(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – March 15, 1997

BUCKSPORT – A proposed financial partnership could give the town a share of Champion International Corp. revenues in exchange for a tax break on new improvements at the paper mill.

The town is looking at creating a tax increment financing district under the auspices of a state-sponsored program that allows certain employers to improve or expand their facilities while sheltering those improvements from property taxation.

Mill manager Fred Oettinger announced last fall that Champion hoped to work with the town toward establishing a TIF partnership to fund the mill’s proposed $121 million modernization.

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BANGOR – If shoppers at the Bangor Mall see what appear to be lots of Girl Scouts either tired, wired or both, it’s because the girls spent the night in the Bangor Mall. The sleepover is the Bangor Mall’s contribution to the celebration of the 85th anniversary of Girl Scouting in the United States.

The Girl Scout sleepover, or campout, includes girls from as far north as Caribou and Mars Hill and as far south as Newport and Pittsfield.

Mall marketing director Karen Cole enlisted the support of several mall merchants to help the Scouts complete requirements toward badges. In all, 42 workshops, ranging from cooking to fashion to computers to sports, were available to the girls who chose to participate in at least three.

25 years ago – March 15, 1982

ORONO – Three men became the second team in history to make a successful winter climb of Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America.

“We’ve got a little bit of frostbite and one broken leg, but we’re in pretty good shape,” said team member Mike Young, 29, a physician from Orono.

The climbers spent 31/2 weeks in subzero temperatures on the 20,320-foot mountain about 125 miles north of Anchorage.

The men, carrying enough food and gear for 40 days, began their climb Feb. 17. Temperatures ranged from 10 to 40 degrees below zero.

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BANGOR – Seven pupils from Vine Street School were all smiles at the conclusion of the University of Maine Young Writers Conference. Pupils from each of the fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade classes at the school were chosen to participate: Kathy Klocko, Judson Rand, Jeffrey Ferrell, Wendy Burt, Robyn Russell, Tresso Willett and Philip Burns.

50 years ago – March 15, 1957

ORONO – Dr. Percy Leddy, University of Maine physician, was in charge of giving first Salk vaccine inoculations to more than 700 faculty members, employees and their wives at a clinic at the college infirmary.

Previously, 1,700 students received their first polio prevention shots.

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BANGOR – While the month of January was far more costly than the same month in 1956 in snow removal and ice control work, the report for February showed that for the first two months of the year, total costs for this work by the Bangor public works department is $5,000 more than for the same period a year ago.

Snow removal costs in January were $57,000, which is $15,000 more than for the same month a year ago. Lack of heavy snow in February this year cut the overall snow removal and ice control work cost considerably.

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BANGOR – Three hundred and twenty-eight people received the Salk vaccine at the clinic at the Bangor Osteopathic Hospital as the surge for inoculations mounts in Penobscot County.

Dr. Robert McCrum of Old Town and Dr. Bernard Berry of Bucksport administered the vaccine assisted by staff nurses. Clerical work was handled by hospital employees and members of the Women’s Auxiliary.

The Osteopathic Hospital booked mass inoculations for the Coca Cola Bottling Plant employees, the Glenburn church and the Brewer VFW Auxiliary.

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BANGOR – James Brown, better known to the younger set as Lt. Rip Masters of the “Adventures of Rin Tin Tin,” will be master of ceremonies when the wonder dog appears at the Bangor Civic Center. Tickets are going at a rapid rate according to Forrest Fleming, promoter.

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ORONO – The Rev. John Brett Fort, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, told the Future Teachers of America chapter that a teacher’s role starts when the child is old enough to go to kindergarten.

In opposition to some of the methods of what he called progressive schools, the Bangor minister said that children need discipline.

Otherwise “they won’t survive in this cold world if they continue to practice that theory of being allowed to express themselves unrestrainedly.”

He agreed, upon questioning, that the ban upon blue jeans by school authorities was necessary. “When anything goes, everything goes,” he said.

He warned that adults must live up to the codes they set for their children if they expect them to be effective.

100 years ago – March 15, 1907

BANGOR – The members of the Universalist Floral and Aid Society are awaiting favorable weather conditions as all arrangements have been made for the supper and entertainment to be held in the church vestry.

A feature of the after-supper program will be the violin and trombone duet by Rudolph Ringwall and Harold Bragdon, two of the younger musicians of the city, accompanied on the piano by Mrs. H.P. Gilman. The soloists for the evening will be Mrs. Henry Keep, Mrs. F.C. Ridley and Floyd Baxter. Dr. Agnes Persson will read.

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HAMPDEN CORNER – People at the Corner are very much pleased with the new arc light which recently has been put up in the square.

Capt. M.S. Hodgdon had gone to Massachusetts to join his vessel.

Several from this Corner attended the re-dedication of the Baptist Church at West Hampden. Among those who went were the Rev. O.P. Frost, Mrs. C.M. Garland, Mrs. Frank Brown and the Misses Winifred and Inez Smith.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin