REGION – An Oxford public works employee was seriously injured last Monday during the winter rainstorm that caused statewide power outages and shut off road access to some western Maine towns.
According to Town Manager Adam Garland, Highway Department staff were clearing debris on Robinson Hill Road shortly after noon when a utility pole snapped. One of the crew members was struck by debris and sustained a life-threatening injury.
“The utility pole and wires fell on the Public Works pickup truck,” Garland told the Advertiser Democrat in an email statement. “Thankfully his partner was able to render aid and call for help.
“A neighbor, who we have not been able to identify, also came out to help the crew. The crew member was transported to the hospital and is, thankfully, recovering.”
Following the storm, washout to roadsides has been the most challenging issue facing Oxford.
Hebron, East Oxford, Rabbit Valley, South Town Farm roads all saw significant shoulder erosion. Two others, Pain and Swamp roads became significantly muddy and hard to pass through.
Garland added that other roads had to be closed due to downed trees, poles and wires. He said that fortunately, there were not many calls for rescue, and most of those were due to flooded basements.
He reported there were no issues with Oxford’s two major dams, at Thompson Lake and Welchville, through the storm.
“The Welchville Dam has done well through this. The water level is high, but the dam is doing well. The dam gates are wide open,” Garland wrote. “The Thompson Lake dam, no damage. We are using the gates to … bring the water level down to winter level as soon as possible.
“A big thank you to the crew and public works foreman, [the unidentified] neighbor, and fire department for reacting quickly to assist” during Monday’s accident.
Considering its proximity to areas hard hit by flooding waterways, Paris emerged from the storm relatively unscathed.
Acting Town Manager Elizabeth Noyes said only one road, Christian Ridge Road near Route 117, was closed for about 24 hours after a culvert washed away.
The Paris River Park at the foot of Paris Hill Road flooded as well.
The Paris Fire Department was dispatched to neighboring West Paris to help evacuate some residents who were stranded by flood waters. Police Chief Michael Dailey swapped hats for a while to help coordinate calls coming into PFD.
Post storm, Knox said, Fire Chief Mark Blaquiere spent Wednesday checking in on elderly residents with no power to let them know the fire station was open as a warming center.
“I am very proud of all the departments in Paris and how they all have come together during this storm and helped each other out,” Knox said. “They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes the entire team to achieve success.”
For students around Oxford Hills, Dec. 18 was the last day spent in school until Jan. 3. School was called off Tuesday and Wednesday and are being counted as snow days. Winter vacation began last Thursday.
Only Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris sustained damage when winds blew shingles from the roof. In Harrison, Hebron and Otisfield facilities saw sustained power outages.
“Our transportation department did an excellent job of getting all of the students home on Monday during the storm,” Superintendent Heather Manchester. “our transportation director Chuck Beardsley and facilities director Jason Lampert provided me with excellent information regarding the state of the roads and the buildings.
“Ensuring the safety of 3,200 students and more than 600 staff is paramount; these two served as my eyes and ears for what was happening in our community.”
Messages left for officials in other Oxford Hills towns were not returned.
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