Driving home a message
Win streak
Country singer Lexi James challenges Lake Region MS students to strive for a bully-free school
Inside News
Fryeburg Academy has won two straight girls’ basketball games, and receive help from two rookies
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www.bridgton.com Vol. 144, No. 1
Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. 20 PAGES - 2 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
OUT FOR A RIDE ON A SNOWY DAY — Tim Rogers and his beautiful horse Shamus, gave rides to a group of Girl Scouts from Connecticut this past Saturday, Dec. 29. Shamus pulled the sleigh
January 3, 2013
(USPS 065-020)
SIXTY CENTS
through the tree-lined trails at the Chamberlain farm home of Ward Simontin in West Brownfield — a ride the Girl Scouts will remember for a long time. (Photo by Brian Merrill)
Districts review lockdowns, security after Newtown By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Is our school safe? In wake of the Newtown, Conn. tragedy, many area parents wondered what might happen if someone showed up at a local school, armed and possessing intentions of harming staff and students. SAD 61 and SAD 72 superintendents quickly sent out letters on Monday, Dec. 17 to parents regarding their review of
existing emergency policies, as well as evaluations conducted at area facilities to determine whether improvements are needed to improve security. “I felt that it was important to communicate to staff and parents that while we felt that our schools were a safe environment for students and staff, we would immediately be reviewing all of our school buildings and procedures to ensure we were doing all we could reasonably do,”
said SAD 72 Superintendent of Schools Gary MacDonald. “On the afternoon of the event in Connecticut, before we left for the weekend, we scheduled a meeting for the beginning of the week with a company who specializes in security solutions to help us review all of our buildings.” MacDonald also contacted law enforcement agencies to involve them in the security discussions. Recommendations
will be brought to the SAD 72 school board this month, as part of budget considerations. SAD 61 Superintendent Kathleen Beecher had to deal with two matters — the Newtown shootings, as well as a rumor that a southern Maine school had been targeted for possible violence (State Police would report on Dec. 20 that, “We have chased baseless rumors throughout the past 24 hours and found no credible
threat directed at any Maine school.”). “For the letter that went out to all parents, guardians and staff members about the tragedy in Newtown, I felt the need to reassure families and staff members that we have an emergency response plan for each building in the district and that we practice those elements that we can such as evacuations, shelter-in-place and lockdowns regularly,” Supt. Beecher said.
“In regard to the possible threat for last Friday (Dec. 21) toward high schools in Cumberland and York Counties, once we had the final word from Cumberland County and Bridgton law enforcement officials that there was no actual threat, I felt we needed to communicate that message to parents and staff members and details about the investigation. Both Bridgton Chief of Police Kevin Schofield SECURITY, Page A
Clearing the way for others
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — There has been a shift in people’s work and lifestyles in the past two decades. That change often requires folks to be on the road during the worst part of snowstorms, or at times when the roads are the iciest. As drivable roads have become a necessity for dayto-day living in Maine, many towns find it a tall task to keep those thoroughfares cleared of snow and ice around the clock. It is a service people value, and expect. In Casco, Town Manager Dave Morton remembers as a young boy sledding down Mayberry Hill Road for a few
The objective is to make the roads safe to travel. That is a steep challenge in snow country; and Maine is snow country,
— Don Willard, Raymond Town Manager
days following each snowstorm because that road was not immediately plowed and there was no vehicular traffic to impede a few hours of snowy fun. “There has been a whole change in the way our jobs work and society functions. When I first started (as town manager) people understood they might not be plowed out
for a day or so. Most people did not drive at night when the weather was bad,” he said. “Now, I get calls at two or three in the morning, to complain that a spot is icy or snow is building up,” Morton said. “Now, there is a public expectation that the roads will be cleared and sanded and available to drive on at all CLEARING, Page A
He then offered a grim assessment of the recovery rate for that population: “Out of that 15 per cent, out of 100 of them, 97 will die without ever knowing they are alcoholic,” he said. In other words, they either will not or cannot admit that it is their drinking that is killing them. Out of that same 100 people, he said, “Three will get some kind of treatment, and only one will truly recover from this disease.” The population of the Oxford Hills is around 22,000, said Stockwell. “If you take 15 per cent of that, that’s 3,300 people out there right now that are active or potential alcoholics.” Breaking it down further, he said, “If you take three out of
10 of those (3,300 potential or actual alcoholics), that means there are 99 people who will get some sort of treatment, and 33 of those people will recover.” Stockwell said he could probably name most of those 33 people, because they are the ones who have been through treatment and who are actively practicing one of the most reputable and proven programs of recovery — Alcoholics Anonymous. “After 30,000 years of man crushing grapes, finally two men came together in 1936,” and from their partnership, AA was born. The first public statement by a medical professional declaring that alcoholism was a disease was in 1939, as outlined by Dr. William Silkworth in RECOVERY, Page A
Addiction in Maine: Recovery
INN SOLD — Julie and Rick Whelchel have sold The Noble House Inn, located on Highland Road in Bridgton, to Cindi Hooper of Houston, Texas. Cindi took over operation of the popular inn in late December. (Rivet Photo)
Next adventure
Innkeepers decide to move on
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Julie and Rick Whelchel have always looked forward to the next adventure in their lives. Ten years ago, the couple tired of the grind of corporate America and decided to try something they had no previous experience doing. After looking at 60 inns, they settled on a quaint bed and breakfast in Bridgton. “It fit everything we wanted in an inn,” Julie said. “It was the
right size. It was in a great town. We love the outdoors, so it was a great fit.” Life at The Noble House was everything and more that the Whelchels hoped it would be. They created new friendships from all over the world as about 2,000 people each year spent time at the inn, either for special occasions or simply as a chance to get away to a quiet place where they could enjoy scenic beauty, recharge and “refresh
their senses.” Julie and Rick were able to find a balance, between tackling a new profession that brought daily challenges and rewards, while also finding time to enjoy their own family. Admittedly, they surprised themselves at times. Be it a new recipe that proved to be a hit with guests or renovation work inside the inn that made an impression, Rick and Julie continued a tradition of excellence at INNKEEPERS, Page A
This is the final segment of a three-part series based on information presented at a Dec. 7 Addiction Conference held in South Paris. By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer There’s a good reason why the Oxford Hills has held a major conference on the disease of alcohol and addiction for 12 years running. It’s because Oxford County has the dubious distinction of having the highest incidence of alcoholism in the country, according to Bill Stockwell, chairman of the Substance Abuse Conference Committee of Healthy Oxford Hills. It was in the Oxford Hills that the Project Graduation tradition started, dating back to 1980, when the first Project Graduation was held for SAD 17 graduates in the wake of seven alcohol and other drugrelated deaths of teens in the graduation season of 1979. The alcoholism rate in Oxford County, and thus Oxford Hills, “hovers around 15 per cent — it has for years,” Stockwell said.
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