-American Vocational Student Awards have honored more than 3,000 secondary vocational students from across the country on the local, state and national levels. Boucher, who studied agriscience/natural resources at Presque Isle Regional technical School, was one of only 10 students to receive the award. The winners hail from 10 states and represent seven different vocations. All were honored during SERVISTAR’S May convention in Baltimore before an audience of more than 1,500 SERVISTAR retailers. The trip to Baltimore and Washington was part of Boucher’s award for winning the All-American Vocational Award. Boucher also received a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond, in addition to the awards he received for being selected as a local and state winner.
World series hero — Former Boston Red Sox player and 1975 World Series star Bernie Carbo, with his wife Tammy, were in Aroostook County to speak about the Diamond Club Ministry. Carbo founded the Christian organization in 1993 and had traveled to Maine numerous times to deliver its message.
A prize steer with a winning hairdo — Torrie Bell’s “Beefaroni” was proclaimed Grand Champion at the Northern Maine Fair. He was also recognized for sporting a fine cowlick when his owner claimed first prize for preparing the animal for show. Bell was a Mars Hill High School graduate and she planned to attend Pierre’s School of Beauty Culture in Caribou.
