News
Briefs
Senator
Karl Turner and Senator Lois Snowe-Mello alert Area
Businesses Of Misleading Practice
Several
businesses across the state recently received mailings
from a company offering a labor law poster service.
Advised of this practice through concerned constituents,
Senator Karl Turner(R-Cumberland) and Sen. Snowe-Mello
(R-Poland)urge local businesses to beware of this
misleading business practice. The mailing contains
an order form which sells state and federal labor
law posters, items that are normally provided free
of charge from the public agencies themselves.
According to Senators Turner and Snowe-Mello, "The
order form looks like it was issued by a state agency,
and unsuspecting business owners wanting to comply
with state and federal law could easily be duped into
buying the posters. The service also operates out
of Augusta, compounding the confusion. By bringing
this issue to light, hopefully, we can avoid local
businesses purchasing these posters needlessly."
All labor notices and posters mandated by law are
available free of charge. For more information on
obtaining state and federal labor law posters contact
the Maine Department of Labor, Business Answers, in
Augusta at 1-800-872-3838 or 1-207-624-9818.
Governor
Baldacci Buys First Box of Cookies to Kick off Annual
Girl Scout Cookie Sale
Girl
Scout Troop 1600 from Poland visited Governor Baldacci
to kick off the annual Girl Scout cookie sale. The
Governor bought the first box of cookies for this
year's sale from Alissa Gosselin, who learned that
the Governor's favorite cookie is Caramel deLite.
After visiting with the Governor, the girls had the
opportunity to tour the State House and Blaine House.
They, along with more than 10,000 girls from Kennebec
Council, will be selling cookies through April 2.
The cookie sale is one program offered by Girl Scouts
of Kennebec Council to fulfill Girl Scouting's mission
to build girls of courage, confidence, and character,
who make the world a better place. For more information
about the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program, please contact
Carol Smith at 772-1177 or via email at carols@gskc.org
Above, Governor Baldacci fills out cookie order form
for Junior Girl Scout Alissa Gosselin of Poland.
Below right, Junior Girl Scouts Ashley Cleaves, Amanda
Dean, Caitlin Dufault, Christa Edwards, Alissa Gosselin,
Abbie L'Italien, Beckie L'Italien, and Emily Parisi,
along volunteers Debbie
Cleaves, Patti L'Italien, and Maria Parisi join Governor
John Baldacci to kick off the annual Girl Scout Cookie
Sale.
Rep.
Allen Announces $856,000 Grant for Gardiner Business
Park
Expansion of Libby Hill Business Park to spur private
investment, job creation
Portland,
Maine---U.S. Representative Tom Allen announced this
week that the U.S. Economic Development Administration
awarded a grant of $856,400 to the City of Gardiner
and the Gardiner Water District for investment in
infrastructure at the Libby Hill Business Park. The
project will benefit the entire Kennebec Valley Economic
Development District and is slated to create 310 new
jobs and generate $22 million in private investment.
"It's great to see this kind of federal investment
spurring business growth in central Maine," said
Representative Allen. "Libby Hill has been a
success since it first opened several years ago. It
is successes like this that show Maine's potential
for economic growth."
Libby Hill Business Park was constructed in 1999 and
2000 and currently has 16 lots. The federal grant
will extend roadways, electricity, and sewerage to
another 14 lots on 61 acres behind the current park,
and is matched by $1.3 million in local funding.
Crash
in Naples
A
Maine State Trooper, Trooper Michael Smith, was injured
last Friday when his cruiser collided nearly head
on with a SUV. The crash took place on Route 302 in
Naples about 9:30, in front of Naples Pharmacy. Trooper
Smith was lifeflighted to Central Maine Medical Center
in Lewiston and he is being treated for non life threatening
injuries. Trooper Michael Smith is recovering from
his injuries at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.
He sustained multiple injuries and is likely to be
hospitalized for several days.
A team of state troopers are investigating the crash.
State Police say it appears the cause of the crash
in Naples was because the driver of the SUV pulled
in front of the trooper attempting to turn into the
Naples Pharmacy. The two vehicles collided nearly
head on. The other driver, Maureen Simmons, 35, of
Naples, had less serious injuries and was taken to
Bridgton Hospital, treated and released. There have
been no charges filed.
Trooper Smith is 33 and lives in South Casco. He joined
the State Police in 1998 and has patrolled in Oxford
and Cumberland counties. He is a canine handler and
his dog, Jetta, a black Labrador, was taken to a nearby
veterinarian for a check up. The dog had some minor
bumps and bruises and is expected to make a full recovery.
Smith was on routine patrol with his dog when the
crash took place.
Governor
receives more donations for the Keep ME Warm Charitable
Fuel Fund
AUGUSTA - Governor John Baldacci accepted checks totaling
just under five-hundred dollars this week from DIRIGO
Electric to benefit the Keep ME Warm Charitable Fuel
Fund. Bob Howe from Howe and Company; and Sharon A.
Staz from the Kennebunk Light Power District visited
the Governor's Office this morning to present the
checks.
"I want to thank the combined efforts of DIRIGO
Electric for helping Mainers get through another cold
winter," Governor Baldacci said. "It's another
example of the residents of the State of Maine pulling
together to help one another." DIRIGO Electric's
check presentations are the latest in efforts by the
Governor to raise an additional five million dollars
in individual, corporate and foundation donations.
The checks from DIRIGO Electric bring the total amount
of money collected to around $400,000 with more expected
Wednesday and Thursday. The money from the Keep ME
Warm Charitable Fuel Fund will be used to assist those
who are not eligible for LIHEAP, but still need help
with the high costs of heating through the winter.
Those interested in donating to the fund can do so
by calling 1-800-698-4959 or by logging on to www.mainecommunityaction.org
