(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – March 29, 1997

BANGOR – Brig. Gen. Wilfred Hessert took part in a farewell tradition that is sometimes used at the Air National Guard base in Bangor; he got “hosed down.”

A fire truck greeted the military commander, who soon will leave for a $100,000-a-year Pentagon post in Washington, D.C., as he climbed out of the fuselage of a KCX-135 tanker after a morning flight.

Smiling, some crew members aimed a fire hose at him and let the water fly.

Hessert has a high-ranking new appointment. He will be deputy inspector general of the U.S. Air Force, a job that will require oversight of inspection procedures on military bases worldwide.

The wet tradition of farewell was a good-humored event, Hessert said. He was almost as surprised by the soaking as he was by his new appointment.

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BANGOR – Almost five years after the deadline passed for stations to submit radio contract bids for University of Maine sports, the University of Maine has put the finishing touches on a three-year deal with WZON 620 AM in Bangor.

The Zone Corporation, WZON’s parent company, will pay the university $8,000 per year and provide $23,000 in promotional spots and air time annually on WZON and sister station WKIT 100.1 FM in return for exclusive radio rights to men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey, football and baseball, men’s and women’s soccer and field hockey.

As part of the agreement, WZON will work with UMaine officials to develop a statewide Black Bear radio network with WZON as the flagship station.

25 years ago – March 29, 1982

BANGOR – A crowd of about 200 participated in a rally at West Market Square in Bangor to protest United States policy on El Salvador.

The rally was the culmination of a three-part program that demanded an end to the U.S. military aid to the ruling El Salvador junta and to the deportation of Salvadoran refugees seeking asylum in this country.

Earlier, an ecumenical service was held at St. John’s Catholic Church for the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated two years ago while celebrating Mass in the National Cathedral of San Salvador.

Participants marched from the church to West Market Square for the rally in cold and windy weather.

Eileen Keremitsis, professor of Latin American history at the University of Maine; Sister Miriam Devlin, a Bucksport physician; and Charles O’Leary, president of the Maine Labor Council, AFL-CIO, addressed the rally.

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BREWER – Members of Boy Scout Troop 15 of Brewer spent a busy winter building a 28-foot fiberglass war canoe.

The unique craft was started over the Christmas school vacation with the construction of a fiberglass mold. The seats and woodwork were built during January. The canoe was constructed during February school vacation.

Troop members plan to christen the canoe in April. During the summer the Scouts plan to take several canoe trips on Maine rivers.

Troop members working on various stages of construction were Jeff Monk, John Monk, Mark Maybury, Tim Winchester, Lee Landry, Mike Winchester and James McArthur, fiberglass mold; Ken Snowman, Tim Winchester, John Monk and Mark Maybury, construction of the canoe; Fred Luce, woodwork.

They were assisted by Scoutmaster Michael Maybury and Assistant Scoutmaster Donald Winchester. Harry Boyd, Webelos leader, painted decorations on the side of the canoe.

50 years ago – March 29, 1957

BANGOR – Dr. Robert Barrett Jr. of Bangor, who was elected a full Fellow in the American College of Allergists in December by the Board of Regents, was presented formally to the group at the annual convention in Chicago.

Barrett, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Robert J. Barrett of Berlin, N.H., was born in Morristown, N.J. He graduated from Morristown High School in 1935 and studied at the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia from 1935 to 1938. Barrett graduated from the School of Medicine at Georgetown University in 1942.

He served in the medical corps, Army of U.S. (Reserves) during World War II and was on active duty 1943-1946.

Dr. Barrett is married to the former Catherine Rogan of Bangor and they have three children, Robert J. Barrett 3rd, Bonny Kay Barrett and Mark Barrett.

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BANGOR – Those fans who have kept a watchful eye on the box scores of Husson College and Recreation League basketball games during the past few years have noticed some almost phenomenal figures following the name “Cimbollek” in the game results.

The young man responsible for these figures is Robert Cimbollek, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Cimbollek of Bangor.

Cimbollek has been the mainstay and high scorer for Del Merrill’s Husson College Indians for the past two seasons. He has racked up a total of 975 points in his two years in the Husson ranks for an average of 27.5 points per game. While compiling this impressive mark, Cimbollek hit for a phenomenal 56.5 percent of his shots from the floor and 77.1 percent of free throw attempts.

Cimbollek played for Bangor High School under Coach Red Barry during the 1953-1954 and 1954-1955 seasons and has really come into his own as a scorer and playmaker for the Husson team.

100 years ago – March 29, 1907

CASTINE – Mrs. Ira Varnum started Tuesday for Wiscasset where she will remain for awhile, or until she hears of the arrival of her husband, Captain Varnum, from Newport News. Then she will meet her husband in Boston, with whom she will make several trips to sea.

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CASTINE – It certainly appears well for the prosperity of our town to see Hotel Pentagoet open once again. Landlord Frank E. Rea is putting the building to rights, having put in a new heating furnace and is now about to make repairs on the exterior.

He will make some changes in the approach to the house and will rebuild the piazza. Mr. Rea seems to be hustling things right along. If he continues as he has begun, this building, so long vacated, will be a marked improvement to the town.

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CASTINE – Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Carpenter started for Boston Tuesday on a 10-day trip. Mr. Carpenter makes this trip combining business with pleasure. He is proprietor and manager of the Castine Line and Twine factory of this place and president of the Eastern Bay Steamship Co.

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BUCKSPORT – Lewis Hubbard of Orland has purchased the trucking business between this place and Orland from Capt. James Crosby and will continue the business.

Henry Hooper has been hired as fireman at the electric light station of the Bucksport Light and Power Co.

The fishing sloop Freddie C. Jr., Capt. Joseph Hutchings, cleared Thursday for Dix Island.

The schooner Maria L. Davis, Captain Devereaux, arrived in port Thursday forenoon light from Castine and chartered to load telephone poles for Sargentville.

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BREWER – The large east window placed at the Methodist Episcopal Church is one of the handsomest of memorial windows in coloring, design and construction. The window is in memoriam for A.H. King, Corilla B. King, Joseph Baker, Elias S. Boden and the Rev. J.W.H. Cromwell.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin