Fix Maine Welfare

Fix Maine Welfare

Search State of Maine Welfare Charts

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Make sure and check on the amount of money that gets poured into Rumford to assist the low income individuals and families.

We know they are not getting ahead. We have the most people on fixed incomes in Oxford County. This includes welfare, Social Security (SSI), and SSDI.

If we are getting so much money to assist the needy in Rumford (@ 18,000,000 million), why then do we have an increase in the amount of people on some form of government assistance?

The State and the Maine Policy Heritage Center are crunching those numbers as we speak and finding that government assistance as it is set up now is in fact keeping people caught up in a dependency cycle. They don't necessarily want to be on the assistance but have no choice. For example, if a single mom works and puts a couple kids in daycare, it is almost not worth the cost of the daycare when you can stay home and take care of the children yourself and get health insurance benefits. If the rent and food are paid for then those same folks are are even more inclined to stay at home and make sure their children turn out right, are safe, and have a parent that is available. I don't think too many people would choose to be poor because it won't get you rich but when you stop to think about survival and the love of family, you can understand why the welfare programs are labeled as a dependency.

As far as the folks on SSI and SSDI, if you have a legitimate issue then these programs are excellent ways to help you pay your bills because you can't work or would have a difficult time working in a employment setting. SSI is for those folks who haven't made enough to qualify for SSDI. SSDI, Social Security Disability Income, is taken from your paycheck. And , you should get yearly statements telling you how much you would qualify for if you became disabled or retired. You paid into this program and the amount given is dependent upon how much you have worked. Hold onto those.

Meroby Elementary School, Mexico

Link to MES under Local Links, too.

Mountain Valley Middle School, Mexico

Link to MVMS is under Local Links, too.

Mexico Police, Maine

This is kool. "To Serve And Protect"

Abbott Brook in Mexico, Maine

Mexico Selectmen Oppose Baldacci Sanctuary Order

Mexico Selectmen voted tonight to send a second letter in asking Governor Baldacci to rescind his order which, in effect provides protection to illegal aliens and makes them eligible for more privileges. The issue was raised by Mexico Resident Monique Aniel and Rumford Resident Len Greaney. A previous board had written such a letter, but the current board expressed that they felt the new board should do the same, making reference to recent immigration issues in the area.

Aniel began by taking issue with an editorial in the Sun Journal newspaper which characterized the raising of the issue as bellowing. Aniel claimed that standing up and speaking against something is a right citizens have and is not "bellowing". Aniel referenced the tough financial status the state and towns are in, and expressed concern over attracting illegal aliens to Maine to take advantage of services that may not be available in non-sanctuary states. She stated it "sends a wrong message to anybody, and should be rescinded. Aniel identified that over 5,000 drivers licenses have been issued to illegal aliens providing them a means to do a variety of tasks including boarding a boat or airplane. "In a post 9-11 world, this is a dangerous policy" she stated.

Len Greaney was given permission to speak on the topic as well. He sited a recent article in which an illegal alien was able to purchase a gun using a drivers license. He stated that he and Aniel are working upon a presentation that will be telecast on Channel 7 in the near future to educate the public if the dangers of a sanctuary state.

Town Manager John Madigan stated that the state has rebuked the establishment of the federal "Real ID" program which would use state licenses as federal ID cards. Betty Barrett referenced changes in the I-9 form used by employers to verify eligibility for employment. She stated that these changes are just a "small pebble", but they make a difference. Monique Aniel stated that while the sanctuary state order is on the state level, it is the towns that have to deal with the problem of undocumented people.

Reported Structure Fire in Mexico

Story by Jason Thompson

Reported structure fire at 119 Main St in Mexico which turned out to be a Grease fire/Oven fire. It is the apartment across the street from the Mexico Fire Station. The brick complex. Rumford Fire, Mexico Fire and Med-care where on the scene along with Rumford PD, Mexico PD, Dixfield PD and Mexico Fire Police. All units cleared the scene by 7:45pm

Mexico Standoff has come to an end..Peacefully

Story by Jason Thompson


After a 13 and half hour standoff. State Police caputered and arrested Norman Thompson around 11:30 pm tonight. He is been transported to Oxford County jail as we speak. More to come in the morning

Very nice work goes out to Rumford PD, State Police and the Tact Team, Mexico PD, Oxford Cty Sheriff, Lewiston PD, on a job well done. They kept everyone safe during this standoff. No one was hurt.

Updates on Mexico Standoff

Story and photos submitted by Jason Thompson
11;30 pm Police capture Norman Thompson and arrest him. Also they transported him to Oxford County Jail
9;55pm Maine State Police bomb Squad is on the scene
9:35pm State Police still on the scene of the Standoff trying to gain contact with Mr. Thompson, But are not having any luck
7:30pm Suspect still holed up in house, not responsive to police .
5:49pm The state police are trying to conduct negotiations and he is not responding to state police commands
5:25pm Loud Bangs rang out about 30 times and State Police where firing Tear gas into the House
4:20pm After 7 hours the stand off is still ongoing at 4:20pm
3:15pm Stand off still continues at this hour 3:15pm
3:15pm Warrant issued in standoff.
2:19pm Police attempting contact
2:09pm Suspects 9 year old daughter safe in school according to sources
2:05pm Suspect alone with gun
2:01pm The same subject stole a vehicle from Heidi Briggs on Tuesday between the hours of 10 pm and 12:30 am on Wednesday morning
1:45pm Police move back perimeter at standoff.
1:34pm The subject is the one who jumped off the porch in Auburn Maine last week
11:30am Maine State Police Tactical team was on the scene
10:30am State Police Tact Teams where called in
9:15am Mexico Police receive a 911 call that Norman Thompson has broken into his mothers home on the corner of Granite St and Oxford St. Also his family notified reporters that he was trapping himself in the house and would not come out






12:30pm

12:22pm

12:09pm

12:07pm

11:36am

11:02am River Valley Reporter has a crew on there way to the scene and will have more info as soon as it becomes available. Oxford County units have closed Granite St in Mexico.

Mexico Selectman Meetings Not Televised

In an effort to make use of Channel 7, our local Public Access Channel, Mexico has requested that more meetings be videotaped. This has caused problems for the access channel due in recent weeks. The extra meetings have caused the channel to limit other programming on the station. A recent request for a meeting to be taped prompted station volunteers to refuse to tape further Mexico Selectman meetings.

The Public Access Channel is a resource that is available to all citizens in the community. The channel was initially established under the Mexico cable TV franchise and it currently is housed in Mexico. Unfortunately, station volunteers are not obligated to videotape anything. However, any person can videotape a meeting, event, or have their own TV program, and the TV station is required to play the program (with certain exceptions).

One solution that has been suggested is adding another channel for government programming. Channel 11 is designated as a Public Access TV Channel and could be activated for such a use. If the selectmen decide to do so, they could have the capability of putting meetings on live, as well as playing them more often. Between the participating towns, there is more than enough money from existing cable TV franchise fees to operate both channels. Such a decision would also provide the towns with their own community message board to post announcements pertaining to town government. This would provide more airtime for Gene Towle and the other community programs that are so loved on Channel 7.

Cat Found In Wal Mart Trailer

When Mexico Wal-Mart employees opened a box off a trailer that had recently arrived, they were surprised to find a full grown cat. The cat reportedly had been sealed in the box and showed signs of malnutrition. While it is undetermined as to exactly how long the cat had been in the box, its condition indicated that it had been more than a few days. One of the employees took the cat home to nourish it back to health. Employees at the Mexico Wal-Mart were upset that the cat had been sealed in the box, and hoped that it will make a full recovery.

U.S. Cellular Store To Open

Marie Cote has worked hard to develop a thriving cellular telephone business in the valley over the past few years. Every time she is asked how buisines is going, she always has a positive response. Her business, Pine Tree Cellular, is an agent for U.S. Cellular with locations at Advantage Insurance on Congress St. and a kiosk at the Mexico Wal Mart. Over the past year, we have seen the addition of a number of cellular towers to the area to better serve the numerous customers who have signed on to U.S. Cellular, no doubt due to the efforts of Marie Cote and her professional staff.

With the increase in customers, U.S. cellular has decided to open a store in the area to better serve their customers. Marie Cote has been asked to manage the store, and is working on the final stages of establishing a site for the shop. Being unable to find a location that meets the needs of the store in the Rumford business district, Marie and U.S. Cellular are heading over the river to Mexico. The store will be located between Curves and Viewers Choice. The video store recently consolidated their vast collection of movies and games to make room for the cellular retailer. The entrance and interior of the video store are undergoing renovations and Marie hopes to be in the new location within a few weeks.