Heavy, wet snowfall and high winds produced by a hard-hitting April Fools Day nor’easter combined to produce widespread power outages in Lincoln County on Friday, according to the Central Maine Power Co. (CMP).

Saying it was “best for the town,” Lt. John Allen of the Wiscasset Police Dept. is hanging up his badge after nearly 25 years of service.

On April 28, the RSU/MSAD 40 School Board narrowly approved a $21,489,112 budget to send to voters.

The Whitefield Board of Selectmen set Wed., May 4 for an executive session hearing on a fire department personnel issue. Firefighter Josh Mooers is appealing a recent decision of the grievance committee, which is comprised of the chief, deputy chief, the three assistant chiefs and a member chosen by parties involved in the dispute.

At an April 19 public hearing, the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen removed an ordinance from the town’s June warrant that would have resulted in a zoning change for 10 downtown properties near Washington and Pleasant streets.

In a regular meeting April 8, the Alna Board of Selectmen responded to a letter from longtime resident Chris Cooper and chose an engineer for the initial phase of the $522,000 road project.

Whitefield’s code enforcement officer was directed to notify owners of an illegal junkyard on Mills Road that they have 30 days to clean up the operation.

The latest bulletin from the National Weather Service (NWS) combined with radar observations and forecasts from a variety of sources indicates that heavy snowfall is tapering off as the April Fools Day storm begins to track north. But don’t break out the surfboard yet… Lighter, variable snowfall along with some rain and/or sleet will continue well after nightfall.

The developer of the Newcastle Harbor House project expects contractors to complete the “shell and core” phase of construction, including the exterior of the building, in as little as 16 weeks.

Local Law enforcement agencies are participating in the Take Back Day program, which is coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will accept unwanted and unused prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., April 30.

A bill that would allow Alna and Westport Island to decide if they want to maintain school choice was shot down in committee April 13. The original sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Bruce MacDonald (D-Boothbay), said he was not surprised at the outcome.

A Damariscotta retiree is restoring taxi service to Damariscotta.

Phil Hatch and Twin Village Taxi will be available for service throughout Lincoln County, as well as trips to the Portland International Jetport, beginning Mon., April 25.

Eight citizens – only two who weren’t town officials and didn’t have other business before the Board – attended an informational session on smart meters at the April 6 meeting of the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen.

Last summer, Parson & Drum Attorneys, a Damariscotta law firm, represented a client in a case that continues to make headlines across the state and the nation.