State Issues:

State Officials Ask Drivers to Be Alert for Moose

State officials with the Department of Transportation are reminding drivers to be cautious for moose on Maine’s roads. Moose are highly active during the spring and more moose collisions are recorded in June than in any other month during the year. Moose are hard to see because of their dark brown color. Because of their size, anytime a vehicle hits a moose there is the potential for serious injury. Moose are drawn to the road because they consume leftover salt from the plowing season, as well as eat the quick growing grass usually found near the roadside. Over the past three years there have been nearly 2,000 crashes on Maine’s roads because of moose. There are fatalities nearly every year. Eighty-percent of those crashes occur once the sun has set.

Officials urge motorists to stay alert when driving, especially after dark. They also ask motorists to always use a seatbelt.

This past Friday night, Richard and I were driving up Rt 109 and suddenly realized we were parallel to a MOOSE moving about the same pace we were!   They are out there, please be careful.

Commute Another Way Week

This week is Commute Another Way Week in Maine. This week Maine residents are encouraged to try an alternative mode of transportation to work or school. This annual transportation event is sponsored by GoMaine, a statewide commuter services program. Commuters are urged this week to try carpooling, vanpooling, biking or walking to work or school. In the past, GoMaine has worked with more than 500 employers and 5,000 commuters statewide to commute another way. The effort is aimed at reducing traffic congestion, cutting auto emissions and finding more cost-effective ways for commuters to travel.  This year’s event has already gained more interest as motorists face a state-wide average price of over $3.60 per gallon of gas.  To learn more about Commute Another Way Week or to take advantage of information provided by GoMaine visit their website at http://www.gomaine.org.

Federal Stimulus Checks

Federal economic stimulus checks have started being issued by the United States Treasury.

Citizens who have not received their checks yet can find out when to expect their payments by visiting http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=180250,00.html.

Here you can also access a calculator to figure out how much to expect in your stimulus check.