John Patrick

Two Oxford County legislators said that having an experienced backer for the Oxford County Casino was a necessity for the project to move forward.

The Olympia Group, a Las-Vegas company that manages several major casinos, announced its purchase of Evergreen Mountain Enterprises this morning.

Evergreen Mountain Enterprises is a company founded by Rumford Attorney Seth Carey in support of a casino in Oxford County. Carey spearheaded a citizen’s initiative and was running the campaign in support of passing the ballot question this November.

Two ethics bills have recently advanced in the Maine Legislature.  read more »

VIDEO: U. S. Rep Mike Michaud, Andreas Waldkirch and Stephano Tijerina give their takes on international trade. Scroll down or click here for what they had to say about Columbia.

Maine has been hit hard by job losses, and most are quick to blame national trade agreements for the demise of the state’s factories and mills.

The Citizen Trade Policy Commission, appointed by the Legislature, has been tasked to travel the state and talk to the public about the national trade deals, and then make sure the concerns are elevated to the federal level. Thursday, they met in South Portland where experts and residents spoke out against the proposed Columbian trade deal.

Members of the Citizen Trade Policy Commission will meet in South Portland Thursday to get input from citizens about how international trade agreements are impacting their lives.

The meeting will be held at the South Portland Community Center at 6 p.m.  read more »

Former independent gubernatorial candidate Barbara Merrill found a loophole in the Maine Clean Elections Act in 2006, when she paid her husband $109,000 in public funds to be her consultant.

It wasn’t illegal. That’s a problem, many testified today.

New Page, a paper mill and the lifeblood of the economy in the River Valley area, will shut down the #11 paper machine at the Rumford mill, at the expense of about 60 jobs.

The company has made cuts affecting 660 jobs across the country, following a corporate merger, the Associated Press reported today.

Both lawmakers representing Rumford work for the mill. Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, and Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, both are members of Local 900. Patrick said his job is safe. Bryant doesn’t know yet.

Oxford County beware: The Democrats want to take over.

The county party is making a push to elect Democrats to local offices in November, said state Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, and an active party member.

Bryant said the county is ready for a change (seems to be a popular word this year.)  read more »

In the House of Representatives, the tone was more positive as five new members were marched to Gov. John Baldacci’s office to be sworn in.

Watch or see our photos here.

Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, will run for Oxford County Commissioner next year.

Term limits prevent him from seeking another term.

Patrick filed the candidate registration form with the Ethics Commission Dec. 11. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Frequently, termed-out representatives seek a Senate seat. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, the senator in Patrick’s district, said Wednesday that he plans to run for his seat again. Bryant is in his third term.