News Briefs

Veteran NG policeman promoted
Lt. Conger takes over Troop A
By Elizabeth Prata

Two veteran state troopers have been promoted to lieutenant and sergeant in southern Maine. The promotions were made recently by the Chief of the Maine State Police, Colonel Craig A. Poulin. Kevin J. Conger of New Gloucester was promoted to lieutenant and named the commanding officer for Troop A in Gray and Alfred. Kevin P. Donovan of Limerick was named a sergeant and will supervise the overnight hours on the Maine Turnpike. Both men joined the State Police in 1984. Above, State Police Lt. Kevin Conger (on the left) and Sgt. Kevin Donovan at their recent promotions.

Lt. Conger said that he had been a Sergeant for 20 years prior to his promotion to Lieutenant. "I was honored to be chosen. I am looking forward to working with the good bunch in Troop A." There are 42 troopers in all, spread over two barracks, one in Gray and one in Alfred. Troop A was consolidated last year, formerly it was Troop B but now it now covers Cumberland, York, Oxford and Androscoggin Counties. He assumed his duties on September 22, and "It's been busy getting acclimated, it's a busy troop."

Lt. Conger lives in New Gloucester with his wife Lynn. He has two children, Kevin, Jr. is a Police Officer in Norway, and his daughter Karen will graduate from UMaine/Orono in December as a nurse.

Last year at the Earth Day celebration, then-Sgt. Conger manages traffic and pedestrians in the detail assigned the area where the Presidential motorcade was passing on its way to Wells.

Conger will now oversee the largest troop in the State Police--Troop A, which has headquarters in Gray and Alfred and patrols York, Cumberland, Oxford and Androscoggin counties. The troop complement is made up of 40 troopers and six sergeants. Conger has been a sergeant in the State Police since 1995 and has supervised troopers along the turnpike and also in Troop A during that time.

Donovan has spent the majority of his State Police career in the commercial vehicle enforcement unit. Since July he has been a corporal in Troop B, which patrols the Maine Turnpike. Donovan will now supervise the troopers who patrol the turnpike during the overnight hours. He will continue to live in Limerick with his wife, Ruth.

Maine Civil Liberties Union (MCLU) Delivers Patriot Act Reform Petition to Senators Snowe and Collins

Senators Olympia Snow and Susan Collins received a petition from constituents today urging them to protect the modest reforms in the Senate version of Patriot Act reauthorization legislation. The petition, gathered in a joint effort between the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Working Asset's Act for Change program, is seeking their support to change some of the most controversial and secretive powers expanded by the Patriot Act, which may be voted on as early as next week.

The Senate version revises several of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions. For example, the Senate bill puts a four-year sunset on the government's ability to secretly demand library, medical, financial, or gun ownership records. The Senate bill also ensures that the government must demonstrate, to a judge, some facts warranting the search and a connection to a suspected terrorist or spy. It also provides a better right to challenge the demand under grand jury rules. Under the Senate bill, if a sneak and peek search is allowed, the government must give notice within seven days (with some exceptions and extensions) that it has searched a person's home or business. The House version of the act allows for an initial 180-day delay in notice of these secret searches, which are not limited to terrorism cases.

Nationwide, nearly 70,000 people have signed on to the petition to reform the Patriot Act. To circulate the petition, the ACLU allied with Working Assets, a telecommunications group that financially supports grassroots activism.

Maine Right to Life Committee Convention

The Maine Right to Life Committee today announced that its Annual Convention will be held on Saturday, October 22nd from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

The theme of this year's convention is Equal Justice for All, and the event will feature Dr. Alveda C. King, a noted civil rights activist and the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King currently serves as the Director of African American Outreach for Gospel of Life.

Other speakers will include: Carol Crossed, the co-founder of Democrats for Life; Nate Walton, Chairman of the Maine College Republicans on creating a Culture of Life on Maine college campuses; Dr. Ron Carroll, MD on the role that money plays in the abortion industry; and Ray Richardson, local talk show host and community activist on the role of talk radio in the pro-life cause.

Advance registration may be made online at www.MaineRightToLife.com or by calling 622-3837. Same day registration will also be available. Advance registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for students and include a full lunch and access to all speakers. Registration the day of the convention and at the door is $30 for adults and $15 for students. For more information call 622-3837.

Area Youth Organize for Hurricane Relief

Portland - A group of area teens, organized under the banner "Rock4Relief" is spearheading an effort to raise funds for Red Cross hurricane relief. Led by Marcus Bagala, 15, of Gray, and Anna Devoe, 14, of Gorham, the group's first event is a "A Concert for Hurricane Relief" on October 15 at Catherine McAuley High School in Portland. The effort is entirely youth led and organized.

According to Bagala, "We're too young to go to the disaster zone and help out there, but we wanted to do something to help the people in the Gulf Coast area. And a lot of us are musicians, so New Orleans especially means a lot to us because of the musical tradition there. So a benefit concert seemed like a good idea."

The Rock4Relief organizers include youth from Gray, Gorham, Cornish, Scarborough, New Gloucester, Portland, Westbrook, Hollis, Saco, and several other communities.

The concert will include eight area bands: Modern Syndrome, Fifth Freedom, Fake Canadians, Third Floor View, Aimless Drive, Haven't Talked Since, and Bagala's band, The Shams. Radio personality, Mark Persky, will emcee the event. The concert organizers are also planning other fundraising activities to take place the day of the concert. The all-ages event begins at 4 p.m. on October 15 at 631 Stevens Avenue. For more information contact Marcus Bagala at 650-3961 or theshamsrock@yahoo.com.

Outward Bound to sell Rockland facilities

Outward Bound announced on October 5, that they plan to sell the Rockland, Maine office in 2006. The sale comes after the January 2005 decision of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School to affiliate with four other Outward Bound schools. The Rockland office has served the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School since the mid 1970's. Many of the services provided out of the Rockland administrative facility have been deployed elsewhere in the state and around the country. A significant portion of the proceeds from this sale will be invested in reinvigorating and growing the sea program for Outward Bound in Maine. The Hurricane Island Outward Bound School has operated as an independent, non-profit, non-traditional school for over 41 years. As an affiliate with the other schools, the new, larger organization will be better positioned to meet the needs of current and future students nationwide.