Brian Bouchard
Multimedia Journalist
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Brian was born in Lewiston and raised in Oxford County, but both sides of his family hail from the St. John Valley. Every year, Brian and his family would make the 5 hour drive from South Paris, Maine to Van Buren, and the County always felt like a 2nd home.
Brian is a veteran of the United States Army, and is a former Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and Drill Sergeant facilitating Basic Combat Training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After transitioning from the service, Brian began working for WAGM-TV in Presque Isle, Maine as a multimedia journalist on August 23rd, 2021.
His hobbies include audio/video production, songwriting, tabletop role playing games, and spending time with his children, friends and family.
Brian has two regular weekly segments, Throwback Thursday (Thursday Evenings @ 6pm) and Sledding the County (Friday Evenings @ 6pm, Mid December to Late March ).
Throwback Thursday digs into the paper records and vintage tape archives of WAGM dating as far back as 1981. Each segment highlights a report by a former WAGM reporter, and encourages the audience to contemplate how the news of yesterday affects our lives today. Throwback Thursday was developed in conjunction with Corey Bouchard's segment, Follow Up Friday, which picks up where Throwback Thursday left off with a look at the current state of Throwback Thursday's topic or subject.
Sledding the County, which is currently in it's fifth season, is a look at snowmobiling as a sport, tourism, social and economic impacts, safety tips, experiences, events, VIP visits and important messages to the snowmobiling community. The segment is augmented by the Facebook Group, Sledding the County, which is operated by Mike McNulty, who has been the driving force in developing the segment since its creation. Sledding the County is Sponsored by The Sled Shop, Inc.
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The United Way of Aroostook Telethon was a great success, helping to support many programs here in Aroostook County.
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WAGM and the United Way have a long standing partnership, and have held many telethons throughout the decades. In this week’s Throwback Thursday we’ll dial the time machine back to 2001, where we’ll take a look at that year’s United Way Telethon and see how the United Way’s support helped provide childcare opportunities in Aroostook County.
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Every year the United Way helps fund countless programs and organizations aimed at improving the lives of area residents. But one initiative supported by the United Way itself aims to provide Mainers with information and resources… day or night.
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A recent study by the Pew Research Center finds that 85% cannot go a day without being online with the average checking their phone around 96 times a day. While this digital addiction may seem like a new phenomena, the origins date back to some of the earliest forms of digital entertainment and it’s the focus of this week’s Throwback Thursday.
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The recent school bus accident in Ohio has led to discussions regarding seat belts on school buses, however this is not a new conversation and it’s the topic of this week’s Throwback Thursday.
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Following his most recent position as town manager, Limestone’s new Director of Special Project sets his sights on enhancing the community.
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“It became a situation where one person could not really manage the town as well as take care of all these special projects that arose.”
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You may have noticed an insert like this in your electric bill recently, and wondered what it is all about. The leaflet, which is part of a program supported by the Public Utilities Commission is known as Maine Green Power.
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They say a house is made of bricks and beams, but a home is made of hopes and dreams, and for one county family, those dreams are coming true.
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The Acadian Festival in Madawaska has been a celebration of the unique history, culture, and heritage of the Acadian people since 1978 and it’s the focus of this week’s Throwback Thursday with Brian Bouchard.
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One factor contributing to higher electricity costs is the state’s Net Energy Billing program, which was designed in 1998 to incentivize renewable electricity generation.
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In this week's Throwback Thursday, Brian Bouchard takes us back to a day of record breaking attendance at the Northern Maine Fair.
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Electricity regulation might sound like a complex subject for most of us, but who really takes charge of the rules governing utilities and who maintains the balance between safe, adequate service and fair rates for both customers and utilities?
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Recently solar projects have been popping up all over the county, with many flyers hitting mailboxes, offering ratepayers savings on their utility bills, but is it all too good to be true?
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It is hard to imagine a time when our personal information wasn’t instantly available to healthcare professionals, when paperwork was more than just a click away.
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Residents of the Town of Easton may be in for a bit of a surprise when their tax bills hit their mailboxes over the next week.
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Senior care homes have been instrumental in ensuring residents to receive the love, respect, and care they deserve in their golden years. In 2004, one facility took steps to integrate the community into elder care.
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Back in the late 80′s, Island Falls was in the process of modifying the towns liquor ordinance regarding on site consumption. According to town officials, the town ratified the ordinance to allow Sunday sales nearly 40 years ago, but never ratified the ordinance to deal with Monday through Saturday.
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A well known face in the Maine Potato Industry will be retiring, after being honored last week as part of the Maine Potato Industry dinner.
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Since it was first held back in 1937, The Maine Potato Blossom Festival has been a celebration of the coming harvest and a chance to get together with family and friends.
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The Town of Limestone recently made the move of hiring a Town Manager with no prior experience. Newssource8′s Brian Bouchard sat down with him a few days after officially taking on the roll and has the story.
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While Aroostook County plays host to many festivals over the summer months, one holds a special place in the hearts of those rooted in the county’s culture.
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Providing comprehensive, specialized care for our veterans has always been an ongoing mission for many communities across the US. In the early 2000s, one such endeavor was celebrated in Caribou with the opening of a new wing dedicated to veterans with dementia or Alzheimer’s at the Maine Veteran’s Home. NewsSource8′s Brian Bouchard has this week’s Throwback Thursday.
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Nationwide flights are being cancelled due to bad weather, emergency repairs due to a federal aviation facility and staffing shortages, which is resulting in folks being stranded waiting for their connecting flights, unsure when they will be able to get back home.
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The Town of Fort Fairfield is seeking feedback on recommendations to strengthen their town government. NewsSource8′s Brian Bouchard sat down with Interim Town Manager Dan Foster and has the story.
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In today’s world, many women hold positions in industries and professions traditionally dominated by men, but that hasn’t always been the case. NewsSource8′s Brian Bouchard has this week’s Throwback Thursday.
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Last year at this time the town of Fort Fairfield faced a nearly 1.4 million dollar debt with no plan on how to pay it back. Since then, a former town manager was brought back temporarily, and a plan to pay back the money has been developed and executed.
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As times change and our society advances, so too must our institutions, including those designed to maintain law and order. One such example was the transformation and expansion of the Aroostook County Jail back in the mid-eighties and it’s the focus of this week’s Throwback Thursday with Brian Bouchard.
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Aroostook County is known as the Garden of Maine, in fact, that’s what WAGM’s callsign stands for, and one project by the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension hopes to inspire others to become gardeners in their own right.
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Changes are coming to certain parts of Versant customers bills effective July 1st. NewsSource8′s Brian Bouchard spoke with a Versant representative to see what those rate changes will mean for your wallet.
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With ATV Season underway, and folks hitting the trails of Northern Maine, it’s important to keep in mind that over 90 percent of the State’s trail system is owned by private landowners.
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Outdoor activities are a staple of the warmer months here in the county, but there is a small nemesis that often over shadows these enjoyable moments - the infamous black fly.
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When we hear the sound of a notification on our phones today, it’s usually a message from a friend or an update from a social media app. But back in 2005, a beep on your cell phone could have meant the difference between a child lost and a child found.
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U.S. Border Patrol is seeking assistance from the public to combat suspected human smuggling activity in and around border areas.
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While many may celebrate Memorial day by firing up the grill or enjoying a day off of work, for some, it’s a day to remember and reflect on those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
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A random trip to Togue Pond ends up saving the life of an Ashland man who became stranded on a remote road.
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In this week’s Throwback Thursday we dial the time machine way back to 1967, where WAGM Reporter Wayne Knight interviewed the newly crowned Maine Potato Blossom Queen.
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The closure of Loring Air Force Base in 1994 was a significant blow to Aroostook County’s economy and job market and left questions regarding the future use of the base.
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Natural disasters can strike without warning, and the damage they cause can be devastating to communities.
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One County veteran and author is being honored later this month by having his story permanently entered into the United State’s Military Academy at West Point’s library.
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“The theme this year was Serendipity, a series of fortunate happenstances, which for many of us really is what college is all about."
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Across the country, and here in Aroostook county volunteers are playing a vital role in the American Red Cross Blood Program, dedicating their time and efforts to ensure a steady supply of blood for those in need.
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Out of all the humanitarian work carried out by the American Red Cross, about 90% of it is done by volunteers.
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Snowmobile season may not be over yet, but this year’s season of Sledding The County is. In this wrap up segment, Brian Bouchard looks back on a season that was slow to start, but finished strong.
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When someone dials 911 requesting medical assistance communication specialists have to work quickly to dispatch emergency personal to the scene but every so often their calm voices and clear instructions can save a life.
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The Limestone Town Office is back open again on a limited schedule after it had been closed last week citing a lack of staff.
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With the snow slowly melting and the riding season coming to an end, NewsSource8′s Brian Bouchard spoke with the President of the Maine Snowmobile Association to see how the season went, what they’ve been working on in Augusta and an issue that’s concerning snowmobile clubs throughout the state.
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After a long, cold winter, many of us are eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring. With warmer temperatures and melting snow, it’s natural to wonder if we’ve finally turned the corner.
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Aroostook County is set to receive more than a million dollars to fight the opioid crisis as part of a nationwide settlement.
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The Northern Lighthouse, the county’s only youth homeless shelter has launched a new program aimed at preparing teens for adulthood.
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