Bill in Rockland says: Somewhat clear skies still at 5:40 a.m. with a few stars still twinkling and a southwesterly breeze making the 38 degrees seem a bit
cooler. It rather reminds me of Billy Ed Wheeler's song "Out Under a Winter Sky", but perhaps it's not quite cold enough for that yet - no snow either here on the coast.

Shawn in Yarmouth says: It is a brisk 33 degrees here in Yarmouth this morning. The sky seems dark and clear with no hint of wind. The snow we got on Sunday still has not completely disappeared; the winter snowbanks are already started.

James in Cape Elizabeth At 6:30, it was 36 in Cape Elizabeth with a strong southeast breeze blowing. Weird sunrise this morning, as the pink gave way to a teal color. Today might be a great day to get those lights up outside. At least tomorrow is Friday!! Cheers one and all!!

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ON THE ROAD:

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ON THE OCEAN:

High tide in Portland: 3:10 p.m. Low tide: 9 a.m. and again at 9:32 p.m.

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THE NEWEST NEWS:

MECHANIC FALLS (AP) -- Auburn Manufacturing Inc. says it's won two U.S. military contracts worth up to $7.8 million over several years.

The Mechanic Falls firm makes fabrics used for high temperature protection. The contracts call for fabrics that will be used for hot work protection during naval ship repairs.

AMI President Kathie Leonard says this is the fifth contract the company's been awarded over the last 15 years to supply more than 1.25 million yards of high-performance fabrics to the Navy, all on time and without defects. The new contracts will add another half-million yards to that total.

The contracts require that the fabrics be 100 percent American-made.

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BANGOR -- A man from Mexico (the country, not the town) was sentenced yesterday to 10 months in prison for illegally having guns and ammunition and for being an illegal alien.

During March of 2007, Rogelio Figueroa-Figueroa, 22, was working at the Flood Farm in Clinton when Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents executed a search warrant under the suspicion that he was working in the state illegally.

During the search, agents found weapons and ammunition. They also learned that Figueroa-Figueroa had entered the United States across a river illegally nearly three years ago.

Figueroa-Figueroa pleaded guilty to his crimes on Aug. 22.

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NATIONWIDE (AP) -- Jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney laid off about 350 employees across the country yesterday amid concerns that airlines may delay or cancel orders as the global economy slows, although it is unclear how many of those workers will be from Maine.

The cuts will affect less than 1 percent of the company's work force of more than 38,000 employees and will take effect immediately, Jennifer Whitlow, a spokeswoman said.

About 280 of the layoffs will occur at the company's Connecticut operations. The remaining 70 will affect employees in 12 other states including Maine and Texas. Those cuts will affect salaried positions including administrative assistants, engineers and accountants, Whitlow said.

Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., supplies both military and commercial jet engines for products such as Boeing Co.'s 747 and 777, as well as the Airbus A300, among many others. It also builds engines for Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-22 fighter jet and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

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SOUTH PARIS -- A fire at a warehouse off Route 26 is still burning this morning, more than 15 hours after firefighters starting pouring water on the building.

Fire officials say what makes fighting the fire so difficult is what's stored inside the building - reams and reams of baled paper.

Firefighters arrived at the New England Public Warehouse at 164 Pine St. around 1 p.m., yesterday. The fire spread quickly, officials said, and the paper gave and is still giving the fire plenty of fuel to burn.

By daybreak the roof was gone and firefighters were focused on keeping the blaze contained to the building and from spreading to nearby areas. Firefighters poured water into the building from extended ladder trucks. Nearly 30 police and fire departments have assisted Paris as it's fought the fire.

Route 26 is open, but some local roads are closed. Also closed will be the Oxford Hills Middle School and the Oxford Hills Christian Academy, which are out of power due to the fire.

View Larger Map
Letter A represents the New England Public Warehouse, where the fire is burning. The fire has closed the Oxford Hills Middle School, which is located at 100 Pine St., just down the road.

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FROM OUR NEWS PARTNERS:
• The Bangor Daily News today reports a story about an Eastern Maine Medical Center employee who suffered minor injuries Wednesday when she was struck by a vehicle driven by another hospital worker. That story can be read by clicking this link.

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OF NOTE TODAY:

IN SCARBOROUGH -- The Maine Medical Center at 11 a.m. today will host a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the launch of an addition to its Research Institute.

The addition will house the first dedicated clinical research facility at MMC, a space for patient treatment and professionals seeking to learn more about psychology, psychiatry and molecular medicine.

Tours of the facility, located at the MMC Scarborough Campus, will be available through the day from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

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IN BANGOR -- The Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission will seek input today from the public regarding international trade agreements at Husson University starting at 6 p.m.

The commission was established by the Maine legislature and it is made up of legislators, owners of small businesses and many other public interest groups.

Its job: To make recommendations to the state on trade policy, after hearing public testimony like they will tonight.

The meeting will be held at the Libra Electra Lecture Hall at Husson University, 1 College Circle, Bangor.

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THE GOOD NEWS:

BIDDEFORD -- Six Kemp's ridley turtles and two green sea turtles are safe and sound here, now that they are in the hands of caretakers from the University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center.

The turtles will be rehablitated there and then released to the wild.

The eight endangered turtles were nicknamed by the New England Aquarium rescue biologists Goose, Iceman, Chiquita, Knievel, Forest, Petunia, Dash Parr, and Yoshi.

These turtles are an endangered species. To watch a video about their travels to Biddeford, from the New England Aquarium in Boston: CLICK HERE.

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