The state’s new Board of Corrections, which was formed a year ago to implement a host of changes in the county jail system, passed its first major milestone this month with the passage of budgets for all 15 of the county’s jails.

Students in a University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMCE) program grew broccoli, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, beans, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, peas, onions and herbs to give to local food banks in Waldoboro and Rockland.

Somerville Fire and mutual aid fire departments including Jefferson and Waldoboro are responding at this hour to the scene of a barn fire in Somerville, at an undisclosed location on Crummett Mountain Road off Rt. 17.

Mark Durbin, Sasha Kutsy, and sister Marabelle of Washington are pleased to announce the arrival of a baby boy, Simon.

Christopher Brewer and Megan Angelos of Brunswick are pleased to announce the birth of Marcus Emanuel Angelos Brewer.

Marissa Hunsinger and Joshua Benner of Friendship are pleased to announce the arrival of a baby girl, Audriana Elizabeth Marie Benner.

Jefferson residents confronted the Board of Selectmen about safety on roads and land use ordinance issues during the regularly scheduled Board meeting Monday night.

When the Newcastle Board of Selectmen told the town fire department they wanted to shut off the winter heat in the Old Taniscot building, they hoped to save the taxpayers some money.

Governor John E. Baldacci learned President Obama has signed a disaster declaration for eight Maine counties for heavy rain, hail, damaging winds, flooding, erosion and landslides that struck the state between June 18 and July 8. Counties designated were Franklin, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington.

A Hope man was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday morning in Knox County Superior Court for the July 2, 2008 murder of his girlfriend.

Kevin and Jennifer Farrin of Wiscasset are proud to announce the birth of Michelle Elizabeth Farrin.

The Damariscotta Police Department reports the following activity:

July 28, Officer Jennifer Doe responded to a complaint of an obnoxious smell in the downtown business area, which turned out to be rotting garbage.

The Wiscasset Police report the following activities from the previous week:

AccidentsOn July 29 Lt. Allen investigated a three-car accident that occurred on Main St. involving Lisa L. Rogers, 32, of Boothbay, Nancy E. Trageser, 62, of Glenmont, N.Y., and Elizabeth M. Pardo, 61, of Owls Head. Pardo was headed south waiting to turn onto High St. Trageser was stopped behind Pardo when Rogers came up behind Trageser and did not notice that traffic had stopped and hit the back of Trageser’s vehicle. Trageser’s vehicle was then pushed into the back of Pardo’s 2008 Ford causing damage estimated at $700. Damage to Trageser’s 2008 Hyundai estimated at $1200. Damage to Rogers’ 2005 Saab estimated at $2500.

The Whitefield Board of Selectmen received notification that the town can expect to take possession soon of a 1996 rescue vehicle to replace the ambulance it currently has.