COLUMBIA, S.C. – Army Spc. Heather McDougal graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson. She earned distinction as an honor graduate.

McDougal, the daughter of Serena Bemis-Goodall of Greenbush, Maine, and the granddaughter of Harold Bemis of Newport, Maine, received a master’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2002.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Air Force Airman Chad Turner graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base. A 2004 graduate of Nokomis Regional High School, he is the son of Cheryl Shorey of Newport, Maine.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Air National Guard Airman Nathan Ayer graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base. A 2004 graduate of Nokomis Regional High School, he is the son of Ben and Sara Ayer of Newport, Maine.

PRESQUE ISLE – Dr. Charles Morris, medical director of Horizons Occupational Health and Wellness, recently qualified as a recertified medical review officer by the Medical Review Officer Certification Council.

The position is given to licensed physicians with the highest professional standards of medical expertise and practical skills necessary to evaluate drug and alcohol tests in public and private sectors of the workplace. The Drug-Free Workplace Act affects all federal agencies and mandatory alcohol and drug testing is required of all intrastate truckers, commercial driver’s license holders and other transportation workers.

PRESQUE ISLE – The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization has awarded the Aroostook Medical Center its “Gold Seal of Approval.”

The award is given to health care organizations that demonstrate compliance with national standards for health care quality and safety. TAMC officials say they view the accreditation as a demonstration of their commitment to patient safety and quality care.