The Kennebec Journal

July 22

Briefs

Kennebec Journal Staff

AUGUSTA -- Federal funding for a proposed new connection between Interstate 95 and the potential new site of MaineGeneral Medical Center in north Augusta has taken another step forward.

A $4 million appropriation to help build a new I-95 Exit 113 to provide full north and southbound interchanges received initial approval Wednesday from the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, according to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

The funding is included in the 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Senate Appropriations bill. The bill must now be approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Collins is a member, before it can be considered by the full Senate.

"This is incredibly exciting news for Augusta and our neighbors," Mayor Roger Katz said Wednesday. "Although the subcommittee endorsement is not the end of the story, this is a huge first step. Funding of the Exit 113 interchange is vital to our region, and not just for the new MaineGeneral project. Any future development in that area of our community depends on it, too."

The bill also includes proposed appropriations such as $1 million for the Augusta State Airport, to help fund the installation of runway safety areas on both ends of the runway; and $1 million to help the Maine Department of Transportation replace buses for public transit fleets across the state.

Port Authority

to meet Tuesday

AUGUSTA -- The Maine Port Authority Board of Directors will hold its regular quarterly meeting Tuesday at the Maine Department of Transportation headquarters, 1 Child St., Augusta.

The meeting is 10 a.m. in the main conference room.

Condon acceptspost in RSU 9

FARMINGTON -- Leanne Condon will be Regional School District 9's supervisor of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Condon most recently was the Curriculum Coordinator for Turner-based RSD 52, and she has a master's in educational leadership. Former Assistant Superintendent Susan Pratt performed coordinator duties for the district, but recently became superintendent for the Livermore-Livermore Falls RSU 36.

RSU 9 educates students from nine communities, including Vienna.

Compiled from staff reports