Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of October 20, 2020

3 years ago

75 Years Ago –  Oct. 25, 1945

Mapleton man enrolled at University in England — Sergeant Clifford H. Keirstead, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar R. Keirstead of Mapleton, and a former student of both the Universities of Maine and Maryland, enrolled at Shrivenham American University in England where the second two-month term opened Oct. 8 with an enrollment of more than 3,000 students.

Sgt. Keirstead took courses in agricultural marketing, farm management and typing at SAU. He commented that SAU “was the ideal set up for a G. I. university.”

Northern National Bank opened a branch at Madawaska — Officials of the Northern National Bank of Presque Isle announced that the bank opened a branch at Madawaska on Oct. 22, 1945. Bank officials said that the Madawaska Branch made available a complete banking service for the people of Madawaska and vicinity. Madawaska itself, is a town with a population of approximately 4,500, and is probably the largest town in Maine without local banking facilities. Harold P. Perkins, a vice president of the bank, was in charge of the branch until a manager was appointed.

50 Years Ago –  Oct. 28, 1970

Cook graduated from Border Patrol School — John Cook, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cook of Mapleton, graduated Oct. 16 from the United States Border Patrol Academy at Los Fresnos, Texas, and went on to perform his duties as a Patrol Agent in the Marfa, Texas, Border Patrol Sector. Patrol Agent Cook was a member of the 97th Session of the Border Patrol Academy and was one of 99 new officers successfully completing the intensive academy course in Immigrationa nd Nationality laws and  regulations, Spanish language, duties and authority to act, court procedures, civil rights, physical training and other studies involving the duties of Patrol Officers. 

Presque Isle man named Vice President — Thomas Campbell, majoring in business administration, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Campbell of Presque Isle, a graduate of Presque Isle High School, was elected vice president of the senior class at Husson College in Bangor. Also elected were Paul LePage of Lewiston, president; Joanne Perron of Sco, secretary; and Paul Colpits of Saco, treasurer.

12 Boys joined Cub Pack 175 — Cub Scout Pack 175 of Presque Isle enlarged its membership with the induction of 12 new Bobcats at the Oct. 19 pack meeting held at the VFW Post No. 2599. Incoming boys received by Cubmaster Frank Moffitt were: Edward Littlefield, Leighton Parlin, Jeffery Griffiths, David O’Brien, Mark Lougee, Andrew Flewelling, Philip Cormier, George Akeley, Michael Dyer, Kirk Carroll, James Waldron and Mark Dyer, a new Webolo. 

25 Years Ago –  Oct. 25, 1995

First Citizens Bank — First Citizens Bank announced they had hired Joel Chasse, a graduate of Fort Kent High School and the University of Maine at Fort Kent with a degree in business management, as a management associate. Chase joined the bank with over five years of management experience. He was the manager of the Brooks Drug Store in Fort Kent. 

Pioneers donation — The Presque Isle branch of the Telephone Pioneers of America (TPA). a nonprofit organization made up of retired and active telephone employees and volunteers, donated a portion of the proceeds accumulated from fundraisers throughout the year to several local charities. In 1995, the TPA donated $100 to DARE, $250 to the Mantle Lake Playground group and $100 to Operation Lift-Off. Participating in the check presentations were Ernie Drost, spokesperson for DARE; Katie Buck, vice president of the TPA; Kyle Wolfe, TPA president; and Taffy Shaw of the Mantle Lake Playground committee.

Award — J. Paul Levesque & Sons, Inc. of Ashland was one of five companies in Maine to be recognized for their accomplishments in the field of health and safety. The Maine Safety Council Award was given to J. Paul Levesque in recognition of their effort to reduce workplace injuries, the ongoing modernization and improvement in the workplace to make the workplace safer for their employees, and the improved overall safety program and employee involvement. In addition to receiving the award, on Sept. 12, the company was inspected by OSHA. Inspectors toured four sawmills, two planer mills, two boiler/dry kiln plants and maintenance shops. The inspection was completed without any violations and citations issued.