Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of May 12, 2021

3 years ago

75 Years Ago –   May 9, 1946

Local man to practice dentistry in Presque Isle — Dr. Kenneth H. Bonenfant, son of Mrs. and the late Albert G. Bonenfant, was discharged from the U.S. Navy. After three years service, he began the general practice of dentistry in Presque Isle.

He graduated from the Presque Isle High School, class of 1938, attended Bowdoin College and graduated cum laude from Harvard dental School in March of 1944. After graduation, he served as a dental officer in the Navy and served aboard an attack transport in the Pacific theatre of operations. Dr. and Mrs. Bonenfant, the former Marilyn Parkhurst, and daughter reside on Church St.

Mr. Loase speaker at Rotary — Fred J. Loase, administrator of the Presque Isle General Hospital, was the guest speaker at Rotary. He was introduced by L. H. Alline. Lloyd Hawkins was named manager of the Rotary softball team and about 15 members signified, by a raise of hands, their intentions to play on the team. Visiting Rotarians: A. J. Beck, Clifford McIntyre, Washburn; Carl Worthley, Fort Kent; Amos Fletcher, P. S. Merrithew, Phil Peterson, Hardley Boutilier, Caribou; Fred Beck, R. D. Andrews, Cecil Burleigh, Presque Isle; F. W. Fair, Portland; J. Clemendston, Forening, Karlshamn, Sweden.

50 Years Ago –  May 12, 1971

FFA State Farmer chosen from Easton — Mike Milbury, 17-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Milbury and a high school junior, was chosen FFA State Farmer, it was announced April 29 at a ceremony in the elementary school cafeteria. Milbury, acting toastmaster for the annual Future Farmers Parent and Son banquet, was presented his State Farmer Citation by State President Wendell McKenney of Fort Fairfield. Kenneth Hendren of the Maine Forestry Service was the featured speaker of the evening. His talk entitled “Earth Day-Environment and Conservation of Our Forest,” was supplemented with colored slides. Keith Kneeland gave the welcome and his father, Richard, responded.

Two Presque Isle girls held winning award tickets — Two Presque Isle High School students received sportsmanship awards. The Northern Lanes awarded five games of bowling to members of the Presque Isle high School Band, cheerleaders, pom-pom girls and basketball players for their previous year and tournament display of sportsmanship and conduct. Melonie Smith and Nora Lainey held the winning tickets.

New Army recruiter — Staff Sergeant Benjamin J. O’Berry Jr. was assigned as an Army recruiter with the Presque Isle Recruiting Station, 396 Main St. O’Berry, 25, joined Sergeant First Class James Dinsmore at the recruiting station. Together, the two sergeants covered Aroostook County. The six-year veteran, a native of North Carolina, came to Presque Isle from Ft. Hood, Texas. He previously served in vietnam and Japan. Sergeant O’Berry and his wife, Lorraine, made their home in the Presque Isle area. 

25 Years Ago –  May 8, 1996

Chelewski awarded national certification — Registered Nurse Paula K. Chelewski was awarded national certification as a Central Enterostomal Therapist Nurse (CETN). As a CETN, Chelewski cares for persons with an opening in the skin that connects to the bowel or bladder, such as colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy. To achieve certification, she completed the post-graduate enterostomal therapy education program at Albany Medical Center in New York. Chelewski also completed clinical training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, adn Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. She was employed as a clinical nurse at The Aroostook Medical Center and operated a wound and ostomy outpatient clinic. Chelewski was one of only two CETNs north of Bangor.

Shaw joined AMHC — Liam Shaw of Presque Isle joined the Caribou Outpatient Office of Aroostook Mental Health Center as a therapist consultant. Shaw is a 1995 graduate of Boston University with a Masters in Social Work and a specialty in child and adolescent therapy. As part of his internship, he was employed with Metro Boston Child Assessment Unit, a 90-day residential diagnostic facility for children 7 to 16 years. Shaw completed undergraduate studies and received his Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Southern Maine. As an outpatient therapist, Shaw’s responsibilities included counseling individuals for issues relating to mental health and substance abuse. In addition, Shaw coordinated individual needs with other health service agencies also providing services to those he counseled.