Gardiner-area school board members return $250 gift cards as part of $94,000 purchase

Maine School Administrative District 11 board members cannot legally accept the gift cards, which were sent to the district's 364 staff members over the holidays as part of a new agreement with school unions, the superintendent said.

Anonymous $500,000 gift to Johnson Hall prompts Gardiner theater to begin effort to double amount

The $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor will fund a match challenge to cover the cost of renovating the 400-seat theater at Gardiner's historic opera house that's scheduled to get underway in April.

Maine Event Comedy presents Carolyn Plummer at Johnson Hall

Skowhegan couple charged after fentanyl, cocaine found in SUV, police say

The estimated street value of the drugs was about $60,000, according to police.

Gardiner imposes mask mandate for public meetings, library

Decision comes as highly contagious omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads across Maine and daily case counts remain high.

Identified by tipster and ex-boyfriend, woman charged in October robbery of Big Apple in Augusta

Kiara E. Lewis, 29, arrested Monday by Gardiner police on an Augusta police warrant. She allegedly threatened a convenience store clerk, then fleeing with $200 and a pack of cigarettes.

Central Maine government officials consider renewing pandemic precautions as omicron variant surges

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Maine, local governments have taken different tacks in how they conduct public meetings and carry on municipal business.

Maine Local Market launches Winter Fires, extending options for customers

The owners of Maine Local Market launched Winter Fires Friday, on the last day of 2021, to give customers an outdoor dining option overlooking the Kennebec River even as they shift to takeout meals as COVID-19 infections continue to spread in Maine.

Gardiner library to offer Saturday hours starting Jan. 8

Escalating construction costs challenge Gardiner’s Johnson Hall heading into the new year

While fundraising continues for the $5.5 million renovation of Gardiner's historic opera house, pandemic-driven inflation is expected to increase the final project cost.