As another year heads into history, we take our annual look at some of the most memorable local news. Here are 10 we picked because they caught readers’ interest,  were big news or sports news in town, or in one case involved horrible news a year ago this month in Wiscasset that continued to have statewide impact in 2018.

Makeover begins

Maine Department of Transportation started its downtown project that will change parking, driving and walking around the village. The Haggett building's take-down drew onlookers to Water Street.

Among residents, the mixed views on the property's change to a parking lot continued. “This is the reinvention of Wiscasset,” with better parking, said Ken Kennedy-Patterson. Don Davis said he felt very sad the building was coming down. “It’s a perfectly good structure.” He supports the downtown project, but not this aspect of it, he said.

Radar alert

Familiar face in Wiscasset sports Bob “Radar” Applebee was named assistant athletic director at Wiscasset Middle High School in September. Applebee’s coaching career dates to the 1980s, when he first volunteered to coach or help coach Wiscasset Rec basketball, baseball, softball and soccer teams.

The nickname dates to his younger years, when he reportedly resembled Radar O’Reilly from the hit TV show “M*A*S*H*.”

Resignations roll on

From Superintendent of Schools Heather Wilmot to a principal, assistant principal-athletic director and special services director and Police Chief Jeff Lange, some high-ranking Wiscasset officials stepped down. Their successors have stayed on board through the year. In December, Police Sgt. Craig Worster resigned.

Laws change after children's deaths

In September, Gov.Paul LePage signed child protection changes into law. The move followed a review stemming from the December 2017 death of Kendall Chick, 4, of Wiscasset and the death last February of Marissa Kennedy, 10, in Stockton Springs.

Chick's alleged murderer Shawna Gatto this year chose a trial by judge rather than jury. Trial was expected in 2019.

Harbor swallows boat

Christopher Morrison’s boat Minesweeper sank in Wiscasset Harbor in a January blizzard. There it stayed and netted Morrison a littering charge he denied.  The case was recently continued into the new year.

Change in choice rules

Alna ended its publicly funded K-8 school choice with a local vote and the OK the change needed from Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12.

Officials said any child living in Alna by June 30, 2018 was grandfathered; and ones after that can still choose private school for those grades, but not from taxes. Proponents argued the public funding would squeeze out some taxpayers. Opponents said public funding of private and public schooling ensured parents could make the best decision for their children. 

Woolwich tunnel mural mixup

Woolwich Central School students on May 29 finished their mural on the walls of the pedestrian tunnel under Route 1.  A  week earlier, the tunnel was the subject of news reports over whether or not the state would let the project go on.

Maine Department of Transportation didn't communicate well enough that the tunnel was not to be painted, MDOT spokesman Ted Talbot said May 25. Paint can affect inspections, he explained. Talbot said the agency would not block the mural and will not remove it.

Post-planner challenges

Wiscasset set to work on its business friendliness after concerns arose over applications and other areas the town planner once handled. This was the first full calendar year without a town planner after voters stopped funding the department and the job in 2017.

Town Manager Marian Anderson and the planning board talked it over in May. “If I come in from out of town and try to do business in town, it’s hard to do business," board member and Big Al's Super Values owner Al Cohen said.

“You’re absolutely right. It is hard to do business,” Anderson said. Anderson then asked the ordinance review committee to review the forms.

Old home, new owners 

One of High Street, Wiscasset’s stately homes, the 1852, former Musical Wonder House returned to a grand look after Dan Dyer, Dana Long and Mike Collins bought it for $171,000 in January. Dyer said they put hundreds of thousands of dollars into it, including a new roof.

The men,  owners of Portland restaurant Wild Burrito, were also looking to put in a tavern in the village.

Strozier’s season

Wiscasset Middle High School’s Sam Strozier capped his high school wrestling career with a strong showing in the New England high school wrestling championships in March.

Before the trip, Strozier walked into Stover Auditorium to a surprise rally starting with  the cheers of teens and adults including parents Ed and Shelley Strozier. To the tune of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” the crowd stomped, clapped and chanted, “Sam will, Sam will rock you.” Strozier competed his senior year  as WMHS’s lone member of Morse High School-Wiscasset’s wrestling team.