Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of March 6, 2024

Compiled by Yvonne Tardie, Special to The County
2 months ago

99 Years Ago – March 5, 1925

Miss Hoyt elected vice-president — Miss Dorothy P. Hoyt of Presque Isle, a senior at Bates College, was elected vice-president of a new organization formed on the campus, known as the Women’s Politics Club and corresponded to a similar club among the men. It meets a long felt need among the women and is to stimulate an interest in practical politics. The membership was limited to fifteen, and the club was under the supervision of Professor R. R. N. Gould, head of the department of History and Government. 

50 Years Ago – March 6, 1974

Dr. Varnum rejoined Kiwanis Club — Dr. Norman K. Varnum was welcomed back into membership of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club when the group held its regular Tuesday noon luncheon Feb. 26, at the Swamp Fox Motor Inn. Varnum had been a member of the club for a period of more than 10 years and had served as its president. Fredric Stone, chairman of the membership committee, officially welcomed Varnum back to the ranks. In regular business conducted by President Thomas Sweetser, it was announced Miss Carol Madore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Girard Madore, had been selected as the club’s candidate for the Division 26 Kiwanis International District scholarship. Bert Johnson of Caribou was serving as Division Chairman of the scholarship committee while Richard Verville held the position in the Presque Isle Club.

Bear recognition banquet — A recognition banquet and reception for the Easton Bears was held at the high school gymnasium Feb. 27. The team took second place in the Eastern Maine Basketball tournament for class D in Bangor Feb. 22-23 after losing to Jonesport-Beals by a score of 69 to 64. Guests at the celebration were members of the team, as well as Assistant Coach Dave Case, Sgt. John Marchione of Loring, a member of the I.A.A.B.O. 50, Principal Clair Carter, Coach Steve Shaw and Marsh Hill Coach Frank Keenan. Approximately 100 well-wishers attended the banquet and reception, which was arranged by the parents of the team members and by the cheerleaders and Future Homemakers. The team was highly praised by speakers at the banquet, among others Sgt. Marchione, who described the team members as “s credit to their team, their community, their church, their God and their school as well as themselves.” Keenan congratulated school officials and described the Bears as “an exceptionally well balanced ball club.”

25 Years Ago – March 10, 1999

The Chamber honored local businesses — The Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce honored its own at the annual meeting and awards banquet at County View Hotel and Convention Center. Brian Colton of North Woods Communication was honored as the 1998 Board Member of the Year. Chamber Executive Director Claudia Stevens said Colton had been “outstanding” in his first year on the board. Linda Smith of Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell was honored as the 1998 Volunteer of the Year. The 1998 Business of the Year award went to the Work Opportunity Center at the Skyway Industrial Park. The 1998 Economic Development Award went to McCain Foods Inc. for its expansion of the Easton processing plant.

Preparing for Y2K — The Aroostook Medical Center hosted a program for area physicians and their office managers, titled, Y2K in healthcare; The Year 200 Issue Implications to the Physician Office Practice. The presentation was delivered by Michael D. Peterson, Eastern Maine Healthcare Y2K project manager. Peterson advised those attending to assume that all equipment is “guilty until proven innocent” when trying to identify Y2K sensitive areas.

Dyer honored as employee of the month — Geoff Dyer was the November 1998 Employee of the Month for Time Warner Cable of Maine. Dyer had been employed at Time Warner for five years and back in May, he was promoted to office supervisor. Of the 12 Employees of the Month for 1998, one was selected by the employees from the Portland Division and Presque Isle/Caribou Division. A total of 170 employees worked at Time Warner Cable of Maine and each employee could cast one vote for Employee of the Year.