Posted inLewiston-Auburn

‘Officer Smiley’ relieved after Elan School story

LEWISTON — For nearly 40 years, Max Ashburn kept a secret: When he was school liaison officer for the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department, he helped a boy escape from the Elan School. For decades he feared what people would say, how his law enforcement colleagues would react, whether he’d get in trouble. But after telling […]

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Posted inFranklin, Lewiston-Auburn

Jay teen to wait and see what the political future holds

JAY — Eighteen-year-old Trevor Doiron plans to wait and see what the future holds for him in politics. He hopes to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to study political science for his undergraduate degree. Doiron was 17 and the youngest Democratic delegate of 30 from Maine and the youngest male at the National Democratic […]

Posted inFranklin

Farmington family moves forward after devastating fire

FARMINGTON — The Boyker-Smith family lost their home and belongings in a fire Oct. 18, but they have each other and have moved forward with the help of family, friends and community members. “Due to the hearts in this community, we have had everything we need, have been able to rebuild our home and will […]

Posted inMaine

Weird, Wicked Weird: Take that, 2016

In Maine, Ghost Camp 2 is a go for next summer. We’re home to Chicks with staying power. And if Bigfoot is not here, might it be near? We catch up on and update some of the Weird, Wicked Weirds of the last year. More than a walk in the woods In January, Animal Planet […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn

Pam Sirois: Still waiting to breathe easy

GREENE — Eight months ago, Pam Sirois was featured in a Sun Journal story about her battle with cystic fibrosis and her need for a double lung transplant. She’s still waiting for that transplant. “Waiting is hard,” she said. “It’s hard on my children and on my husband.” But as she waits, Sirois has discovered […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn

Auburn photographer remembers Paris attacks

Seven weeks after she found herself in the midst of the Paris terrorist attacks, Auburn photographer Tanja Hollander is home. “I took the rest of November and December off when I got back,” Hollander said. “I didn’t really want to leave Maine, or Auburn or my house, to be honest with you, for at least a […]

Posted inFranklin

Former Jay mill workers have moved on after the paper mill closed

JAY — Many Wausau Paper Corp. workers took advantage of training offered and changed careers when the Wisconsin-based company closed the century-old mill that straddles Jay and Livermore Falls in 2009. Former workers encourage the people who lost their jobs at Verso Paper Corp.’s mill in Bucksport in December to take advantage of all of […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn

Dog-gone-great: Greene business ‘awesome’ on 2014

GREENE — Sit. Stay. Buy. Robin Healey opened Kiki Couture 18 months ago, making canine collars, bow ties and coats, specializing in deep-chested — or big-boned — dogs. Last Christmas, she was surprised to find her company featured among the Maine-made gifts touted in Down East magazine. She’s shipped to 47 states and several countries […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn

2014: A year of tragedies, triumphs and tribulations

At first glance, 2014 looks like a year of staying the course — of familiar faces and the unchanging Maine way of life. We elected a new governor who wasn’t new to us at all. We voted against a referendum that would have changed the way sportsmen hunt bears in the Maine woods. A popular […]