10 years ago – June 15, 1996

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – A late spring shower blossomed into a full-blown tempest Friday, dumping 3 inches of rain that choked storm drains and provided city youths with impromptu swimming ponds.

The slashing rain blinded motorists, forcing them to the sides of the roads, while children scrambled to play in the instant pools that dotted streets and parks around town. Across the city, overburdened storm drains belched in their efforts to swallow tons of water that flooded low-lying streets.

Lightning strikes zapped out power at a number of locations around the city. At some intersections, traffic lights failed and drivers had to cross streets cautiously. Pea-sized hail pelted the runways at Bangor International Airport.

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BANGOR – Clayton Lonetree, a Navajo Indian from Minnesota and a former Marine, will be among the keynote speakers at a unique conference in Bangor. Lonetree will join a roster of Native American entertainers and personalities from high-ranking political posts who will speak at the conference. Titled “Building Bridges of Communication,” the conference seeks to strengthen ties to the American Indian population in the Northeast.

Greater Bangor marks the ancestral homeland of Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes. Its rich American Indian heritage will serve as an effective backdrop for a national organization seeking to forge stronger connections with the communities it serves, according to organizers.

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WINTERPORT – Eric Keppel barely slept a wink the night he spent in a “shallow grave” near the summit of Mount McKinley.

After climbing the massive work of nature for about two weeks in early May, the young adventurer from Winterport suddenly found himself between a rock and hard place.

The mountaineer’s dream of standing atop the 20,320-foot-high Alaskan peak was less than a day’s hike away, but formidable conditions were becoming an obstacle.

As high-speed winds whipped snow across his tired body, the 23-year-old tried to collect his thoughts and concentrate on breathing from within his uncomfortable, morbidly nicknamed snow trench.

25 years ago – June 15, 1981

BUCKSPORT – The Bucksport Town Council passed a resolution that proclaimed July 4 as Welcome Home Uncle Jed Day in the town.

The resolution is in recognition of the re-enactment of a day 90 years ago when actor, playwright and native son Richard Golden brought his play, “Old Jed Prouty of Bucksport, Maine,” to his town on the banks of the Penobscot Bay.

The play is considered to be the transition between melodrama and realism. The cast is made up entirely of Maine people, except for storyteller Marshall Dodge, who plays the one character in the play who comes from Boston.

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LEVANT – At home in Levant, Ben appears no more remarkable than the average German shepherd dog. But at the command of his owner, this police-trained canine can jump an 8-foot barricade, sniff out a man in hiding or track a fleeing felon out of the dense woods.

Maine State Trooper Dennis R. McLellan and his wife, Jo, have a special way with animals in general and dogs in particular. So it should come as no surprise that Ben received two awards during the U.S. Canine Association’s Spring Training Seminar.

McLellan’s expertise on the relationship between dog and trainer was sparked at an early age. His uncle was a dog trainer and Denny grew up around dogs. When he saw the advantages that canines could provide in police work, he decided to prove that police dogs could work for the troopers.

Although McLellan was the first trooper to train a police dog for Maine State Police work, others soon followed him.

50 years ago – June 15, 1956

WINTERPORT – Wilfred L. Crossman, 17, of Winterport and a member of the Maine Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Cadets, had been chosen as one of five American CAP Cadets to visit Israel this summer under an International Air Cadet exchange program.

Crossman, who joined the Bangor CAP Cadet Squadron in 1952, has been cadet captain of the unit for the past two years, the highest honor to be won in the organization. At the present time, there are 41 members of the squadron.

During the last week of July, Crossman will go to Washington, D.C., where he will be joined by the successful candidates from the other 51 CAP Wings. From there he will go to Israel with four other Air Cadets, accompanied by several Senior CAP officers and an Army Air Force officer. They will remain in Israel until the middle of August.

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BANGOR – Miss Shirley Merrill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Merrill of 26 Coombs St., has distinguished herself by completing the normal four-year course of the School of Fine and Applied Arts at Boston University in three years, and has been awarded a bachelor’s degree from that institution.

Miss Merrill was the winner of the Senior Class competition for Pops soloist at Boston University night and appeared as guest pianist with the Boston Symphony Pops Orchestra. Because of her splendid performance, she will appear with this orchestra at Symphony Hall in Boston under the direction of Arthur Fiedler.

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BANGOR – Graduation exercises for pupils at the Bangor Hebrew School were held at the Hebrew Community Center. Graduates were Nathan Louis Day, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald S. Day; Stephen Morris Alpert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Alpert; Toby Slep, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Slep; and Richard Joel Allen, son of Edward L. Allen.

Dr. Howard Kominsky, president of the Jewish Community Council, was chairman of the program. Miss Sally Shuman was at the piano.

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OLD TOWN – One hundred and ninety-seven children, including preschoolers, were given the second Salk polio shot at the Herbert Gray School. Doctors J.J. Pearson and Walter L.H. Hall administered the vaccine, assisted by nurses Mrs. Elizabeth Spruce and Miss Bertha Simpson.

100 years ago – June 15, 1906

ORONO – A new flagpole has been erected in front of the high school building on Main Street. The new flag given by Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Webster was flung to the breeze Tuesday morning. The flag can be seen from a great distance and is very pretty.

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WINTERPORT – A most successful entertainment was presented by the students of the school in the Conant district. The school is under the instruction of Miss Ethel Hardy, and the manner in which the parts were rendered gives great credit to Miss Hardy and her students.

The entertainment consisted of dialogues, tableaux, readings and phonograph selections. It was followed by a short social when refreshments of ice cream, cake and candy were sold. One of the interesting features was a guess cake, which was drawn by Miss Viola Conant. The sum of $13 was collected and the crowd dispersed at a late hour feeling they had been highly entertained.

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WINTERPORT – It is hoped that a goodly number from town will plan to attend the outing at Hermon Pond under the management of the Newburgh Band. The past excursions have been red letter days and the Newburgh Band is sure to give the excursionists a good time.

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ORONO – R.S. Smith, one of the graduates of the University of Maine this year, left for New York to enter the employ of the Western Electric Co.

Editor’s note: Bentley Herbert, one of the Bangor High School baseball players pictured in the June 1 Picture from the Past, says the photograph shows the 1949 team.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin