The County

1 day ago | thecounty.me | Chris Bouchard

MADAWASKA, Maine — Madawaska residents approved the school’s $10 million annual budget during a May 27 town meeting. The next step for formal approval will be for residents to vote on the budget during Madawaska’s upcoming June 10 election. The locally funded portion of this budget is $5.05 million which represents a $236,000 increase over last year’s locally funded portion of $4.81 million.

1 day ago | thecounty.me | Chris Bouchard

FORT KENT, Maine — A Fort Kent Mills man is now barred from entering any nursing home after being convicted of a sexual offense last month. Aurele Laferriere, 81, was charged with three counts of unlawful sexual touching on Sept. 17, 2024, according to court records. Records did not indicate if the crime occurred at a nursing home or whether he was employed at a nursing home at the time. Fort Kent Police Chief Michael DeLena was not immediately available for comment.

4 days ago | thecounty.me | Chris Bouchard

VAN BUREN, Maine — When Gloria Ouellette isn’t working for the town’s ambulance, she’s detailing cars on the side or helping people in need. Ouellette will turn 74 in October, and she has no plans to slow down. Earlier this month, Maine EMS presented Ouellette with a lifetime achievement award for serving the town’s ambulance for over four decades and for frequently going above and beyond for the people in her community.

4 days ago | thecounty.me | Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli

HOULTON, Maine — A new southern Aroostook County kayak rental company will help to give locals and visitors access to regional lakes and rivers. Slated to officially open on Father’s Day, The Riversbend Paddle Co. at 431 Bangor St. in Houlton will launch a new chapter in the region’s outdoor recreation scene, said founder Johanna Johnston, who also leads Southern Aroostook Development Corp. “One of our region’s greatest untapped resources is its potential for outdoor recreation,” said Johnston.

1 week ago | thecounty.me | Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli

Executives from Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent will take over the management of Houlton Regional Hospital under a new one-year agreement announced Thursday, representing a major new partnership between the two previously unaffiliated Aroostook County hospitals. Under the agreement, NMMC President and CEO Jeff Zewe and Chief Financial Officer Aaron Teachout will immediately take on the same roles at Houlton Regional Hospital, according to a Thursday evening release.