Organizers expect to put the final construction design for the park out to bid next week, which means construction could begin this summer, if all goes according to plan.

The fire did not affect the building but displaced the four guests because firefighters had to remove a deck outside the door to the unit to contain the blaze.

Kristen Gullifer, 35, of Skowhegan, was charged with operating under the influence and criminal speeding, according to Fairfield police.

The inauguration ceremony for Mike Morris drew more than 100 people Tuesday night to the City Hall Annex at 46 Front St.

Two of the suspects have been charged for their roles in the incident, while a third suspect has not yet been charged or identified publicly by police.

Sheriff's deputies first made arrests at a residence in China Saturday before state police made several more Tuesday afternoon.

Free federal and state income tax preparation is available to qualifying individuals.

Water flooded the parking lot and got into the basement of the building at 10 Water St. in the city's South End during a powerful rain and wind storm Dec. 18 that submerged several vehicles in the parking lot.

David Crook, who served six terms in office from 1978 to 2002, focused his career on child abuse and drug cases and worked to advocate for victims of crimes. He died in November at age 77.

Spridal Hubiak, 20, of Waterville, was found in Arkansas early Sunday morning, after authorities had issued an arrest warrant for him in connection with the killing of Angela Bragg.

The driver of the vehicle, who was not seriously injured, was operating with a suspended driver’s license when he crashed into a tree on Saturday, according to Maine State Police.

Police are continuing to search for Spridal Hubiak in connection with the suspected killing of a 52-year-old Waterville woman, but have provided few details about his background, possible whereabouts and relationship to the victim.

City officials estimate that downtown has space on upper floors of buildings to develop about 75 housing units.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for Dec. 22-29, 2023.

Angela Bragg, 52, was found dead Thursday morning at Damon's Beverage in Waterville and a co-worker, Spridal Hubiak, is wanted on a charge of murder in connection with the killing.

Gerald Longstreet died after being struck by a Subaru Crosstrek while crossing Main Street in Fairfield, and police said no charges were expected against the driver.

Losing power the first day of Christmas vacation didn't portend well for what would become a four-day-long outage in Waterville, Amy Calder writes.

Faith Pomerleau, 22, was killed in the crash early Wednesday evening on Maple Ridge Road, according to the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office.

Police are seeking Spridal Hubiak, 20, of Waterville, as a suspect in the killing and believe he has left the state of Maine.

Police asked that anyone with information about the boy to call the Fairfield Police Department at 207-453-9321.

Waterville officials this week are preparing for future emergencies and applying for reimbursement of funds from the federal Emergency Management Agency.

Organizers weren’t sure what to expect for turnout after several years without holding the event, but they were still ready to serve hundreds a free turkey dinner on Christmas Day at a new venue in Winslow.

Pamela Rickenbach cares for disabled or ill horses at her farm and for two years has been inviting Mainers during the holidays to relive the tradition of caring for the animals.

Dr. William Tanner was a dedicated mental health provider at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville for eight years, his friends and colleagues said.

The cause of the fire on Matthews Avenue remains undetermined, as a father and son are left homeless just before Christmas.

The growing coffee chain, headquartered in Portland, opened 11 locations in Maine in 2023 and expects to open 10 more in 2024.

The growing coffee chain, headquartered in Portland, opened 11 locations in Maine in 2023 and expects to open 10 more in 2024.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for Dec. 15-22, 2023.

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

A $425,000 grant awarded to Main Street Skowhegan by the Economic Development Administration will allow a regional development plan to seek up to $50 million in federal dollars next year.

Handing out $100 bills to strangers during the holiday season evokes an unforgettable feeing, Amy Calder writes.

The workers were sent by Central Maine Power to chainsaw a large hemlock tree that fell over the driveway of Carol Thibodeau of South China.

Staff worked all day Wednesday to get the buses and vans running after they were damaged Tuesday by flooding, according to MSAD 54 superintendent Jon Moody.

Food for hundreds of families across Kennebec and Somerset counties had to be thrown away after floodwaters breached the Winslow Community Cupboard. Employees say the water came without warning.

Mills, along with state, county and local officials, toured the damage and offered her support, as the state begins to seek federal aid for the hardest hit areas following Monday's powerful storm.

The damage to the project was among the worst reported in Skowhegan after the Kennebec River flooded on Tuesday, and will take months to clean up and repair.

William Tanner, 77, of Fairfield, was killed Monday while trying to move a tree that was knocked down by Monday’s storm, according to Fairfield police.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, was the second person killed by Monday’s storm.

Lawrence Knowles of Norridgewock was arrested and charged with aggravated reckless conduct and several other crimes after police stopped him in Fairfield.

Aidan Grant, 16, was sentenced Monday to five years at Portland's Long Creek Youth Development Center. He is accused of killing Brooke McLaughlin last year in Mount Vernon.

The storm that moved into the region late Sunday knocked down trees and power lines and is expected to bring flooding to local streams and the Kennebec River starting Monday night.

The newly formulated plan includes additional picnic tables, expansion of the playground, enhancement of the current trail system, among other amenities.

The jolly man in red met hundreds of children and families Saturday in his cabin at Kringleville, his mini North Pole in downtown Waterville.

Trista Reynolds is pressing forward with a civil lawsuit against the father of her child and two of his family members, claiming they should be held responsible for Ayla's death in 2011.

Nicole Morse, 38, was crossing Madison Avenue at 5 p.m. Friday when she was struck by a vehicle being driven north by a Kingfield woman who later said she did not see Morse in the crosswalk, according to Skowhegan police Chief David Bucknam.

Workers at the Humane Society Waterville Area shelter at 100 Webb Road are working to try to reopen its free-roam rooms that house adoptable cats on Monday, according to Malena Gatti, president of the organization's board of directors.

Jerry Libby, 35, is facing several charges after allegedly leading police on a chase Thursday that ended in a field on Norridgewock Avenue.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for Dec. 8-15, 2023.

The upgraded service comes amid ongoing efforts — and an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars — to bring faster internet service to communities across Maine.

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

Isabelle and Phoebe Rogers, who form the band Sagittarius Rising, are scheduled to perform on the Hinckley campus Thursday.

Brian Eng, who has taken up a special interest in the region over the past three years, is planning to convert his Airbnb at 31 Court St. into five long-term rentals.

Having gone through the publishing process makes one appreciate even more what a gift it is to hold a book in one's hands and travel its pages, Amy Calder writes.

Residents complained that costs have gone up by the thousands for some customers, in large part due to a $3 million sewer replacement project completed in 2020.

Town Manager Michelle Flewelling was the focus of many residents' concerns, as some questioned her qualifications and decisions on a number of issues.

Deputy Oakland police Chief Charles 'Rick' Stubbert III, 53, will replace police Chief Michael Tracy who has worked for Oakland Police Department for 43 years, the last 22 as chief.

Aaron Hoster, 51, had a "full-time job of stealing for two years," said a judge who sentenced him to serve 33 months in prison.

The town’s Board of Selectmen hasn’t made any moves to fill the position, which Police Chief David Bucknam has filled on an interim basis for months.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and there was no major damage, Skowhegan’s fire chief said.

The upper half of a large spruce tree, which was donated a decade ago by a volunteer firefighter, was found missing over the weekend.

Of 91 water wells tested recently in Unity by the state, 33 of those had higher PFAS levels than what Maine considers safe.

Terrence Talbot, who was employee with a U.S. Geological Survey office in Augusta, was initially arrested just over a year ago and faced up to 20 years in prison. He was sentenced to time-served, five years of supervised release, and $38,000 in restitution.

Some residents say their sewer bills next year will be more expensive than their taxes. Officials have previously said they need to money to pay off an extensive infrastructure project.

Alexandra L. Goards, who knew the victim, said she was forced to help the other suspects rob the victim, according to a police affidavit.

The bridge will be closed to all traffic closures will take place from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for several weekdays this week and next, officials said.

Flood alerts popped up Monday in the wake of a storm that threatened to bring heavy rain to central Maine. Over 3,000 people were without power in central Maine.

For the Beth Israel Congregation, this year's Hanukkah celebration stood in bright contrast with the darkness of the world around it.

Beneath gray skies and amid low temperatures, Norridgewock's Main Street was lit up with holiday cheer for the town's annual Holiday Stroll.

Lindsay Richard, 40, of Norridgewock, was arrested after police say she stabbed a former partner who she had previously assaulted.

Serena Sanborne, Phoebe Sanborne and Desiree DuBois will be heading to the U.S Nationals in 2024 to represent the state in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for Dec. 1-8, 2023.

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

Who knew that mailing square Christmas cards poses a problem for the U.S. Post Office? Amy Calder writes.

City Manager Bryan Kaenrath is asking people to train to become volunteers to help staff a warming center during severe weather this winter.

The three suspects were not cooperative when asked to identify themselves to officials, according to Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster.

Residents can sign up to receive alerts by email, text message, pager or voicemail.

The four-month program is free to those who enroll this January.

The Waterville Police Department covered the incident because it involved an Oakland town employee driving a public works truck.

Police responded to a robbery at a residence on Airport Road shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday and the search for the suspects ended around 1:30 p.m., according to Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster.

The First Church of Waterville on Park Street is asking the council to rezone 3 and 5 Park St. so the church can expand its parking and add a handicapped accessible ramp, which current zoning does not allow for a parking lot.

Raheem Shamar Goodwin, 22, of Benton, made an initial appearance in court Tuesday in connection with a charge of murdering Edwin Weeks, 62.

The Somerset Woods Trustees purchased the parcel, located next to the north inlet of Lake Wesserunsett, from the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.

Deputy Michael Lyman 'reasonably believed' that Trevor A. Caouette posed an 'imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death' before the officer shot and wounded the man who was pointing a handgun at police, the attorney general's office concluded in a report.

Some city residents are concerned that the First Church of Waterville is looking to demolish buildings at 3 and 5 Park St.

Head of Falls Village is expected to include two buildings with 18 workforce and 45 market-rate apartments on the corner of Front and Temple streets in downtown Waterville.

Several businesses, including some that are new to the downtown area, reported solid sales.

The Twin Rivers Fire Academy was the first to train recruits to the National Fire Protection Association’s Firefighter I and II certification levels, according to officials.

Five Maine farms have secured more than $1 million in federal agricultural grants to develop and sell products that range from soap to salami, making their products available more widely and helping the businesses to grow sustainably.

Officials at the shelter at 100 Webb Road in Waterville said they hope to reopen the cat wing in the next couple of weeks, but the priority is ensuring the well-being and recovery of 11 cats, according to a spokeswoman.

The rain held off just enough to allow thousands of people to enjoy Friday night’s parade and a weekend full of Grinch-themed fun in downtown Skowhegan’s annual Christmas festivities.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for Nov. 24-Dec. 1, 2023.

RC Destination moved from Norridgewock to Skowhegan last week, and plans to soon have an indoor track for those looking to race their remote-controlled vehicles.

Edwin Weeks, 62, of Fairfield, was found dead in his home from "sharp force trauma" and Raheem Shamar Goodwin was charged with murder in the case, Maine State Police said. The homicide capped one of the deadliest months in Maine's history.

The Somerset County town of about 500 people is the latest to enact a measure against the developments, although there was some question as to whether it would hold up against a legal challenge.

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

The Board of Select Persons this week approved the abatement for Melissa Patterson, who happens to be a member of the board, and there are eight others who are expected to ask the board to also have their abatements reapproved.

Members of the Waterville Wednesday Spinners group meet weekly in the lobby of the Paul J. Schupf Art Center and do more than spin: they knit, quilt, weave, crochet, sew and also chat a lot, Amy Calder writes.

Maine Children’s Home is in need of kids’ boots, coats, socks, underwear and pajamas to fulfill requests from families facing financial hardship.

The Maine State Police have released few details after a Major Crimes Unit was sent to the home following discovery of the body Tuesday.

The crash occurred just before 10 a.m. Thursday on Kennedy Memorial Drive, near the intersection with Carver Street.

Ridge View Community School, which enrolls students from prekindergarten through eighth grade, was cleared Thursday, and students were taken across town to Dexter Regional High School, where parents picked them up.

Jeffrey Frost, 40, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Bangor for his role in providing drugs to a St. Albans man who then sold them in Penobscot County.

Northern Light Inland Hospital's holiday tree is to be lit Thursday, Dec. 7

Michael Hall is leaving the Augusta Downtown Alliance after nearly eight years to become communuity development specialist for the city of Waterville, where among other things he'll focus on developing upper-floor housing in the city's downtown.

Wade Drew Brayman, 64, was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in Belfast on several counts of sexual assault, but his court-appointed lawyer, much like several others before him, asked to be removed from the case because of disagreements and confrontations with Brayman.

The complex opened last month on Mountain Avenue and offers 28 apartments in the building that was originally home to the Central Maine Sanatorium.

The number of Christmas tree farms in Maine continues to decline, but those still in operation say sales this season have exceeded expectations.

Owner John Reny confirmed Tuesday that the company plans to launch its Waterville location in 2025, likely at either the JFK Plaza on Kennedy Memorial Drive or Elm Plaza on upper Main Street.

The chase started in Norridgewock late Sunday and ended on Albion Road in Benton where the driver bailed out of the car and ran, leaving a dog in the reportedly stolen vehicle.

The notice was lifted Tuesday, a day after the district asked customers to boil their water because of a water main break that occurred near the intersection of Bay and Halifax streets.

Sheriff Dale Lancaster on Monday told selectmen that his department only has about 50% of the deputies he needs, leading to a shortfall in coverage that Madison and other towns need.

North River Co. plans to transform the former Lockwood Mill at 6 Water St. into 65 affordable apartments and some commercial space as part of the $40 million project.

Some people had no water coming from their taps, while others shared photographs on social media of yellow tap water.

Waterville's Shop Small Saturday and Gardiner's Main Street had a great turnout for Small Business Saturday, especially with a number of new businesses in Gardiner.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for Nov. 17-24, 2023.

Vaughn Farnham first began responding to fires at the age of 13, with his father, and 'was born to be a firefighter,' his family says.

Officers responded to 31 Main St. early Friday for an incident that resulted in injuries to a man visiting an apartment there.

Harvey Elderkin, 57, died following a report Wednesday afternoon of a fight in the Somerset County town of St. Albans.

Authorities say passengers in the vehicle avoided harm because they were wearing their seatbelts.

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

A woman who lives adjacent to the Kennebec River in Waterville says sturdier tents, propane heaters, mini generators, bottled water and batteries are among the top needs of her homeless neighbors as winter takes hold, Amy Calder writes.

Hundreds flock to Skowhegan Community Center to enjoy a free traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Ricki M. Gould, 28, was arrested Tuesday night after police located him and a second suspect, Ashlyn Marie Libby, 32, at a vacant camp in Greenville, police said.

Dwayne Weese, 56, assaulted a woman at an Athens home earlier this week, leading to the standoff that lasted some four hours, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

The meal is expected to draw at least 350 people and is one of several community dinners planned for the region Thursday.

Ricki M. Gould, 28, most recently of Corinna, assaulted the officer last weekend and was also believed to be involved in the theft of a vehicle Tuesday in St. Albans, according to officials.

Nine homeowners who said they for years have put up with the noise from the Central Maine Power Co. substation near Albion Road recently told the Board of Select Persons the abatements they had received were discontinued.

Ryan Paul Mann, 43, was charged with aggravated assault, a Class B offense, and driving to endanger, a Class C offense, related to an incident early Saturday in Bingham where a vehicle drove over a woman, who remains at a Portland hospital with severe injuries, including four fractures to her pelvis.

The Festival of Trees at the Waterville Elks Lodge is being hosted by the Alfond Youth & Community Center and a nonprofit arm of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and Central Maine Growth Council.

Police are asking for help from the public in locating a man driving a blue, 2003 Ford F-250 bearing Maine registration 1444ZF.

The Somerset County Sheriff's Office is looking for Ryan Paul Mann, 43, of Skowhegan.

People had taken to social media in recent days concerned that Rascal the cat had been banned from the store, but a Hannaford spokesperson said the store is just asking that treats for Rascal be given to her outside the store.

Proceeds will benefit young people in Central Maine.

Selectmen earlier in the week approved preliminary plans for the layout of additional fields at the center on Poulin Drive.

Residents voted at a special town meeting Thursday to adopt a 180-day moratorium that pushes back against state plans for the Aroostook Renewable Gateway Project.

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

Ashley Noel suffered from addiction, loss and post-traumatic stress but ultimately found hope and healing, Amy Calder writes.

Maygan Dunlap is the third executive director the Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Commerce has had in the last two years.

James Troy of Athens died Thursday morning when his Ford F-150 pickup truck crashed into a ditch on Chapman Ridge Road, according to the Somerset County Sheriff's Office.

Town councilors Wednesday did not seek public input, or even indicate they would be voting on a new manager, before promoting Kelly Pinney-Michaud.

The nonprofit organization Main Street Skowhegan was awarded $484,500 from the state to develop a new brand and strategy for bringing visitors to the area.

Councilors approved the payment plan Wednesday for a $340,000 townwide revaluation that's scheduled for 2026.

Two double-wide mobile homes were placed earlier on lots at Countryside Mobile Home Park but it was done without approval of the Planning Board, and on Tuesday the board chose not to retroactively OK the homes, with some members raising concerns with ongoing problems at the park.

The Town Council met Monday and discussed a proposal to meet twice a month, rather than just once, in an effort to be more transparent.

The concert is scheduled for Saturday at Lawrence High School and will serve as a fundraiser for a program that helps those addicted to opioids get into treatment facilities.

Administrators say there haven't been any overdoses at the town's three public schools and that having the drug on hand is mainly a preventative measure.

Alan Grover was killed Sunday in the fire at the home on the Clements Road, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety.

As towns and organizations across the state prepare to host craft fairs of their own, Clinton's expo on Sunday was unique for its kid-specific focus.

The college's Dare Northward campaign has raised more than $780 million and will now continue to the end of 2027.

The Planning Board will meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday on Victoria Drive at Countryside Mobile Home Park at 457 West River Road.

For veteran Pearley Lachance, Saturday's parade was just another opportunity to bring attention to two decades of work to identify the names of the more than 700 veterans buried in an around Waterville without a proper military headstone.

A man was hospitalized after overturning his truck on an Interstate 95 overpass and being trapped within the vehicle.

First Church of Waterville, formerly known as the First Baptist Church, bought two apartment buildings and plans to tear them down to expand parking and build a handicapped accessible entrance to the back of the church.