by Gina Hamilton
Coastal Journal staff

AUGUSTA — Governor John Baldacci declared a state of emergency for the blizzard that hit Maine on Sunday night, closing all government offices except for essential services on Monday as snow began to be measured by feet, not inches, across coastal areas.

The National Weather Service in Gray had issued a blizzard warning, which is a relatively rare occurance in a state where snow is taken as a matter of course, and predicted that some parts of Maine could see as much as 18 inches of snow. Also a problem was wind, which at times gusted nearly 50 miles per hour, causing hazardous whiteout conditions.

AUGUSTA - Senator Seth Goodall (D-Sagadahoc County) has been appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, as well as the Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Fairness and Reform.

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction of general environmental policy, including air and water quality, natural resource protection, land-use and zoning, solid waste and recycling, and oversight of the Department of Environmental Protection. Senator Goodall is returning to the committee for his second legislative term.

"It is an honor to be reappointed to a committee that works to strike the right balance between protecting our environment and economic growth," said Senator Goodall. "Maine's rich natural resources are a key component of our economy."

by Gina Hamilton
Coastal Journal staff

BATH — William Shuttleworth, superintendent of the Lower Kennebec Region School District Unit, RSU#1, announced his retirement effective June 30 of next year by a letter issued to the school board on Monday night. He cited family reasons and a desire to 'pursue a dozen or more different pursuits while I am still reasonably young and healthy' as reasons for his departure.

In a telephone call Tuesday, Shuttleworth said that he is giving such extraordinary advance notice because the pool of candidates for superintendent is rather thin, and he wanted the board to have enough time to find a replacement.

Source: state PoliceHOPE — State Police say last month's fatal crash that killed three people was caused by a drunk driver. Trooper Jeremiah Wesbrock said the blood alcohol count of 21-year-old Daniel Dodge was .14, almost twice the state's legal limit.

Dodge was the driver of the pickup that crashed on November 8. He was killed in the crash, as was his two passengers - Katherine Kelly, 17, of Rockland and Misti Leach, 14, of South Thomaston. Kelly was a student at Rockland High School and Leach was in the eighth grade at Rockland Middle School.

Dodge's truck went out of control on the Barnestown Road, overturned on its side and slid into a tree. The three died at the crash site. The speed of the truck could not be determined.