Former state senator David Trahan sent a letter of resignation to the governor dated Dec. 31, 2011.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Lincoln County as the first winter storm of the season is bringing heavier snowfall and higher winds than originally forecast.

Westport Island Budget Committee Chairman Dennis Dunbar suggested RSU 12 adopt a cost cap in its new cost allocation formula at a public hearing in Wiscasset Jan. 18.

Bremen Selectman Tom Kostenbader has decided against seeking re-election this year.

Naomi Bonang of Wiscasset and Richard Bonang of Auburn are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Austin Ross Bonang to Sabrina Cyrus Kotval, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Kotval of Danville, Cal.

The Bristol-South Bristol Transfer Station Board of Directors will meet Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the South Bristol town offices, 470 Clark’s Cove Road, in Walpole.

Taxpayers will pay less for the Nobleboro/Jefferson Transfer Station in 2012. Only Newcastle’s payment will increase, according to the station’s newly approved budget.

District 50 Representative Dana Dow (R-Waldoboro) will face off against Somerville Democrat Chris Johnson for the District 20 Senate seat recently vacated by David Trahan.

A five-year federal grant will help RSU 12 introduce a new teacher evaluation model, one that includes incentive pay, in the next school year.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a break-in at a popular Newcastle convenience store.

Gary “Lee” Snyder of Bowdoin and Carol Cromwell of Wiscasset are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Mary Snyder to Nathaniel Johnston, son of Peter and Christine Johnston of Woolwich.

The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen will meet in joint session with the Damariscotta Planning Board Mon., Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Damariscotta Municipal Building on School Street in Damariscotta, to discuss a request from Piper Village Development to rezone several properties in the rural zone east of Bus. Rt. 1.

U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins announce that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay Harbor a $603,631 grant to conduct biological oceanography research, specifically in the area of iron oxidizing bacteria.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has withdrawn a Winter Weather Advisory that was originally in effect through 4 p.m. on Friday. At the time of this posting, snowfall in the Lincoln County area was rapidly changing over to rainfall. The current NWS forecast calls for continued rainfall through the day on Friday.