Piscataquis Observer

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File photo The Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor.

File photo The Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor.

Pandemic has left backlog of criminal cases in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties

By Judy Harrison Bangor Daily News Staff There are 10,000 more criminal cases awaiting a resolution in Maine than there were a year ago, but the increase has been most pronounced in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. That’s likely the result of prosecutors in those two counties continuing to file more charges than their counterparts elsewhere, and offering defendants fewer favorable plea deals to resolve cases.

News Browse News

What it’s like to hike different trails up Katahdin in the winter

Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part story about a winter expedition in Baxter State Park.

Legislation would give state recognition to Kineo Band of Maliseets

By BDN Staff Writers A bill to grant state recognition for a second band of Maliseets could be complicated by larger conversations around sovereignty in Maine.

Blood donors continue to step up after a year of COVID-19

BANGOR — In the year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, tens of thousands of Americans have stepped up to address the needs of those reeling from the pandemic as well as record-breaking disasters across the country.

Greenville grades 1-8 switch to remote learning following positive COVID-19 case

GREENVILLE — Grade 1-8 students at the Greenville Consolidated School are now in remote learning through Monday, March 8 following a positive case of COVID-19 at the school, Superintendent Kelly MacFadyen said a Feb 28 letter to families posted at https://www.

Rep. Dr. Evans takes part in Black History Month panel discussion

Thompson Free Library shines spotlight on Maine authors

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library DOVER-FOXCROFT — Characters are central to stories.

Sports Browse Sports

Kenduskeag Race 1

Chris Merchant of Kenduskeag helps Robert Scovil of Bangor prepare for the start of the 53rd Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. The race starts in Kenduskeag and finish's up in Bangor. Photo By Terry Farren

Chris Merchant of Kenduskeag helps Robert Scovil of Bangor prepare for the start of the 53rd Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. The race starts in Kenduskeag and finish's up in Bangor. Photo By Terry Farren

Bangor Parks & Recreation to host 54th annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race April 17

BANGOR — Registration is now open for the 54th annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race which will be held in April, with appropriate COVID-19 precautions being taken. The race, hosted by Bangor Parks & Recreation, is held annually on the third weekend of April, and is the largest paddling event in New England and one of the largest in the country.

Reed finishes second at conference high jump championship

Foxcroft Academy junior Jacob Reed came in second at the 2021 PVC-EMITL boys high jump championship on Feb.

Shirley Bog Trail Busters report

By Rhonda Arey SHIRLEY — Grooming on a regular basis.

Opinion Browse Opinion

Impressive vaccine effort but some room for improvement

To the Editor; After one hour on a failed (on step 2) computer try and a total of four hours on the phone, over a period of two weeks, my wife and I finally got scheduled for our first COVID-19 vaccine shot for Feb.

Investing in quality child care critical to Maine’s economy

By Laurie Lachance One of the pandemic’s many lessons is that accessible, affordable, high-quality child care is critically important — especially to Maine’s business community.

Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands director snowmobiles Moosehead region

To the Editor; After a slow start to the winter of 2021, mother nature finally came through in late January.

Thanks to U.S. Sen. Collins for Scenic Byway support

To the Editor; As a member of the National Scenic Byway Foundation and Coordinator of the Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway, I want to sincerely thank U.

Something seems to be missing

To the Editor; This year the Shirley Bog Trail Busters got a new groomer for our trails and we also groom with a trail sled.

What a difference

To the Editor; The Bangor Daily News Saturday/Sunday edition (Feb.

Living Browse Living

U.S. Sen. Collins meets with Maine career and technical education leaders

Maine Catholic Women encouraged to gather virtually March 20 for special event in place of women’s conference

PORTLAND — Sadly, due to the pandemic, the Maine Catholic Women’s Conference will not be held in person for the second consecutive year.

There are scorpions in Maine, and they’re probably in your house

By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff Mention scorpions and you are likely to think of those desert arachnids with the curved tails and the venomous stinger on the end.

Housing development slated for Spruce Street in Greenville

GREENVILLE — Recognizing that affordably priced housing for the workforce is a critical element to supporting the economic growth in the Moosehead Region, the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation has made the decision to acquire a 5.

UMaine, UNH Extensions offer ornamental landscape design webinar March 10

University of Maine Cooperative Extension and University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension will offer a webinar about ornamental garden design for home gardeners from 6–7 p.

Premium Choice Broadband expands services

GREENVILLE — Since 2007, Bangor-based Premium Choice Broadband, a member of the Varney family of companies, has worked tirelessly to extend state-of-the-art internet access to rural Maine.