Staff photo by David Leaming

FUN RIDE: Capt. Rick Caldwell of the Skowhegan Fire Department helps students out of the fire truck that brought them to the Margaret Chase Smith School on Wednesday. The kids got a special ride to school after winning a fire safety poster contest. From left are students Mariah Lancaster, Skylar Foss, Taylor Sneed and John Mailquist. All the kids said the ride was "fun and their first time in a fire truck."

SAD 13 At last, district passes budget
Bingham-based School Administrative District 13 finally has a budget for this year.

Registration for classes starts today
FARMINGTON -- The Franklin County Community College Network, a working partnership that is bringing college classes to Franklin County, will have registration for the spring semester today, Nov. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mt. Blue High School, 129 Seamon Road, in Farmington.

POLICE
IN ANSON, Tuesday at 5:06 p.m., a report of vandalism was investigated on Carrabassett Road.

'This is right out of the J. Edgar Hoover playbook'
MONMOUTH -- A resident has asked for an investigation into his claim the town's police chief misused his authority in an attempt to learn who was gathering feedback about the Monmouth Police Department.

Hospitals to offer locally grown foods
More locally grown produce will be served to MaineGeneral patients, visitors and employees under a partnership with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.

NORTH ANSON Fire officials: Mobile home fire was arson
NORTH ANSON -- State fire investigators are labeling a blaze that destroyed a home Tuesday night as arson.

Investigators: Firefighter admitted starting fire
PARIS -- A volunteer firefighter admitted to investigators that he started a blaze that destroyed two vacant houses in the village of Locke Mills in Greenwood early Tuesday when he ignited a pile of dry leaves, according to an affidavit released Wednesday.

PITTSFIELD GE Security expects to keep workers after sale
PITTSFIELD -- The local General Electric Security plant shouldn't be affected in the short term by a conglomerate's agreement to buy GE's electronic security systems and fire safety operations for $1.82 billion, according to GE Security spokeswoman Michelle May.

State doc touts success of clinics
PORTLAND -- By the end of this week, 95 percent of Maine schools will have held H1N1 flu vaccination clinics, the state's public health director said Wednesday.

SOMERSET COUNTY Emergency director retires from post
SKOWHEGAN -- Somerset County Commissioners on Wednesday approved the emergency management director's 22-page pandemic influenza plan for any possible H1N1 emergency.

ST. ALBANS Holiday concert Friday for town hall's benefit
ST. ALBANS -- Last December, town officials decided to organize a holiday concert in the Town Hall auditorium, with donations helping to pay for repairs to the century-old building.

Underage liquor sting targets stores
Stores that carry liquor, beware: If you try to sell to underage buyers, you're likely to get caught.

WATERVILLE Schools change dates for flu vaccinations
WATERVILLE -- Students in Kennebec Valley Consolidated Schools who thought they had to wait several weeks to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus may instead be vaccinated Nov. 30.

WILTON Old school could become biodiesel site Selectmen considering proposal to buy or lease School St. building
WILTON -- A local family with deep roots in the fiddleheads market is interested in expanding into biodiesel fuel production.

Teen charged with arson
WINDHAM (AP) -- A Gorham teenager has been charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to a vacant building that serves as a popular hangout for skateboarders.

NEWS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK