By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer
    BROWNVILLE — During the first meeting of the 2014-15 fiscal year on July 16, the board of selectmen set a 2015 tax rate of $18.90 for every $1,000 in assessed property. This figure represents an increase of 60 cents from the previous mil rate of $18.30.
    “There have been some reductions and some additions but for the most part there wasn’t a lot of new buildings,” Town Manager Matthew Pineo said, adding the real est
...
Read More >>

Observer photo/Mike Lange
    DEXTER EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT — A set of stairs will soon make it easier for fans and players to access the Dexter Regional High School field hockey facilities. Pictured, from left, are Jeff Belanger; his son, Eagle Scout candidate Hunter Belanger; and Ken Kimball, Scoutmaster of Troop 51 in Parkman.

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
    DEXTER — You can hardly drive a half-mile through Dexter without seeing at least one improvement that’s be
...
Read More >>

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer
    MILO — With the recently hired principal resigning to take a position elsewhere, after being the assistant principal for two years, the SAD 41 school board voted to hire Jeremy Bousquet as interim principal of the Penquis Valley School for the 2014-15 academic year, during a meeting on July 14.
    After a lengthy discussion involving several parents on their concerns with the principal position and with the school, the vote
...
Read More >>

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
    GREENVILLE — Based on the need for Moosehead Lake region visitors to dispose of their household trash more easily and legally, the Greenville Board of Selectmen approved a non-resident “yellow bag” system last week.
    In Town Manager John Simko’s report to the board, he noted that long-term visitors or campers can’t legally dispose of their trash; so “without a designated place, they find either private Dumpsters or the wood
...
Read More >>

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
    MONSON — Anton “Tony” Larson of Dexter recalled his first job after graduating from Monson Academy in 1941. “I put up markers on the Appalachian Trail all summer,” said Larson, 91. “They’ve moved the trail around since then, but it’s still drawing a lot of people to the town. This is a great idea.”
    Larson joined about 30 others during Saturday’s official dedication of the AT Information Center in the former Monson
...
Read More >>

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
    GETTING THEIR FEET WET — Entrants in the Piscataquis Regional YMCA’s fifth annual Tri for the Y Sprint Triathlon run into Sebec Lake to start the competition at the public beach on the morning of July 19.

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
    BOWERBANK — County employees in the Peaks House annex won’t have to put up with noisy window-mounted air conditioners in the summer and erratic heat in the wintertime for much longer. In addition, the electric bill in the annex will probably decrease noticeably.
    The Piscataquis County Commissioners unanimously agreed to purchase a mini-split heat pump system from Dave’s World at last week’s meeting, held at the Bowerbank fire

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
    ABBOT — A group of residents accepted an invitation by the U.S. Postal Service to speak out on a decision to reduce the operating hours of Abbot post office last week.
    While the reduction seemed to be a foregone conclusion, they had an opportunity to voice their opinion on the proposed schedule: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday.
    While most of the 15 to 20 p

A pdf version of this week's 07.23.2014 is now available for download.