Police chief will retire

Gorham Police Chief Ronald Shepard will retire on Nov. 4 after working for the town’s police department for 42 years.

Town Manager David Cole on Friday announced Shepard’s retirement in an email to the Town Council. Cole appointed Shepard as chief on Sept. 27, 1995.

At the time, Shepard was the department’s lieutenant. He succeeded Edward Tolan as chief. Shepard had previously served three times as acting chief.

Shepard, a Gorham native, joined the Gorham force in 1972. He is the departments’ sixth chief.

“I have had the pleasure of working with him for more than 20 years and always admired his level of professionalism and dedication to the town,” Cole said in the announcement.

Gorham Savings hires Morin

Gorham Savings Bank recently hired Marie Morin as vice president, senior business officer, for its newest location in Kennebunk.

Prior to joining Gorham Savings Bank, Morin was vice president, retail market manager at Kennebunk Savings Bank. She has been in banking for 14 years and is a current member of the Kennebunk Rotary Club.

UMF dean’s list

Several Gorham students have been named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at the University of Maine at Farmington.

They are Katherine Bennett, Celeste Carpenter, Kaitlin Flanders, Austin Hayes, Conor Kirby, Megan Meehan, Jennifer Pinkelman, and Colleen Ward;

New solar energy law

A measure cosponsored by Sen. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, to expand the use of solar energy in Maine will go into effect on Friday.

The bill directs the Public Utilities Commission to take specific measures regarding solar energy by conducting a two-part study to develop a methodology for determining the value of solar energy generated and then apply that methodology to the available information on solar power.

The PUC will report its findings to the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee by Feb. 15, 2015.

Organic farm program reminder

Mike Russell, head farmer at Pearson’s Town Farm of Saint Joseph’s College, will speak at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, at North Gorham Public Library, corner of North Gorham and Standish Neck roads in Gorham.

His topic will be life on an organic farm and he’ll have some animals available. For more information, call the library at 892-2575.

Ploude in concert

Michael Ploude will present Gorham’s final free concert of the summer, from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the gazebo on the lawn at Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on July 31 that the U.S. public debt was $17,687,136,723,410.59.