Members of Paul Gardiner’s cemetery crew and the Phillips Highway Department raise the new cemetery sign at Evergreen Cemetery on Dodge Road last August. (Part two of two)

WESTERN MOUNTAINS — While the Kibby wind project went online late in the year, another company was seeking to build one in Highland Plantation. Lowflights were still a topic right up into the last part of the year. And MSAD #58 found itself facing dwindling income due to a number of factors. Snow; while the season began a bit late, the area saw plenty of snow and very agreeable snowmaking temperatures with rain near the end topped by more snow. Vaccines for both the regular seasonal flu and for H1N1 were administered to children in the area.

Juddy Calder, an 18-year resident of New Portland, has the honor of cutting the ribbon for the grand reopening of the new Bartlett Bridge for which residents had been waiting since May. July

Heavy rains damaged roads in Phillips requiring the fire department’s assistance. And the Kingfield POPS was a success despite the rain. The annual concert employed a World War II canon to punctuate the “1812 Overture.” Over in Stratton, its annual Family Fun Days was held in style with a Wild, Wild West theme. Ben Morse, 16-year-old CVA student and Carrabassett Valley resident, was named to the U.S. 2010 Alpine Ski Team. Twice more, the Air National Guard changed the date for its public hearing on the low-flight proposal. Sugarloaf announced that there would be more than $1.8 million in improvements at the resort over the summer and fall, particularly snowmaking upgrades and additions.

Steve and Mary White (left, front) hand a check for $2,050 to Strong Fire Department members Matt Stevens, Patrick Kenney, Scott Dyar, (back) Matt Abbott, Ryan Allen, Melissa Austin (not seen) and Duayne Boyd. The White family’s annual August volunteer-run benefit yard sale on Route 4 in Strong netted approximately $8,000 last year. august

The rains of July caused enough damage to qualify Phillips for FEMA relief. Rangeley was setting up a radio station, WRGY, inside a part of Lakeside Theater. The Brew Crew of Phillips once again won the men’s softball championship by defeating Gram’s 19-15. A massive explosion at the Strong pellet manufacturing plant left the facility damaged but no one was hurt. Earl and Lorraine Berry were named Phillips Old Home Days Honored Couple. The MSAD #58 school budget was facing additional curtailment in the amount of between $100,000 and $150,000. A New Portland Marine, Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.

TransCanada celebrated the commissioning of 22 wind turbines atop Kibby Mountain last October. At the time the turbines were already operational. september

And yet again, the low-flights hearing was postponed, this time thanks in part to Gov. Baldacci’s intervention. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce earned an Honorable Pilot Project for its 2007-2008 Welcome Guide from Graphic Design USA magazine. Phillips Nine- Hole Golf Scramble, held at the Sandy River Golf Course, raised $2,200 to ben- efit the Phillips Public Library. The old Joneco Mill, which dated back to the turn of the previous century, was dismantled. In the midst of state curtailments, MSAD #58 was facing dwindling enrollment numbers and hence less state subsidy in the future. The Kingfield kiosk, which had been located on the lawn beside Camden National Bank, was relocated to Anni’s Market, where it was to get an upgrade. A suspect in the June 2007 murder of Louise Brochu was indicted. Jeffrey LaGasse, arraigned by a Somerset County grand jury, pled not guilty.

The float “Support our Troops” won Best in Show at last year’s Kingfield Festival Days Grand Parade. october

Wind LLC of Cumberland’s wind proposal for Highland Plantation was on its way to LURC to see what permits it needed to proceed. Maine Game Warden Blaine Holding retired from the service after 25 years. Judson Cake of Bar Harbor won Sugarloaf’s Uphill Climb in a time of 27 minutes and 5 seconds. For the women, Lucy Garrec took first in 36 minutes and 58 seconds. Sugarloaf received its first snow of the season when a mid-October storm dropped six to seven inches on its slopes. The Original Irregular garnered nine awards in the Maine Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, which was judged by newspaper staff from other states. The Phillips Raiders became the NFCL soccer champions after an evenly-matched battle with Strong. Olympic Gold Medalist Seth Wescott unveiled a proposal to have the town of Carrabassett purchase a top-to-bottom gondola lift for use on Sugarloaf.

NOvember

H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine clinics were well underway in the district. Central School in New Portland had new owners; Buster and Judy Pinkham were thinking about turning the school into elderly housing but hadn’t made a final decision. Mt. Abram seniors and Stratton residents Katie Buschmann, Dylan Tisor and Kylie Rolbiecki were chosen as soccer all-stars. MSAD #58 reported that over 60 percent of its students were vaccinated against the seasonal flu and 101 out of 172 received the H1N1 vaccine. Saddleback Mountain finished cutting Casablanca Glade, 44-plus acres dubbed the largest ski-able forest glade in New England. Independence Wind LLC held its third informational meeting in Highland Plantation, drawing criticism from members of the Citizens’ Task Force on Wind Power for its plan to place 49 turbines on Stewart Mountain across Burnt Hill. Local supporters were also at the meeting.

december

While it was a week or so later than planned, Sugarloaf opened with over a foot of snow. Cold temperatures promised continuous snowmaking. Les Otten was on the campaign trail for Governor and stopped at the Irregular for an interview. Peter Mills was also stumping in the area and looked up the Irregular. The Ski Museum of Maine celebrated its grand opening in its new location above the Sugarloaf Sports Outlet in Kingfield. More snow fell on the area in the second week of December bringing the winter outdoor recreational season to an official and welcomed start. Mt. Abram High School was given a Bronze award as a Top School in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report. MTA was one of 10 public high schools in Maine that were recognized by the national magazine. According to state health officials, H1N1 was on the decline by the end of the year and vaccines were more readily available.

Happy New Year!