Staff photo by David Leaming

PURR: Hilda Robinson feeds her cat Blackberry at her home in Oakland on Thursday. Robinson received free pet food at the pet pantry in Fairfield.
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State retirement assets drop by nearly $3 billion
AUGUSTA -- Wall Street's wild ride, with recent deep dips, has meant a nearly $3 billion drop in assets since July for the Maine Public Employees Retirement System.

HARTLAND: Town hires former St. Albans manager
HARTLAND -- The town government has hired the former town manager of St. Albans as a temporary leader.

Police Log
IN BINGHAM, Wednesday at 7:11 a.m., a report of a fire alarm sounding was investigated on Meadow Street.

Pet food pantry helps people feed their four-legged housemates
OAKLAND -- Hilda Robinson struggles sometimes to put food on the table for herself and her husband.

Oakland to announce manager
OAKLAND -- Oakland will announce its new town manager at Monday night's Town Council meeting.

Suspect in high-speed chase arrested
OAKLAND -- Police Thursday afternoon arrested a Norridgewock man who allegedly drove as fast as 60 mph on residential streets as children were going home from school.

Neal Bridge nears completion
PITTSFIELD -- If Mother Nature cooperates, a new Neal Bridge will be ready for traffic.

PITTSFIELD: Council mulls ways to get rid of town sludge
PITTSFIELD -- Think outside the box. Or, in this case, the lagoon.

Return of heist suspect urged
SKOWHEGAN -- Authorities in Maine seek to extradite a 20-year-old New York man for his alleged role in the July 23 armed robbery of a Madison credit union.

Puppy mill probe names Petland stores
The Humane Society of the United States said Thursday that its eight-month investigation revealed extensive brokering between puppy mills and Petland, an international chain pet store.

Troy teen remains in Bangor hospital
TROY -- While a Troy teen battles for his life this week, his mother at his side, the Mount View High School junior has schoolmates organizing a Saturday bake sale on his behalf.

Waterville nightclub fights net 5 arrests
WATERVILLE -- Five people were arrested early Thursday at an Elm Plaza nightclub amid chaotic fights that included assaults on police officers and the smashing of a cruiser window, according to Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey.

Police arrest 4 on drug charges
WATERVILLE -- Four people were arrested Wednesday on drug charges after police raided an apartment on Pare Street in the city's South End, police Chief Joseph Massey said.

Two-day book sale to benefit Hospice
WATERVILLE -- Thorndike Press will hold a benefit book sale today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon to benefit Hospice Volunteers of the Waterville Area.

Girls hockey now at top level
Winslow High School senior Nikki Smiley just wanted what the boys already enjoyed.

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