Jim Means, Gorham Republican Committee chairman, left, introduces Col. Bill Benson, U.S. Army retired, last week when the committee’s speaker series continued. Benson, who served 24 years on active duty, discussed Isis. Benson, a Gorham resident and business owner, spent 42 months in Iraq and Afghanistan, and spoke based on his personal experiences.

Coleman Dowdle

Dowdle wins

Merit scholarship

Coleman Dowdle, a Gorham High School senior, was one of 11 Maine high school students named National Merit Scholarship winners.

He is the son of Bob Dowdle and Shannon Phinney Dowdle of Gorham and grandson of John and Rose Phinney.

A press release said, “Each year, 1.5 million juniors in 22,000 high schools enter the National Merit Scholarship competition when they take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). About 16,000 of those are named National Merit semifinalists. Semifinalists compete to become finalists, and then finalists compete for scholarships. Scholarship winners are chosen by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors who look at the students’ academic record, difficulty level of subjects studied, scores from standardized tests; leadership in school and community activities; a written essay; and a recommendation from a high school official.”

Dowdle will attend Brown University and he plans to major in physics and math.

Chess club forms

A newly established chess club will meet the second Saturday of the month beginning June 11, from 10:15-11:30 a.m., at the North Gorham Public Library, 2 Standish Neck Road, Gorham.

The drop-in sessions will be open to players of all ages and skill levels as an opportunity to play informal games and to recieve informal lessons.

For more information, contact Jennifer Plummer, library coordinator, by emailing libng@north-gorham.lib.me.us or call 892-2575

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on June 2 that the U.S. public debt was $19,229,279,536,521.72

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