Northern Light Inland Hospital announced this week that it joined with online university Purdue Global in opening a simulation center that officials say will give nursing students and others an enhanced training experience.

The combined budget is an increase of $4.8 million from the prior year, driven largely by bumps in salary and rising costs for electricity, fuel and liability insurance.

The municipal budget that was approved by about 100 residents Monday night represents a 1% decrease from last year.

For the second time in a year, Cindy Gagnon came across a headstone missing from a gravesite where it was placed generations ago and through some sleuthing was able to return it to its rightful place.

Steven Young, 42, was killed Sunday when a GMC pickup veered off Route 201 and a second man in the pickup was later arrested when he became combative with investigators who questioned him about the incident, authorities said.

Malachi Lowery is valedictorian, and Damon Wilson is salutatorian.

The contribution was announced Monday at a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of a $65 million expansion of New Balance's Skowhegan manufacturing facility.

The graduation, held Sunday at the school on West Front Street, drew more than 1,500 family, friends and faculty members to the gymnasium and auditorium.

Sustainable living skills will be shared through interactive workshops.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for May 26-June 2, 2023.

Work hard but be lazy, earn money but occasionally splurge, sleep long, eat well and spend time with old people, Amy Calder advises high school graduates.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Applications are being accepted for restaurants, food truck and food-related vendor participants.

A graduation ceremony was held Thursday outside Waterville Senior High School for students who were part of the Mid-Maine Regional Adult Community Education program.

Town Manager Ella Bowman said she hopes designating downtown as a tax increment financing district, or TIF, will help fill empty storefronts with a restaurant and other businesses.

Smoking is not allowed on the Elm Towers property at 60 Elm St., where a fire May 22 caused the death of Ronald Kennerson, 65, in whose apartment the fire began, investigators said.

The fire Sunday consumed more than 13 acres along Route 201, and firefighting efforts were complicated when an emergency call came in for a separate fire a few miles down the road, pulling resources away, Bingham fire Chief Scott Laweryson said.

The trail’s opening will be held in conjunction with National Trail Day.

Dog's Paradise has been in operation for more than 25 years and handles about 30 dogs a day, thanks to a team of three groomers and two bathers. Photos by Morning Sentinel photographer Rich Abrahamson.

Activities are planned to Benton, Newport, Stetson, Waterville.

Spaulding, who was a key organizer of the parade in past years and commander of the American Legion Post 16, served in the Marine Corps and died shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer last summer.

Photos by Micheal G. Seamans of the Morning Sentinel.

A full day of activities is planned for Saturday at Head of Falls in Waterville to celebrate the anniversary of the organization's founding.

Museums include the Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, The Old Jail & Museum in Wiscasset, and the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden.

Katarina 'Kacha' Hernandez, who has a large online following for her furniture art, has opened Kacha Furniture on Church Street in Oakland with her husband.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for May 19-26, 2023.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Workers at Save A Lot on The Concourse in downtown Waterville will lose their jobs when the store closes for good Thursday, Amy Calder writes.

The City Council heard complaints this week that the city can do better in notifying residents of emergencies, such as when a contaminant entered the public drinking water supply Monday during a fire at an Elm Street apartment building.

Jessica Quimby, 44, and Joseph R. Quimby, 41, were indicted last week by a Somerset County grand jury and are facing charges that include aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and endangering the welfare of a child.

Erica J. Cochran is class valedictorian, and Ashtynn Mary Stewart is salutatorian.

The nonprofit group Main Street Skowhegan recently received a $25,000 state grant and organizers say work could begin next summer on installing an adjustable whitewater wave for paddling and river surfing.

Construction crews along the span between Waterville and Winslow need to do utility work that will require it to be periodically closed to vehicles, including the night of Thursday, May 25.

The proposed budget for Maine School Administrative District 53 will now go to a referendum vote in Burnham, Detroit and Pittsfield scheduled for June 13.

The City Council voted Tuesday night to refer to the Planning Board for hearing and recommendation a proposal to change the zoning at 15 Washington St. so a condominium complex — with the potential for 96 units — can be built there.

Ronald Kennerson, 65, died in the fire and there is no indication or evidence of foul play, according to Lt. Thomas Pickering of Maine State Police.

The Kennebec Water District had issued the advisory Monday after firefighting foam used to combat a fire at an apartment complex seeped into the public water system.

A district consolidation plan calls for the eventual closure of Albion Elementary School, but the town is pushing a proposal in which it would withdraw from the district, operate the elementary school on its own and secure an agreement from SAD 49 to accept its older students.

Jennifer Allen, 54, of Winthrop received unanimous support Monday night in a vote of the Waterville Board of Education.

Paul Trask, 51, died after entering the water Sunday night at Old Mill Park in Clinton, according to police Chief Stanley 'Rusty' Bell.

The impact of the fire Monday at Elm Towers was far-reaching as a warning was issued to not drink from the public water system because firefighting foam, which is a contaminant, entered the system.

At the Waterville college's 202nd commencement exercises Sunday morning, diplomas were presented to 543 graduates from 38 states and 35 countries.

The Pittsfield school has received a preservation award for the extensive work at 150-year-old Founders Hall, the oldest building on the 23-acre campus.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for May 12-19, 2023.

Christopher Abbot, 31, is facing six charges stemming from the chase and altercation Thursday in which the officer twice used a Taser in an effort to subdue Abbot, according to police.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Some dam removals and restoration efforts along the Sebasticook River have led to an explosion in the alewife population in recent years, a fact honored by an annual festival in Benton.

Jorgensen's Cafe and Deli owner Theresa Dunn, who has owned the cafe since 2017 and worked for all four of its owners before that, plans to close the business around June 1, Amy Calder writes.

The Benton Alewife Festival is scheduled for Saturday, resuming for the first time since 2019 when the coronavirus pandemic put it on pause.

Parts of Mayflower Hill Drive will be closed to traffic at certain times over the weekend — especially Sunday morning, when the college holds its commencement exercises.

National Poppy Day is Friday, May 26.

The mother of a 6-year-old son, Emily Marchesi of Waterville was driving alone Monday night in a 2016 Hyundai on College Avenue, near Cumberland Farms, when the crash occurred, according to police.

Fire chief: The dog might have nudged a valve and caused a gas burner to turn on, causing a food dish to erupt into flames that spread to the rest of the house.

The garage at 100 Silver St. was owned by Kennebec Behavioral Health and used for storage.

The 2023-24 budget for Maine School Administrative District 49 now moves to a referendum, scheduled for June 13 for residents of Albion, Benton, Clinton and Fairfield.

A multi-family home was destroyed in a fire Monday, but residents were able to evacuate and no one was injured, said Newport deputy fire Chief Jared LeBarnes.

Several people called 911 on Monday evening after being startled by the sound of the device that was used by police on Elm Street.

Criticism had been directed at council Chairman Peter Drapeau for voting to award the contract to Pike Industries even though Drapeau's company does business with Pike.

The 7 Lakes Alliance has begun a two-year project to reduce erosion along roads and homes that could ultimately lead to algae blooms in the lake.

Luke Carey is valedictorian, and Mliss Hem is salutatorian.

DeLong, who died Friday, had a career in law enforcement that spanned some 40 years, including the last 20 as sheriff, according to his successor as sheriff, Dale Lancaster.

The Board of Selectmen is considering using the money at four locations: Quaker Hill Road, Libby Hill Road, East Benton Road and Hussey Road.

About 28 students will be housed in a residence hall on the Snow Pond Center for the Arts campus on Messalonskee Lake as part of a new partnership.

The international food festival, held at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, featured fare cooked by students, faculty and staff and drew about 200 people Sunday to Parks Gymnasium on the MCI campus.

Police from multiple agencies converged on The Concourse late Friday after a man was shot in the leg and the suspect fled.

Mike Folsom, a call fire captain and full-time employee of the city's public works department, suffered a medical event Thursday and was in a single-vehicle crash on Silver Street.

A 1-year-old joined his parents for kayaking and fishing along Hunter Brook recently, with an eye toward snagging some largemouth bass. All photos by Morning Sentinel photographer Rich Abrahamson.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for May 5-12, 2023.

Christopher D. Kelly, 42, was charged with burglary and criminal mischief following the break-in that occurred early Monday, Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said in a news release.

On this Mother's Day weekend, one mother is remembered for her selflessness by a son who didn’t always get what he wanted, but always got what he needed.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

A small group of people with the Greater Waterville Area Poverty Action Coalition/Poor People's Campaign staff a table each Friday in Waterville to provide basic necessities to those in need, Amy Calder writes.

Ashlee Clough is valedictorian, and Maci Belanger is salutatorian.

The superintendent of MSAD 54 said the proposed spending increase is driven in part by a large bond payment that must be made for construction of a $75 million new school, but officials expect little impact from that payment on residents' tax bills.

The intention is to connect all-terrain vehicle riders to trail systems in Fairfield and Norridgewock, while increasing traffic to downtown businesses in Skowhegan, according to the president of the Skowhegan Stumpjumpers.

To assure admission, ordering tickets in advance is suggested.

The board's recommendation is meant to improve parking access at Head of Falls Village, which is proposed for the intersection of Temple and Front streets.

Twin sisters Achen and Apiyo Charles, born in a refugee camp in Uganda, graduated Saturday from Thomas College after only three years, and now will pursue master's degrees as they help their mother, a Portland resident, earn money to support their siblings in both the U.S. and Uganda.

Luke Carey is class valedictorian, and Mliss Hem salutatorian.

Bryan Kaenrath, 39, is to begin work July 31 as the top administrator in Waterville after the City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to hire him for a five-year term.

The budget approved Monday represents a $1.9 million increase over the current spending package.

The Board of Education will take a second, final vote on the budget for 2023-24 after the City Council approves the municipal and school budgets in a few weeks.

Waterville Public Works Director Matt Skehan said people must have their items at the curb no later than 7 a.m. May 22 to be guaranteed they are picked up that week.

The approval of the spending package came Monday and included residents giving their OK to use federal American Rescue Plan Act money to pay a new fee to Delta Ambulance for 911 emergency services.

The special meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at The Elm at 21 College Ave., with the city manager position the only item on the agenda.

Proceeds will benefit Class of 2024.

The MSAD 49 board said teacher Isaac Badenya Thomas missed the public comment portion of Thursday's meeting and could not air his concerns about harassment and bullying at the high school.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for April 28-May 5, 2023.

The budget the Board of Education plans to consider Monday represents a $1.8 million increase over the current spending package.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Steven Jones, who owns Fieldstone Gardens in Vassalboro, was joined this week by two of his employees at the RiverWalk at Head of Falls in Waterville to bring some color to the garden beds, and to the lives of passersby, Amy Calder writes.

Construction could begin as soon as this fall on a new structure to replace the buildings that housed The Last Unicorn restaurant, which were destroyed by fire April 23.

Officials: Robert Sylvia, 67, died Thursday and a juvenile passenger was hurt when Sylvia's subcompact car crossed into the path of the tractor-trailer on Ell Hill Road.

Town Manager Ella Bowman said a jump in revenue helped the town offset a 9.1% increase in the budget from last year.

The council on Tuesday was presented with a proposal for a nonprofit to relaunch the Pittsfield Community Theatre while also incorporating a vacant adjacent space.

Bruce Poulin peppered city councilors and school officials with questions Tuesday about a plan to hire another teacher for English-language learners.

The spending plan, which includes funding for a part-time school resource officer, was reviewed by the MSAD 53 board Monday and must ultimately be approved by district residents at a referendum in June.

A group of architecture students from the University of Maine at Augusta presented five design concepts that will be used to inform the $5 million restoration of the 1870s-era building.

The car Michael Gauthier, 68, was driving went off the Unity Road on Friday and struck the pole after he suffered an apparent medical event, according to Kennebec County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Read.

Some of the most severe flooding Tuesday occurred in Hallowell as the Kennebec River pushed over its banks and affected several businesses.

Across central Maine, where rainfall totals reached 5 inches in some areas from the strong weekend storm, high water levels in the Kennebec River watershed brought flood warnings and washed out roads, along with downed trees and power outages.

The owner of the grocery store, which opened in 2012, said Monday the business is not drawing enough business and "hasn't been financially sound for years."

The City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to hear a report from Acting City Manager Bill Post on a plan for affordable housing in the city's South End.

Members of the tenants' association said the 63-unit housing development proposed for downtown Waterville and other projects are not going far enough to address housing insecurity and renters' concerns in the area.

Authorities say a woman was injured when her car veered off Main Street late Thursday night, crashed into a home and a telephone pole, before burning completely.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for April 21-28, 2023.

One of the men, 20-year-old Damiean Marcial-Alexander, lived across the street from J.R.'s Trading & Pawn at the time it was burglarized in April 2022, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Police said Friday that the threat was made by 41-year-old John Picurro, who was the owner of The Last Unicorn restaurant that was destroyed in a fire last weekend.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

The city of Waterville, with help from Colby College professor and city Councilor Thomas Klepach, is working hard to alleviate the impact of browntail moths, Amy Calder writes.

Richard Dorian, executive director of the 124-year-old nonprofit organization, plans to leave July 31 to pursue a job as a full time church pastor.

The Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention warned people last year to limit consumption of fish from several freshwater locations around the state, and announced Thursday that it has expanded the advisory to include new locations.

Sean Boyd, 46, of Athens, was sentenced Wednesday in Skowhegan following testimony by his victim who said, "He left me silently suffering and with a huge burden to carry."

Students at Waterville Senior High School on Wednesday held a workshop with a professional string ensemble and a performance under the guidance and tutelage of professional musicians.

Justin Boucher, 21, of Waterville, whom police say attacked a 65-year-old man in January, was indicted last week on one count of aggravated assault and two counts of violating conditions of release.

The submission deadline is May 13.

Jay Coelho said Tuesday he has accomplished much of what he set out to do, and wants to turn his attention to raising money on social media platforms for various causes.

The impact of the crash Monday was so severe that a passenger was ejected from the car and the engine broke loose and landed on the other side of Hill Road.

The proposed budget represents a $1.9 million increase to current spending.

Two people were hospitalized last week when they were struck by a pickup on the Higgins Road as they tended to a vehicle on the side of the road, police Chief Vicente Morris said.

Property owner Sidney Geller said he wants to move quickly to rebuild on Silver Street, and the owner of The Last Unicorn restaurant, John Picurro, said he wants to work with Geller to reopen on the same spot.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife warned people in 2021 not to eat deer and other game found in a 125-square-mile area of central Maine, but the agency announced Monday it has reduced that area to 25 square miles, while also advising people not consume turkey harvested there.

The blaze early Sunday morning leveled the eatery at 8 Silver St. and forced a road closure on Main Street downtown.

The central Maine theater company gathered in Waterville for an all-day celebration of William Shakespeare's birthday, reading all 154 of his sonnets.

Amid a statewide shortage of affordable housing units, officials say the Mary Street Apartments, a 40-unit housing project, will be finished sometime in May.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for April 14-21, 2023.

Ricky Hamlin, 21, of Clinton, was charged with operating under the influence Friday after his pickup truck struck the pole on Main Street, according to Fairfield police Officer Casey Dugas.

Kate Orso, 68, is frantically searching for her possessions that were sold, unbeknownst to her, from the storage unit she rented, Amy Calder writes.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

The driver of the vehicle was found after the people were struck Wednesday, but it wasn't clear if the motorist is in custody or has been charged in the matter.

Hero's on Wheels is one of many food businesses in recent years to eschew the traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant and take to the road.

There will be many changes this year with parking at the ballfield on Mathews Avenue to alleviate disruption and inconvenience to neighbors, according to city and Alfond Youth & Community Center officials.

Superintendent Eric Haley and Assistant Superintendent Peter Hallen of the Waterville Public Schools said Wednesday that school staff members, police, mental health professionals and others are working to determine if two students charged with terrorizing will remain in school.

William Clover, representing the newly formed Clover Improvement Group, presented his hopes for the theater during an informal discussion Tuesday before the Town Council.

Councilors also voted Tuesday to refer to the Planning Board for public hearing and recommendation a request to reduce the size of parking stalls for the proposed Head of Falls Village housing complex.

Pittsfield Community Supports thanked Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital doctors.

The Somerset County Sheriff's Office said Paul Caplin, 44, is in custody after a two-hour-long standoff with police following the incident.

Councilors are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday to review proposed department budgets, and at 7 p.m. are expected to take a final vote on rezoning the former church rectory site at 74 Pleasant St.

School hosts Dirty Dog Mud Run, a 5K race with obstacles, at Waterville campus.

A photo of the train derailment posted on Facebook by Rockwood Fire & Rescue shows a fiery scene near a curve on the railroad track, with several cars off the track.

Interim Waterville police Chief Bill Bonney said Saturday that the youths will have a court date but will first see a juvenile community corrections officer.

Town Manager Ella Bowman will receive the 2022 Municipal Employee of the Year Award at the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce's 60th annual awards ceremony to be held April 27 at Enchanted Gables in Oakland.

A study organized by the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council determined that the testing protocol used by federal researchers misses an array of "forever chemicals" that are contaminating drinking water.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for April 7-14, 2023.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Volunteers turned out recently to help the nonprofit Waterville Community Land Trust erect a gazebo at the park and community garden it built on Water Street in the city's South End, Amy Calder writes.