There is still plenty of interest in serving in the Maine Legislature, judging by the number of capital area candidates who filed nominating papers by the deadline of 5 p.m. Monday, March 15.

Some area golf courses have seen less than a half a foot of snow in nearly two months, and, buoyed by a forecast for more of the same, along with some frost-busting rain and warmer temperatures on tap for this weekend, golfers with an itch to pick up the sticks and play a round will have that chance as early as Thursday.

LITCHFIELD a ' Voters, with a show of hands at town meeting Saturday, agreed to create a nonconforming lot for Litchfield Academy and to spend funds for a fire department grant.

Mike Sherman, on his way to report for duty with his Maine Army National Guard unit for deployment to Afghanistan Saturday, got what must have seemed like an unpleasant surprise - a State Trooper, lights flashing, pulling over his family's vehicle in an apparent traffic stop shortly after leaving their Litchfield home.

The Fire Department will have to do without one of its captains for a year or so while Mike Sherman switches his firefighter helmet for an Army helmet.

Residents will decide whether to match a fire department grant and whether to split up, on paper, Litchfield Academy and Libby-Tozier elementary school at a special town meeting Saturday.

Divorces granted recently in Augusta District Court: Douglas Batchelder Jr., of Sidney, and Katrina Batchelder, of Gardiner; married Sept.

Selectmen have set a special town meeting 9 a.m. Saturday so residents can resolve three sticky land situations and appropriate $7,000 for a local match to buy a new truck for the Fire Department.

Candidates are lining up to run for the Maine House as incumbents hit their term limits and challengers sign up to take their seats.

LITCHFIELD a ' Esther Newendyke, chairwoman of the Litchfield Republican Committee, has announced that Litchfield Republicans will caucus on Saturday, March 6, at 9 a.m. at the Farrington School, 249 Eastern Ave., Augusta.

A controversial federal livestock-tagging program that had earned the scorn of Maine farmers is being scrapped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

At 8:44 p.m., there was a report of disorderly conduct on Marketplace Drive. 9:01 p.m., disorderly conduct was reported on Oxford Street.

A woman who killed another motorist in a drunken-driving crash was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison, with all but six years suspended, and four years' probation.

Public forum tonight at Sabattus The public is invited to a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Sabattus Central School to learn more about changes this fall at Wales, Sabattus and Litchfield schools.

WALES a ' Three community forums to explain "major" changes in Wales, Sabattus and Litchfield elementary schools will be held next week, Regional School Unit Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said.