The entire state — and for that matter — much of the national legal community — lost one of its greatest all time trial attorneys last week with the death of Portland’s Ralph “Ike” Lancaster at the age of 88. As federal Judge William Kayatta observed, “No Maine trial lawyer has ever risen to such […]
Paul Mills
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
The odyssey of Farmington High's state basketball championship in 1948
When Farmington High School hired a new basketball coach in 1947, no one could have imagined the impact it would have on the team’s future! John Bodnarik arrived from a much larger school in Virginia and immediately instilled new life into the team. Bodnarik stressed fundamentals and introduced a new style of play that relied […]
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Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
A black ice tragedy: An expectant mother’s unexpected death
It is no doubt one of the more heart-rending tragedies in Maine in recent days. It is sunrise, Monday, Jan. 22. An expectant mother, driving herself to the hospital where she is due to give birth is instead herself killed. Demonstrating at least for a time the resiliency of life, the child survives after having […]
Posted inEncore, sj-web
Chester Greenwood Day: How it All Began
It’s now been 40-years since the first Chester Greenwood Day. It’s double that, or 80 years now, since the time of the famed inventor’s death in 1937. It’s thus an appropriate occasion to take a quick look at “Chester,” the name by which most people refer to him. More importantly, it’s also an occasion to […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Maine’s ties to the Declaration of Independence
It’s a week that offers up the Fourth of July, time to recall that courageous moment in our history when men — they were all of that gender at that time — at Philadelphia pledged “their life, fortune, and sacred honor” in a resolution that has become our nation’s birth certificate. Though Maine — as […]
Posted inLetters
In rebuttal: Mitchell biography a masterful work
I am writing to protest Paul Mills’ two so-called book reviews (Aug. 7 and Sept. 4, Sun Journal) of “Statesman,” the recent full length biography of Sen. George Mitchell, written by Douglas Rooks. I was on Mitchell’s staff in 1974 (unsuccessful campaign for governor), and on his Senate staff throughout from 1982 through 1994. I […]
Posted inFranklin
Hippach Field Centennial Celebration planned in Farmington
FARMINGTON — For the past 100 years, countless baseball players have found their own field of dreams at Hippach Field. And at Saturday’s centennial celebration a baseball game played by oldtime rules will be one of the remembrances of what the field has meant to many over the years. The celebration begins at the field […]
Posted inFranklin, Lewiston-Auburn
Maine History Maker Award honors Mills family
PORTLAND — The Maine Historical Society will honor four Mills siblings for their “extraordinary commitment to public service” with the Maine History Maker Award this month. Dora, Janet, Peter and Paul Mills, who were raised in Farmington, will be presented the award at the Maine Historical Society’s Annual Celebration on Monday, Sept. 28, at Abromson […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Farmington voters veto sale of town-owned lot
FARMINGTON — Voters at Monday’s annual town meeting indicated the town should keep the property at 411 High St. After having the property appraised last year, selectmen decided to place an article on the warrant asking for authority to sell it by bid or auction. The property, the former site of the municipal garage, is […]