Current Headline News

TROUBLING SIGNS OF A SLUMPING MAINE ECONOMY...

A NEW REPORT FROM THE KING ADMINISTRATION HIGHLIGHTS WEAK DECEMBER 2000 SALES.

THOSE YEAR-END SALES WERE SO WEAK IN FACT, THEY WERE ACTUALLY BELOW THE LEVEL OF DECEMBER '99.

THE REPORT COULD GIVE STATE FORECASTERS AND BUDGET WRITERS CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB YOU'LL WANT TO LISTEN UP TO THIS NEXT STORY.

ENVISIONET OF ORONO IS TRYING TO DOUBLE ITS WORKFORCE IN THE NEXT 3 MONTH.

MORE BUSINESS FROM MICROSOFT MEANS ENVISIONET NEEDS 700 MORE TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES LIKE THESE ONES...PEOPLE WHO ANSWER PHONE CALLS FROM COMPUTER USERS HAVING TROUBLE WITH MICROSOFT NETWORK.

TECH REPS HAVE TO BE GOOD WITH PEOPLE AND ENJOY USING THE COMPUTER, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE A TECHNICAL WIZARD.

MANY OF THE JOBS ENVISIONET IS FILLING ARE FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WORKERS ARE TRAINED WITH A TWO-WEEK MICROSOFT COURSE.

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MAINE SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE IS FOCUSING ON KEEPING ANOTHER GROUP OF EASTERN MAINERS *IN BUSINESS*.

SNOWE IS TRYING TO CONVINCE INTERNATIONAL PAPER TO SELL RATHER THAN CLOSE UP SHOP IN PASSADUMKEAG AND COSTIGAN.

SNOWE MET WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN UNION WORKERS YETERDAY IN A CLOSED DOOR SESSION.

THOSE WORKERS ARE INTERESTED IN AN EMPLOYEE BUYOUT TO KEEP THE MILLS GOING.

WHILE BOTH UNIONS HAVE ACCEPTED SEVERANCE PACKAGES, THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP.

A MEETING BETWEEN UNION WORKERS AND MILL OWNERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE IS A POSSIBILITY.