Piscataquis Observer

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HOP ON IN — Dot, played Paisley Libby, gets in Mrs. Kangaroo’s pouch, played by Addilyn Johnson, as SeDoMoCha Stageworks performs a scene from its production of “Dot and the Kangaroo JR.” for the RSU 68 School Board during a Tuesday evening meeting at the Harland A. Municipal Building in Sebec.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HOP ON IN — Dot, played Paisley Libby, gets in Mrs. Kangaroo’s pouch, played by Addilyn Johnson, as SeDoMoCha Stageworks performs a scene from its production of “Dot and the Kangaroo JR.” for the RSU 68 School Board during a Tuesday evening meeting at the Harland A. Municipal Building in Sebec.

RSU 68 officials start work on 2026-27 budget

January 7, 2026

SEBEC — A week into the new year, RSU 68 officials are working on developing the budget for the 2026-27 academic year. The finance committee is scheduled to have its first meeting at 4 p.

News BrowseNews

SBA launches disaster relief to small businesses and nonprofits hit by cold and moisture

Commissioners set chair, vice chair for 2026

DOVER-FOXCROFT — During the first meeting of 2026 on Tuesday morning, the Piscataquis County Commissioners set the chair and vice chair for the new year.

Sangerville fire receives $56,000 grant for equipment

SANGERVILLE — The Sangerville Fire Department has been awarded $56,000 from the Gloria C.

Man charged in Bangor homicide arrested for violating house arrest

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff A man accused of assisting in a Bangor homicide is back in jail, roughly six months after his bail was drastically lowered.

How Penobscot County’s former administrator would fix its budget crisis

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County commissioners and officials should take additional steps to solve the county’s current budget problems, former County Administrator Scott Adkins said.

Bradford man allegedly stole 2 tractors

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff BARNARD TOWNSHIP — A Bradford man allegedly stole two tractors in Barnard Township late last week.

Sports BrowseSports

PO-sphaffenreffer-2-26

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HEIGHT ADVANTAGE — Penquis sophomore Jake Haffenreffer uses a 9-inch difference in height to shoot over Bangor Christian junior Drake Nash during the second quarter of a Jan. 3 game in Milo, to the left is Penquis senior Michael Coburn. Bangor Christian won 63-28.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HEIGHT ADVANTAGE — Penquis sophomore Jake Haffenreffer uses a 9-inch difference in height to shoot over Bangor Christian junior Drake Nash during the second quarter of a Jan. 3 game in Milo, to the left is Penquis senior Michael Coburn. Bangor Christian won 63-28.

Bangor Christian tops Penquis in two meetings of Patriots

January 5, 2026

MILO — The Bangor Christian School swept a girls/boys afternoon doubleheader at Penquis Valley High School on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Three area boys win indoor track events

ORONO — Three male area athletes won events at a Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League meet on the morning of Saturday, Jan.

Maine anglers kick off the new year on the ice

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor Early ice fishing opportunities in Maine exist in December on specific lakes and ponds, but the official statewide season typically begins Jan 1.

Opinion BrowseOpinion

AARP Maine’s News You Can Use

By Joyce Bucciantini, AARP Maine community outreach volunteer Happy New Year 2026! Along with the new year, many people make New Year’s resolutions.

This was the most important lesson of my guiding career

By John Floyd It was a foggy, damp October morning deep in the North Maine Woods, the second day of the annual Maine cow moose hunt.

Why this angler avoids ice fishing for brook trout

By Al Raychard Our kind and generous outdoors editor, Susan Bard, recently asked if I do any early season ice fishing for brook trout.

Why were so many deer permits issued in Maine this year?

You won’t believe how his deer season ended

By Pete Warner I had waited patiently, until the absolute end of legal shooting time on the next-to-last day of muzzleloader season.

The Maine winter ritual that keeps me sane

By Bob Romano Nearing the end of December, the streams are shrouded in ice.

Living BrowseLiving

Winter workshops at Guilford Memorial Library

GUILFORD — Late last summer Wendy Lorrigan, a resident of Sangerville who teaches art at Piscataquis Community Elementary School in addition to being a community artist, was awarded two grants.

Maine will start tracking how much housing is being built in the state

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s largest city approved more than 1,300 new units of housing in 2025 — but only 159 homes were actually built in the last year.

Maine’s campaign to manage invasive spruce budworm is in its 2nd year

By Pete McGuire, Maine Public Timberland owners and state officials hope to capitalize on a successful pesticide campaign against a spruce budworm outbreak by resuming aerial treatment next spring.

The 10 most-read stories in Maine in 2025

By Paul Koenig, Bangor Daily News Staff This year had it all in Maine.

Center Theatre announces auditions for ‘The Sound of Music’

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce open auditions for its 2026 spring musical production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic “The Sound of Music.

New Ventures Maine opens applications for Gilda E. Nardone Scholarship

AUGUSTA — New Ventures Maine Executive Director Janet Smith has announced a call for applications for the Gilda E.