Staff photo by David Leaming

TALE OF TWO SEASONS: Raymond Belanger rakes leaves as ssnow flies on Thursday at his home on the North Road in Detroit. Belanger uses his all terrain vehicle to haul the leaves and plow snow.

SAD 49 sees reduction in aid
ALBION -- School Administrative District 49 already has encumbered a $225,000 curtailment in state funding, Superintendent Dean Baker told the board of directors on Thursday night.

AFTER THE VOTE: How to dispense pot to patients?
AUGUSTA -- Gov. John Baldacci on Friday signed an executive order to create a 14-member task force that will help apply an expansion of the state's medical marijuana law.

NEWPORT: Police recover two firearms
NEWPORT -- Two guns have been found by authorities but a hunting rifle remains missing in the case of murder suspect Perley Goodrich Jr., Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said Friday.

'The luckiest man in the world just left us'
PITTSFIELD -- Ival "Bud" Cianchette, one of the four founding fathers of Cianbro Corp., died Thursday night at the age of 83.

Saco Drive-In seeks new operator Owners of Route 1 landmark optimistic theater will open for 71st season next summer
SACO -- The "For Lease" sign might cause some to worry, but the Saco Drive-In is likely to open for its 71st season next year.

Officials: Swine flu a small part of school absences
Schools throughout central Maine are seeing a sharp increase in student absenteeism -- but educators say only a fraction of those staying home sick have been stricken by swine flu.

Soldier from Augusta was two blocks away
Text messages on his cell phone kept U.S. Army Specialist Anthony Gayne, of Augusta, informed as the tragedy of the Fort Hood shootings unfolded.

REPORTING ASIDE: Veteran: Military 'gives you strength'
Wednesday is Veterans Day, and Bob Sweet will likely be one of the first people lining up on the sidewalk in Waterville to watch the parade.

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