Staff photo by David Leaming

ASHES TO ASHES: People line up to receive ashes to the forehead during an Ash Wednesday service at Lorimer Chapel at Colby College in Waterville. Deacon Ron Berger, left, and Father Dan Baillargeon conduct the service.

Robber accused of stealing $30K worth of tools from grandfather
AUGUSTA -- A Pittston woman convicted of a convenience store robbery was indicted last week on charges of stealing thousands of dollars in tools from her grandfather while she was out on bail.

VANCOUVER OLYMPICS 'ALL THE RIGHT MOVES' Friends laud medalist Wescott's grit, modesty, helpfulness to others
CARRABASSETT VALLEY -- On Monday night, Alex Tuttle didn't just watch his mentor Seth Wescott pull off a spectacular, come-from-behind win in the final snowboardcross competition at the Vancouver Olympics.

After wobbly qualifiers, he goes from worst to 1st
Cool ease guided Seth Wescott in his stunning charge to gold in the finals of the men's snowboardcross at the Vancouver Olympics.

Chicken-raising classes offered in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD -- Have you ever thought about keeping chickens in your backyard?

FAIRFIELD TOWN BUDGET TIGHTENS
FAIRFIELD -- If the annual town meeting were held here tomorrow, voters would be looking at a budget recommended by the town council that is 4.52 percent lower than the current one.

Study:Franklin County is Maine's healthiest
Franklin County is Maine's healthiest county while neighboring Oxford County is the least, according to a set of new reports that rank all the counties within their states.

Dairy farmers pin hopes on Maine brand of milk
Maine dairy farmers hope their new organic milk, called MOOMilk, becomes as popular among natural-food buffs as Maine lobster is among seafood lovers.

STATE HOUSE Sharp differences surface on use of solitary confinement
Psychiatrists testifying in support of a bill to reform treatment of prisoners told lawmakers Wednesday that solitary confinement amounts to torture and can exacerbate or even create mental illness.

POLICE
SKOWHEGAN -- Police on Wednesday widened the investigation into reports of windows being shot out, apparently by someone using a pellet gun.

SKOWHEGAN Chamber event set for Friday
SKOWHEGAN -- The Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and recognition dinner is set for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at T & B's Celebration Center on Madison Avenue.

Young Marines on brink of losing building
WATERVILLE -- Foreclosure is imminent for a vacant 90-year-old building on Harris Street.

WATERVILLE City opts to pay county tax all at once
WATERVILLE -- The city will pay an additional $345,887 this year in one lump sum to Kennebec County, instead of spreading the cost over five years.

NEWS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK

See Kennebec Journal news