Local residents turned in unwanted medications Saturday morning at the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office in Augusta, where drugs from many participating Kennebec County municipalities would be collected for later incineration.
Keith Edwards
Staff Writer
Keith Edwards covers the city of Augusta and courts in Kennebec County, writing feature stories and covering breaking news, local people and events, and local politics. He has worked at the Kennebec Journal since 1995, having previously worked at the Camden Herald. He was born and raised in Winthrop and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a degree in political science. He is married and has a dog and cat. A lifelong Mainer, he enjoys skiing, hiking, canoeing, camping, and cooking out but spends most of his “off” time restoring and maintaining his 170, or so, year-old home in Richmond.
Residents’ drive likely to reopen Bicentennial Nature Park
Bicentennial Nature Park is likely to reopen this summer despite earlier plans to shut it down by city officials. A citizens group has secured donations to go toward the park’s maintenance.
Blasting plans worry rock quarry neighbors
Neighbors of an Augusta concrete company have expressed concerns about plans to blast rock at a quarry off Civic Center Drive. Auburn Concrete has requested a zone change so it can pursue a permit from the city.
Efforts to reopen Augusta’s Bicentennial park off to good start
If an Augusta group has its way and raises enough money, Bicentennial Nature Park will open this summer, after the city decided not to open it last year in an effort to save $40,000.
Elephants denied entry into Maine over tuberculosis test
Elephants will not be part of the 60th annual Kora Shrine Circus in Augusta, after they were denied entry by state officials because they hadn’t had a recent-enough tuberculosis test required by the state of Maine.
Former Hallowell resident tells of helicopters circling Cambridge home
Former Hallowell resident Michelle LaPointe heard the helicopters circling over her home in a Cambridge, Mass., neighborhood Thursday night as police began the massive manhunt for the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings.
Augusta schools propose $27 million budget
School officials told Augusta city councilors that its district’s local funding has been far below state expectations, and asked for support of the requested $27 million for the next fiscal year.
Viles left $1M for Cony students attending Maine colleges, universities
Augusta philanthropist Elsie Viles, who died in March, left Cony High School $1 million to establish a scholarship fund.
Augusta City Council questions schools’ part in tax increase
Augusta city councilors Wednesday questioned school officials on their proposed $27.56 million budget, which would play a role in a tax increase for residents.
Natural gas companies take opposite tacks on serving capital region
A request for proposals to provide natural gas to residents, businesses and city, school, county and court buildings in Augusta, Gardiner and Hallowell has drawn very different proposals from the two companies fighting to be the pipeline provider of choice in the Kennebec Valley.