"Railway shutdown looms in Maine; Freight lines serve northern areas" by Clarke Canfield, Associated Press | February 22, 2010
PORTLAND, Maine - The collapse of the housing market is largely to blame for a railroad company’s plans to abandon miles of track in the far-flung northern third of Maine that have served the region for more than a century carrying potatoes, paper, lumber, and other products.
The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway has filed notice with the federal Surface Transportation Board that it intends to abandon 233 miles of track that stretch from Madawaska to Millinocket. The company says it has been losing $4 million to $5 million a year on the lines.
Freight revenue has plunged as shipments of lumber, plywood, logs, and wood chips have fallen, said Bob Grindrod, the railway’s president and chief executive. Those products are largely used in home construction, and demand has fallen as the housing market has tanked....
But the MSM has been saying the housing market has been recovering for the last six months!
The state is trying to see whether it can buy the railroad. If that doesn’t happen, northern Maine could be left without rail service as early as summer.
The railroad dates to 1891, when the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad was incorporated and began laying track. The line served as a connector between the isolated and sparsely populated expanses of northern Maine and points to the south....
And STILL DOES!
For decades, potatoes grown in northern Maine were the railroad’s bread-and-butter. These days, the trains for the most part carry construction material and paper products out of the region bound for markets across the United States and beyond. Fertilizer, heating oil, propane, chemicals, and cooking oil for a french fry factory are among the products that are brought into northern Maine aboard the trains.
Oh, man, the DESTRUCTION of a WAY of LIFE makes me want to cry!
It's so cliche to say it was better back when, but IT IS TRUE!
The railroad has a couple of dozen customers.
Who are going to be s*** out of luck, huh?
One is a
And that would ADD to the GLOBAL WARMING EFFECT!
That means the products will be more expensive and less competitive, said plant manager Travis Turner.
“For the last 100 years there’s been no better way to ship large volumes of product long distances than by rail,’’ Turner said. “Trucks can carry smaller loads and are faster and make sense for short trips, but for moving large quantities of product you really need rail.’’
Trains pass by here every night to parts unknown.
Rail lines have been disappearing slowly across the country for decades.
Dumb move! I never liked the thought.
There are now nearly 140,000 miles of track that crisscross the United States carrying more than 35 million cars of freight each year, according to the Association of American Railroads.
But rail supporters say losing a railroad would be particularly hard in northern Maine, where unemployment and poverty rates are high and income levels are low. The region has lost nearly a quarter of its population since 1980.
Just what they need -- having the rail ripped out from under them.
The loss of a railroad will only make things worse, said Denis Berube of the Northern Maine Development Commission in Caribou.
Berube estimates that up to 750 direct jobs could be lost if the railroad leaves. And when the housing industry turns around, northern Maine companies would not be in a position to cash in if the railroad is not there.
You mean if it turns around, right?
“Without the rail up here, you’re not going to see a rebound up here,’’ he said.
Even with it you might not.
--more--"
Yeah, the region got screwed on the rails -- literally.
And that isn't the only cut off:
"Maine jobless benefits delayed
AUGUSTA, Maine --Maine's Labor Department says unemployment benefits to some workers will be delayed this week due to a computer problem.
And they want us to use the Internet down here for our DMV transactions?
Related: Driving Around in Massachusetts
Stimuloot Sunday: Unemployment Helps the Economy
The hardware glitch halted processing of unemployment checks, direct deposits and other notifications Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Claimants who filed during the weekend or during the day Monday should have received their payments as usual. Those who filed Monday night or later will have their benefits processed Thursday night, and mailed or direct deposited Friday. Laura Boyett, director of the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, said the high volume of claims over the past year has placed tremendous strain on aging equipment.
Where has all your tax loot gone?
--more--"
More: Around New England: Keeping an Eye on Maine
I hope you are okay up there, Bonnie. Posted with you in mind.Also see: Leaving From and Landing at Logan
I'll bet you already knew that.
Some things will not get cut off, and I'll give you one guess where it falls:
"Drug charges dropped against soldier" by Associated Press | February 23, 2010
PORTLAND, Maine - A man who helped arrange a drug deal that brought a large amount of cocaine into Maine is being allowed to return to the Army - and do a second combat tour in Afghanistan.
Well, there is American Justice and then there is AmeriKan Justice.
Mathew Meineke faced the prospect of five years in prison because of the drug deal in 2006. Afterward, the Colorado native cleaned up his life, enlisted in the Army, and served in Afghanistan as a forward observer for his infantry unit from July 2008 to June 2009. While in Afghanistan, he was indicted.
This month, Meineke got a rare break. Defense lawyer Tim Zerillo asked federal prosecutors to consider dropping the charges, and they agreed to do that.
Well, look at what he is doing!
“All he wants to do is to be able to serve his country,’’ Zerillo told the Portland Press Herald. “His highest and best use is not in a federal prison, it’s in Afghanistan protecting us and everyone else.’’
That is NOT what they are doing there!
All they are doing is PROTECTING DRUG CROPS and setting up oil pipelines.
The lawyer said Meineke had cleaned up his act, returned to his parents’ home in Lakewood, Colo., and joined the Army before he was indicted.
The arrest got by the background check?
The two coconspirators received sentences of four and five years in federal prison.
Why unnamed and anonymous?
Meineke was arrested after returning to the United States in June 2009.
Zerillo asked prosecutors to consider diverting the case, in effect dismissing the charges. In exchange, Meineke promised not to commit other offenses and agreed to a set of conditions for 18 months.
US Attorney Paula Silsby approved the deal. “It gives people a chance not to have a criminal charge,’’ she said. “That is infrequent, but it is an option.’’ '
Yeah, and this is about the only time they use it!
Also see: After a night in the deep Maine woods, 4 teen snowboarders found safe
