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Written by Hillary Savage
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Fourteen thousand pounds of fireworks have been shipped to Washington County, and have made their home at the newly constructed red building in front of the Machias Car Wash. Blackbear Fireworks, the new business venture spearheaded by Wesley Graham of Harbor Homes of Maine is slated to open on Thursday or Friday of this week.
“This just seemed like a good business opportunity. We're going to be the first fireworks store in Washington County,” Graham states.
In an effort to boost the economy through tax revenue, Governor LePage legalized consumer fireworks in 2012, and since then, outlets have been dotting the state, with the nearest in Ellsworth. “Fireworks are big around here,” Graham says, adding that he hopes to bring some of that economic boost to the region, through tax dollars, job creation and building a commercial district. Two full time jobs will be created from the business, as well as eight full time positions and the boost to local construction companies and tradesmen in the building of the store. Graham is hopeful that consumers from further north will travel to Machias for the added attraction from the store, and while here boost the economy through other local purchases.
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Written by Ruth Leubecker
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Stressing the longterm ramifications of a new courthouse, Washington County Commissioner Chris Gardner vowed last week to nonetheless hold the line on incurring additional debt.
“Counties by law are charged with furnishing a space for Superior Court. The state is charged with renting space for District Court, and that amounts to about $14,000 a year,” he explained, “actually a rather nominal amount. Every other function housed in that courthouse is a county function.”
Last week, following a lengthy executive session, Washington County’s commissioners signed a 99-year lease allowing an $8.5-million courthouse expansion to move ahead in Machias. After expressing concern over ambiguous language related to courthouse control, the commissioners consented to forging ahead. The state will control the expansion being financed with state funds; the county will retain control of the existing courthouse, even though those updates will be renovated with state funding.
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