Chamber honors town’s efforts Caribou Recreation Department worker named Citizen of the Year

CARIBOU – The Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry recognized local people and businesses Friday night at its annual dinner.

Three local men and one bank were cited for their efforts of past years in front of 180 people at the annual session. U.S. Rep. John Baldacci was the keynote speaker for the program held at The Lodge on the Van Buren Road.

James “Dr. Souce” Saucier of the Caribou Recreation Department was honored as Caribou’s Citizen of the Year for his efforts during the last 33 years.

“He is one of the reasons the Caribou Recreation Department is so highly respected throughout the state,” Pam Wyman of the Chamber wrote in a press release. “He has dedicated his life to his city and his profession.”

Saucier was cited for giving his time, including nights and weekends, for the children of Caribou and the recreation department. A Vietnam veteran, Saucier is the recipient of a Purple Heart.

The Chamber cited first Citizens Bank, which opened a new office in Caribou in February 2001, as the Business of the Year.

Spirit of Caribou Awards, which continues the theme of this year’s annual meeting of “Pride in Our Past, Hope in Our Future, Our Strength is in Our Community,” were given to James Mockler of Mockler Funeral Home and Carl Soderberg of Soderberg Construction Co.

Mockler was honored for his six weeks of service to the city of New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack in that city. Mockler served with the U.S. Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team in New York.

Mockler is a past president of the local Kiwanis Club, a Mason, and a lieutenant for the Caribou Paid Call Fire Department.

Soderberg was cited for his work to reintroduce and invigorate Alpine and Nordic skiing in his community.

At no cost to the city, Soderberg used his own equipment to clear trails, install culverts and grade more than 2 kilometers of Nordic trails behind Caribou High School.

The trails, used by the school and the community, also were the first such lighted trails in Maine. He also saw to the installation of snow-making equipment for the trails.