Skip to the contentSkip to contentThe St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Madawaska was recently the subject of vandalism. According to preliminary estimates, the incident caused at least six figures worth of damage. (Chris Bouchard | St. John Valley Times)MADAWASKA, Maine — A man accused of vandalizing St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church may face hate crime charges for causing “hundreds of thousands” of dollars in damage to the building.Ronald Lavoie, 47, of Madawaska, was arrested on Monday in connection with the incident.Madawaska Police Chief Jamie Pelletier said on Wednesday the most...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentThe St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Madawaska was recently the subject of vandalism. According to preliminary estimates, the incident caused at least six figures worth of damage. (Chris Bouchard | St. John Valley Times)MADAWASKA, Maine — A man accused of vandalizing St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church may face hate crime charges for causing “hundreds of thousands” of dollars in damage to the building.Ronald Lavoie, 47, of Madawaska, was arrested on Monday in connection with the incident.Madawaska Police Chief Jamie Pelletier said on Wednesday the most...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentThe Houlton Humane Society is calling all Aroostook County bachelors for a 2024 Dudes and Adoptables Calendar. The single men will be holding one of the dogs or cats from the shelter. (Credit: Cheryl Grant)HOULTON, Maine — Aroostook County bachelors are sending in photos and hoping to be one of the 12 single men selected for the Houlton Humane Society’s 2024 Dudes and Adoptables Calendar. “It takes a guy brave enough to put himself out there,” said Johanna Johnston, the calendar’s creator. “But it really brings a guy up when you see him loving an...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentThe Houlton Humane Society is calling all Aroostook County bachelors for a 2024 Dudes and Adoptables Calendar. The single men will be holding one of the dogs or cats from the shelter. (Credit: Cheryl Grant)HOULTON, Maine — Aroostook County bachelors are sending in photos and hoping to be one of the 12 single men selected for the Houlton Humane Society’s 2024 Dudes and Adoptables Calendar. “It takes a guy brave enough to put himself out there,” said Johanna Johnston, the calendar’s creator. “But it really brings a guy up when you see him loving an...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentFred Grant, president of Northern Maine Media, stands outside the Temple Theater in downtown Houlton. Grant purchased the theater in June. (Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli | Houlton Pioneer Times)HOULTON, Maine — Following a  major sponsorship agreement with the Houlton Band of Maliseets and York’s of Houlton, the 1919 historic Temple Theater on Market Square has renamed its two inside theaters. Theater one is now the York’s Theater and theater two, the Houlton Band of Maliseets Theater, said Jason Howe, Temple Theater general manager on Monday.“This is...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentFred Grant, president of Northern Maine Media, stands outside the Temple Theater in downtown Houlton. Grant purchased the theater in June. (Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli | Houlton Pioneer Times)HOULTON, Maine — Following a  major sponsorship agreement with the Houlton Band of Maliseets and York’s of Houlton, the 1919 historic Temple Theater on Market Square has renamed its two inside theaters. Theater one is now the York’s Theater and theater two, the Houlton Band of Maliseets Theater, said Jason Howe, Temple Theater general manager on Monday.“This is...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentPerham Select Board members Anthony Huston (left) and Jon Rasmussen (center-left) go over the public comments criticizing the Blackstone Road project at the Perham Town Office on Oct. 2. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)PERHAM, Maine — The Perham Select Board held a tense meeting Monday during which members of the public expressed concern about the recently completed Blackstone Road project.Some residents complained the road isn’t wide enough for cars to pass each other, and the drainage ditches are not deep enough on both sides of the Blackstone...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentPerham Select Board members Anthony Huston (left) and Jon Rasmussen (center-left) go over the public comments criticizing the Blackstone Road project at the Perham Town Office on Oct. 2. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)PERHAM, Maine — The Perham Select Board held a tense meeting Monday during which members of the public expressed concern about the recently completed Blackstone Road project.Some residents complained the road isn’t wide enough for cars to pass each other, and the drainage ditches are not deep enough on both sides of the Blackstone...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentA September fire at an old hangar at the Houlton International Airport destroyed three businesses.  (Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli | Houlton Pioneer Times)HOULTON, Maine — The cause of the structure fire that destroyed three Houlton businesses last month is undetermined due to the severity of the fire and the completeness of the burn, according to the state fire marshal’s office. The Sept. 19 fire at 66 Industrial St. at the Houlton International Airport ripped through Family Roots, a medical marijuana dispensary; Tiny Homes of Maine, a tiny home...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentA September fire at an old hangar at the Houlton International Airport destroyed three businesses.  (Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli | Houlton Pioneer Times)HOULTON, Maine — The cause of the structure fire that destroyed three Houlton businesses last month is undetermined due to the severity of the fire and the completeness of the burn, according to the state fire marshal’s office. The Sept. 19 fire at 66 Industrial St. at the Houlton International Airport ripped through Family Roots, a medical marijuana dispensary; Tiny Homes of Maine, a tiny home...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentFox Family Chips co-owner Rhett Fox (right) oversees the frying process of a new batch of chips with his nephew Winter Whitten (left) inside the new manufacturing facility at 1697 Main St. in Mapleton on Oct. 4. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)MAPLETON, Maine — Northern Maine’s only commercial potato chip producer can’t keep up with demand for its crunchy snacks even after completing a major expansion of its production facility.Fox Family Potato Chips Inc. opened its new manufacturing building earlier this year in this small Aroostook County town. The new...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentFox Family Chips co-owner Rhett Fox (right) oversees the frying process of a new batch of chips with his nephew Winter Whitten (left) inside the new manufacturing facility at 1697 Main St. in Mapleton on Oct. 4. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)MAPLETON, Maine — Northern Maine’s only commercial potato chip producer can’t keep up with demand for its crunchy snacks even after completing a major expansion of its production facility.Fox Family Potato Chips Inc. opened its new manufacturing building earlier this year in this small Aroostook County town. The new...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentState-appointed stakeholder groups will hold a series of public meetings this year focused on potential Aroostook County road improvements. The Caribou Connector, pictured here is a recent example of an improvement made to the region's roads. The connector attaches Route 1 to Route 161. Both roads lead to the St. John Valley. (Chris Bouchard | St. John Valley Times)FORT KENT, Maine — A group of state, county and local officials will meet at the Fort Kent Town Office at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, to discuss options for improving highway connections...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentState-appointed stakeholder groups will hold a series of public meetings this year focused on potential Aroostook County road improvements. The Caribou Connector, pictured here is a recent example of an improvement made to the region's roads. The connector attaches Route 1 to Route 161. Both roads lead to the St. John Valley. (Chris Bouchard | St. John Valley Times)FORT KENT, Maine — A group of state, county and local officials will meet at the Fort Kent Town Office at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, to discuss options for improving highway connections...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentWatson, a 5-year-old Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terrier mix owned by Judy Bougie, plays in Caribou's dog park. Construction on a similar park for Presque Isle is underway. (File: Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Progress on a proposed dog park in the city has been slowed by a lack of fundraising and bad weather.It has been more than a year and half since the dog park for Peace Park was proposed in response to Caribou building what is now the Sincock Dog Park in 2019. Mantle Lake Park in Presque Isle allows dogs but they need to be...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentWatson, a 5-year-old Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terrier mix owned by Judy Bougie, plays in Caribou's dog park. Construction on a similar park for Presque Isle is underway. (File: Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Progress on a proposed dog park in the city has been slowed by a lack of fundraising and bad weather.It has been more than a year and half since the dog park for Peace Park was proposed in response to Caribou building what is now the Sincock Dog Park in 2019. Mantle Lake Park in Presque Isle allows dogs but they need to be...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentLimestone Select Board members Randy Brooker (left) and Irma Labreck during the latest board meeting Wednesday. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)LIMESTONE, Maine — Limestone’s Select Board will vote on the town’s 2023 mill rate during a special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11.The board learned in September that tax assessor Brandon Saucier would need to assess over 50 properties at the former Loring Air Force Base before officials could choose a mill rate. All 58 buildings that Saucier has assessed now belong to Green 4 Maine, making them taxable for...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentLimestone Select Board members Randy Brooker (left) and Irma Labreck during the latest board meeting Wednesday. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)LIMESTONE, Maine — Limestone’s Select Board will vote on the town’s 2023 mill rate during a special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11.The board learned in September that tax assessor Brandon Saucier would need to assess over 50 properties at the former Loring Air Force Base before officials could choose a mill rate. All 58 buildings that Saucier has assessed now belong to Green 4 Maine, making them taxable for...WW…

Skip to the contentSkip to contentThe Fort Fairfield U.S. Customs and Border Patrol facility is seen on Oct. 4, 2023. (Paula Brewer | The Star-Herald)Fort Fairfield is one step closer to an improved port of entry at its border with New Brunswick following the awarding of a nearly $4 million contract for construction management.The $35 million to $45 million project will renovate the existing U.S. Customs and Border Protection station. Work is expected to start in summer 2026 and finish in spring 2028.Fort Fairfield will be the third Aroostook County community to see improved border...…Skip to the contentSkip to contentThe Fort Fairfield U.S. Customs and Border Patrol facility is seen on Oct. 4, 2023. (Paula Brewer | The Star-Herald)Fort Fairfield is one step closer to an improved port of entry at its border with New Brunswick following the awarding of a nearly $4 million contract for construction management.The $35 million to $45 million project will renovate the existing U.S. Customs and Border Protection station. Work is expected to start in summer 2026 and finish in spring 2028.Fort Fairfield will be the third Aroostook County community to see improved border...WW…