75 Years Ago – Dec. 11, 1947
Members inducted five new rotarians — The Monday noon meeting of the Presque Isle Rotary Club was devoted to the induction of five new members. Harold E. Bryant gave the charge to the following new members: Sidney F. Cook, Carvell D. Foster, Morrill W. Paine, Donald U. Smith and Harold F. Smith. Waldo Hardison, Caribou, and Paul Mosher, Washburn, were visiting Rotarians.
Guests included R E. Moody and George Cummings, both of Washington, D.C., and Leo Daigle of Presque Isle.
Perrault NEA manager here — Frank Perrault was appointed station manager for Northeast Airlines Inc., replacing Fred Kelley, who had accepted a position with the Civil Aeronautics Administration. Perrault had been with Northeast since February 1947. He was educated in the Presque Isle public schools. Perrault entered service in 1941, took infantry basic training and served as an enlisted man for two years. Going to OCS in 1943, he received a commission as second lieutenant. After two years as an instructor in replacement training centers, during which time was promoted to first lieutenant, he was overseas in 1945 and was immediately assigned to an Infantry combat company in the 79th division. He remained with this outfit in continuous action until the end of the war, then commanded a company of occupation troops in Czechoslovakia and Bavaria.
50 Years Ago – Dec. 13, 1972
Glasses purchased by Rotary — Sheldon Richardson, president, presided at the Wednesday evening, Nov. 29, Rotary Club meeting. The board of directors voted to purchase six pairs of glasses for needy children. Rotarian Richardson, also program chairman, introduced the “Inspirations,” a singing group of young ladies from the Crouseville Advent Christian Church, who sang several selections. The “Inspirations” consisted of Lee Hews, Bonnee Hews, Katrina Chamberlain, Lana Flewelling and Tammy Anderson and their pianist, Mrs. David Snell. Guests were Donald Briggs and William Peterson of Bangor, guests of Laurel W. Thompson.
Ronald Wallace was promoted to director of VA Hospital — Ronald H. Wallace, who had been the director of the Manchester, New Hampshire, Veterans Hospital, was promoted as director of the 500-bed VA Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He assumed his new duties Nov. 26. Wallace, son of Mrs. Gladys Porter and a Mars Hill native, was a World War II Navy veteran, a graduate of Colby College and was married to the former Jean Mitchell of Fairfield. They had three daughters. Wallace was appointed director of the Manchester VA Hospital in June 1971. Prior to this appointment, he served three years as hospital administration specialist in the VA Central Office, Washington, D.C.
25 Years Ago – Dec. 10, 1997
Mapleton teacher won grant — Gail L. Gibson received a $1,000 Teamwork for Kids mini-grant to support students at Mapleton Elementary School. Her team grant, ACCESS: A Caring Community Ensuring Success for Students, provided resources promoting a schoolwide climate of respect and responsibility for all students as presented by Maine’s Learning Results. Conflict resolution and mentoring was the focus of the work. Teamwork for Kids was a mini-grant project offered to Maine school districts through the Maine Support Network in cooperation with Special Services, Maine Department of Education. The intent of the Teamwork for Kids grants was meant to support Pupil Evaluation Teams (PETs) which included families and students in creating a positive, cooperative and flexible team that shared in a creative design process for the optimal growth of all students.
Senior citizens’ agency elected new leadership — County senior residents elected new leadership to advise the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging at its 25th annual meeting. Adrien Gagnon of Madawaska was elected president of the Agency board of directors during the latest annual meeting. He succeeded James McBreairty, Perham, who was honored for outstanding leadership and ten years of service as a director. Other officers included: Vice President Rev. Ken Phelps, Presque Isle; Treasurer Charles Lockhart, Fort Fairfield and Secretary Olive Choate of Caribou. Since 1973, the agency, a leading advocate for the elderly, has provided services to thousands of The County’s older citizens.
