99 Years Ago – December 10, 1925
Christmas Club — The Merchants Trust @ Banking Co. distributed $15,000 to 290 Christmas Club members during the season. The club showed a material increase in membership and in the amount it disbursed over the previous year. In 1924, it distributed $12,000 to 215 members. The distribution was made on the 10th, and received by the members on the 12th. This made it practically sure that the money was spent at home, which was an important item. The club project strongly recommended it as a method of effecting Christmas savings, the result being to make Christmas giving a joy instead of a wearisome burden.
50 Years Ago – December 11, 1974
O’Donnell’s man Year’s Best Driver — A truck driver employed by Presque Isle based O’Donnell’s express received the State of Maine Driver of the Year Award. The driver, Gerald Trecartin of Pittsfield, had been employed by O’Donnell’s for 26 years and had driven nearly four million miles without an accident. Previously, Trecartin had been selected Driver of the Month by the Maine Truck Owners Association in the years 1967, 1972 and 1974. In 1974, he ran for the National Driver of the Year Award. Gene L. Michaud of Presque Isle, operating vice president of O’Donnell’s Express, said his company was extremely proud of Trecartin’s accomplishments, calling them “a challenge and objective for all professional drivers in the interest of public safety.”
Ed Jordan on the elite council — The president of the Edward C. Jordan Co., which had an office in Presque Isle, was elected to membership on the American Consulting Engineers Council. Edward C. Jordan, who had his company headquarters in Portland, saw his firm reach the 200 employee mark. Membership on the council recognized Jordan as being “among the more accomplished and distinguished members of the consulting engineering fraternity.”
25 Years Ago – December 15, 1999
County’s runner of the year named — Tina Michaud of Presque Isle was named Aroostook County runner of the year for 1999 by the Aroostook Mûsterds Running Club. Michaud was presented the annual Sam Ouellet traveling trophy by “the Bull” (president) of the Mûsterds organization, Paul Lamoreau. Michaud was chosen as the recipient of the award based on her stellar performances throughout the season, as well as the improvement she had demonstrated and her dedication to the sport of road racing. Michaud originally from Stockholm, was a teacher at Central Aroostook High School
Giving spirit — The United Way of Aroostook was at 46 percent of its $325,000 fund-raising goal. The previous year’s campaign raised more than $358,000. United Way Executive Director Claudia Stevens and fund drive chairman Steve Richard were at First Citizens Bank to help the staff celebrate the conclusion of their workplace campaign. Over turkey dinner Wednesday afternoon, Susan Grove-Markwood, chairman of First Citizens Bank’s workplace campaign, said the employees decided to raise $3,000 for the United Way of Aroostook. This included all five of the bank’s branches, all five of the bank’s branches, or 65 employees.
Fitness champs — Freshman and sophomore physical education students at Presque Isle High School are tested annually in five events – mile run, 50-yard dash, sit-ups, standing broad jump and pullups for boys or flexed-arm hang for girls. Ribbons were given to the top three in all the tests. Freshmen first-place winners were Janna Johnson, 50-yard sash; Rebecca Tibbitts, standing broad jump; Jillian Carter, mile run; Keegan Dufour, flexed-arm hang; Chris Ewing, standing broad jump; Ryan Lockhart, pull-ups; A. J. Harvey, 50-yard dash; Matt Pelletier, mile run and standing broad jump; Erik Nelson, sit-ups; Matt Carvell, standing broad jump; and Sarah Duncan, sit-ups. Sophomore first-place winners were Jillian Archer, flexed-arm hang; Sarah Belden, mile run, 50-yard dash and standing broad jump; James Barnes, pull-ups; Shane Bradley, mile run; Jared Embleton, sit-ups; DAve Guerrette, 50-yard dash and standing broad jump; and Lucy Allen, sit-ups.
