Dec. 15, 1906

A dispatch from Lowell, Mass., says the Lowell Humane Society has a confirmed smoker who has used daily a corn cob pipe since he was 18 months old. The child is Andrea, the son of Albert Beaulcu. Mrs. Beaulcu, who is 18 years old, said she did not know tobacco would hurt the child. Andrea smokes nearly two packages of tobacco each week.

Dec. 15, 1951

A high-stepping drum major lifted his baton to strike the opening note for the Seymour Street School Christmas Program Friday afternoon.

Dec. 15, 1996

Christmas is a time for giving, even from inside the Auburn Correctional Facility. Paul Bunting, an imprisoned Vietnam veteran, is co-chair of an annual food drive. As part of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 205 in the prison, Bunting said even though he and his fellow chapter members are behind the walls, that doesn't mean they have forgotten about life outside.

Dec. 15, 2001

A local company is distributing portable decontamination showers to hospitals and fire departments from Maine to Florida. Fire department officials met last week with representatives to discuss which municipalities have which resources, and what their strengths and weaknesses are, in dealing with health threats such as anthrax contamination. Julius Kraft Co., Inc. showed the decontamination shower.

- Linda Simmons