Gov. John Baldacci acknowledged the troubled present but focused on his vision for a prosperous future Tuesday as he unveiled a range of initiatives that lawmakers from both parties described as bold and ambitious.

Larissa Marie Chipman and Charles Walton Smith, II are pleased to announce their engagement.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Jeffrey and Valerie Staab Chipman of Lisbon, and the granddaughter of Mary Staab of Jefferson.

The estimated cost of maintaining state services for the next two years is $125 million more than the number legislators have been working from, bringing the total General Fund revenue hole to $965 million.

Areas of five Lincoln County towns were affected by a power outage Tuesday at about noon, according to Central Maine Power (CMP). Power was restored to the affected areas by 12:30 p.m., according to the CMP website. The towns affected included Damariscotta, Edgecomb, Newcastle, Nobleboro and Jefferson, according to CMP.

Parents Sandy Kennedy and Shane Davis proudly announce the birth of their baby son, Elijah Nolend Davis.

Lincoln Academy administrators locked down the school for a surprise drug dog sniffing exercise Monday morning. As a service to local schools, Law Enforcement Dogs of Southern Maine sniffed the grounds and lockers at LA before moving on to Wiscasset High School the same morning.

The Maine Clean Election Fund faces exhaustion if three candidates for governor use it in the 2010 race, a problem some blame on $4.4 million in “loans” to the Legislature that have not been repaid.

The Department of Education has hatched a plan to expand the state’s laptop computer program to all high school students and teachers without spending any new money.

Contrary to a rumor, Anderson Farms nursery on Rt. 1 in Edgecomb will be opening this spring, according to owner and operator Dennis Anderson.

The business held workshops in January and February but is currently open by appointment.

Gov. John Baldacci unveiled what he called Maine’s own stimulus package Wednesday, proposing $306 million in borrowing for transportation, energy-saving projects, research and development, and preservation of Maine’s cultural and natural resources.

The Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb has been approved to participate in the Shaw’s Supermarket Receipt Rewards program.

Jefferson voters approved the application for an Economic Development Block Grant for local business J.C. Stone at a special town vote Tuesday.

Intense snowfall and high winds buffeted Lincoln County Mon. morning, making for hazardous driving and causing many school closures, but no major incidents or power outages were reported.

Lincoln County Superior Court dealt with several criminal cases between Feb. 16-March 6, including cases involving theft and illegal possession of scheduled drugs.