75 Years Ago – May 22, 1947
Brown received a 35-year service award — Harold Brown, manager of the Caribou – Presque Isle area of the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., received an emblem signifying 35 years of service with the telephone company.
Mr. Brown had been employed since May 1912 by the Aroostook and New England telephone companies in central and northern Aroostook County. He also received gifts from the employees of the Bangor district in recognition of his 35th anniversary, and members of the local office staff held a dinner in his honor at Porter’s Lodge.
Legion essay winners named — Schuyler Quackenbush and Milton Daggett received rewards for the best essays on the subject, “America’s Contribution for a Permanent Peace,” in a contest at Presque Isle High School sponsored by Ray Goding unit, American Legion auxiliary. Mrs. Orlin Bishop, chairman of Americanism, was in charge of the contest, and the awards were presented by Mrs. Charles Adams, president of the unit. The winning essays were sent to Maine Department Headquarters.
50 Years Ago – May 24, 1972
Seniors took top awards — The Presque Isle Rotary Club hosted over a hundred girls from the Presque Isle High School Senior Class at their luncheon meeting at the Northeastland Hotel May 22. Ronnee Desmond was honored as the recipient of the Rotary Achievement Award for girls. The week prior, Rotarians honored Senior Class boys when Charles “Chuck” Hilsabeck, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hilsabeck of Presque Isle, took the Rotary Achievement Award for boys. Miss Desmond, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Desmond of Mapleton, was also the winner of the Miss Mapleton title.
University Foundation received a $2,500 gift — A gift of $2,500 had been contributed to the “Foundation of the University at Presque Isle” by Arthur A. Houghton of New York City and Wye Plantation, Queenstwon, MD. The Foundation was established only the month before after a year’s groundwork by area citizens to promote scientific, educational and research endeavors at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
25 Years Ago – May 21, 1997
A practical gift — Students in seven area school districts became recipients of more than $350,000 worth of DFAS computer equipment. The gift of computers, modems, monitors and printers went for computer labs and classrooms throughout the local schools as they continued to expand to meet the increased need for technology. Several County students and area faculty were present for the transfer where director of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Richard Keevey gave the key-note speech.
The Sheriff’s Department received a grant — The Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department was the recipient of a federal Problem-Solving Partnerships Program grant of $118,896. The Funds were used for a countywide domestic violence crime education program. The grant, part of a $1.5 million package, was announced May 15 by members of the Maine Congressional delegation. U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and U.S. Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen said the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the grants to law enforcement agencies throughout Maine. The program provided policing agencies and community-based organizations with a unique opportunity to work together to address persistent crime and disorder programs. The grants awarded through the program fund efforts that enhance a community’s ability to do creative problem solving. The program was one of several initiatives developed by the Community Oriented Policing Services Office under the 1994 Crime Act to support innovative community policing efforts.
