The First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNLC), announced Dec. 4 the company has received preliminary approval to obtain $25 million under the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program.

Members of the 124th Maine Legislature took office Wednesday in an atmosphere of political openness and optimism, despite the fact that when they reconvene Jan. 5, the grim work of budget balancing will dominate the agenda.

Cheryl C. Gray of Damariscotta and Steven P. Gray of York are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Lyn Gray, to Brett Keith Verney, both of Newcastle.

Both Damariscotta and Newcastle Fire Departments responded to a shed fire on the Lessner Rd. just after noon on Dec. 12.

Reduction in state support threatens jobs and beds at the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

The Salvation Army bell ringers in 2008 experienced some of the most difficult weather conditions in recent years but managed to stand by the kettle for approximately 200 hours in front of Yellowfront Grocery and the Damariscotta Post Office and raise a total of $8779.28, according to Larry Townley, the volunteer’s coordinator of the kettle drive.

Heavy snowfall and high winds marked the first official day of winter in Lincoln County as a Nor’easter moved into the area on Sun. afternoon for an overnight visit. Lincoln County should wake up on Mon. morning to snowfall accumulations in the 12-17 inch range inland and the 10-15 inch range along the coast, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Scattered snowfall is forecast to continue through the day, and accumulated snowfall will be blown about by 20-30 mph winds from the west-northwest, according to the NWS.

The toughest part about the Jefferson Market losing their power for three days isn’t the amount of product that thawed out and couldn’t be sold, but the loss of business from being closed during that time.

It took a couple of hours for firefighters to extinguish an illegal brush fire near the intersection of Turner Ridge and Patricktown Roads in Somerville Dec. 7. Somerville firefighters called in mutual aid from Whitefield after they discovered the toxic and extremely hot debris fire behind a resident’s house.

A hush washed over the bustling chamber of the House of Representatives Dec. 2 as Sen. Libby Mitchell stepped to the microphone to name Maine’s first-ever female attorney general.

The following property transfers were recorded recently at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Wiscasset:

Alna: Kenton B. Perley and Mollie H. Perley to Raymond Daniel Cheney and Sandra S. Cheney;

The Midcoast Bypass Task Force has wrapped up months of meetings on aspects of the proposed Rt. 1 bypass with an innovative solution for a Rt. 218 connector road to a full interchange at Rt. 27.

The National Weather Services issued a winter weather advisory for the state of Maine today and the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross is reminding its residents to prepare for this and other storms.

Bad news a couple of weeks ago about possible layoffs and housing pod reductions has since turned into good news for Two Bridges Regional Jail with additional revenue sources, some from the state.