Piscataquis Observer

Contributed photo DOG SLED RACES RETURN TO GREENVILLE -- A team competes in a recent version of the Wilderness Sled Dog Race in Greenville. This year's two races, a 70-mile course and a 35-mile competition, are scheduled for Feb. 2.

Contributed photo DOG SLED RACES RETURN TO GREENVILLE -- A team competes in a recent version of the Wilderness Sled Dog Race in Greenville. This year's two races, a 70-mile course and a 35-mile competition, are scheduled for Feb. 2.

Sled dog races on track in Greenville Feb. 2

January 20, 2019

Greenville is going to the dogs on Saturday, Feb. 2 -- sled dogs that is. It’s an exciting time of year to be here – watching enthusiastic dogs and their mushers pulling sleds through the snowy, wooded trails around Greenville in the Wilderness Sled Dog Race. Amy Dugan and John Osmond of Shirley began this event more than a dozen years ago. This is the eleventh time this event has occurred – there were a few years in between where conditions were prohibitive and the race was not held.

News Browse News

Biologists are wrestling with deer so they can study how they die

Deep in the Maine woods, crews of biologists, technicians and interns are busily “recruiting” new subjects who will help state wildlife officials better understand the role that winter severity plays on white-tailed deer mortality.

Seventh Day Adventist Church looks to share Main Street building with Dexter community

On Jan. 16 many Dexter Age-Friendly members and community leaders listened intently and with some surprise about a wonderful new project underway in downtown Dexter to provide “a place to hang out,” as Assistant Pastor Dawn Tritch explained.

SeDoMoCha shines the spotlight on outstanding students

Each month the SeDoMoCha School recognizes its “Students in the Spotlight,” celebrating pupils from kindergarten to grade 8 who teachers and staff have determined best demonstrate a specific positive attribute or characteristic chosen for the timeframe from the Habits of the Mind (a set of life skills for educators and parents). Following a snow day last month, the December and January Students in the Spotlight were honored during an all-school assembly on the morning of Jan. 18.

4,700 lost power in Penobscot, Piscataquis counties

A problem at an electrical substation in Corinth caused thousands of Emera Maine customers to lose power in central Penobscot and southern Piscataquis counties early Thursday morning.

Sports Browse Sports

PO-spFAwrestle100-5-19

Contributed photo PAIR OF PONIES REACH 100-WIN MILESTONE -- Foxcroft Academy wrestlers Grady Reardon and Rico Ayala both won their 100th career matches during a duals tournament on Jan. 19 in Dexter. Celebrating the milestone are, from left, coaches Wesley Stinson and Chris O'Connell, head coach Luis Ayala, Rico Ayala, Grady Reardon and coaches Ryan Reardon and Terry Whittemore.

Contributed photo PAIR OF PONIES REACH 100-WIN MILESTONE -- Foxcroft Academy wrestlers Grady Reardon and Rico Ayala both won their 100th career matches during a duals tournament on Jan. 19 in Dexter. Celebrating the milestone are, from left, coaches Wesley Stinson and Chris O'Connell, head coach Luis Ayala, Rico Ayala, Grady Reardon and coaches Ryan Reardon and Terry Whittemore.

FA’s Reardon and Ayala both earn their 100th career victories

January 21, 2019

The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team traveled down Route 7 on Jan. 19 to compete in a duals tournament at Dexter Regional High School. Six teams competed at this event from the the KVAC and PVC conferences. The teams were put into two pools, where the winner of each group would face each other in the finals.

By the age of 21, this LaGrange man has built a regional wrestling empire

It’s chaos. A sold-out crowd of over 400 professional wrestling fans cheer, scream and jeer all at once. Massive men in tights wail on each other in the ring. A savage woman belts another with a folding chair in the front row while spectators run for cover. Music blares. The room smells like beer, sweat and excitement.

Robshaw continues her winning ways on the track

For the the fifth time in as many meets, Penquis Valley High School senior Cymeria Robshaw won the 55-meter dash during a Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League competition at the University of Maine.

PCHS boys run away from Penquis

A big second quarter helped the Piscataquis Community High School boys break open a Jan. 16 Class C North contest at regional rival Penquis Valley High School. During the second eight-minute session the visiting Pirates had a 23-12 scoring advantage to extend a narrow 9-6 lead to 32-18 and help propel the team to a 62-43 victory.

Opinion Browse Opinion

Letter14 hours ago

Marching straight into a BuzzFeed

The latest journalistic debacle of BuzzFeed proportions has shown the spotlight again on a once revered institution devoid of any integrity. The nation has in many ways become numb to it, even at times accepting this as the new normal. Despite this, the next station in the march of relativism should leave even the most morally callous appalled.

Family Discoverer2 days ago

Always have a backup

Last week my computer locked up in the middle of an update. My computer is my right hand. It holds over 40 years of genealogical research, the chapters I’ve written on the book I’m doing for the Maine State DAR, all my columns, a photo collection and my online banking, among other things.

Column3 days ago

Political discourse has become something out of Harry Potter

The woman on the phone wanted to know if I could get rid of a rock rising up from a section of her lawn. She was responding to my classified newspaper ad offering to do “odd jobs.” At age 15 or 16, my mom suggested the “odd jobs” ad as a way for me to earn money.

Letter6 days ago

Thanks to Gov. Mills for releasing senior housing bond

I am writing to thank Gov. Mills for acting so quickly to release the senior housing bond. Her leadership on this critical issue will enable more Mainers to age in place through the building of new, affordable, accessible and safe homes for older Mainers. Additionally, funds will be dedicated to home repair and weatherization of existing homes, some of which are the oldest in the country.

Living Browse Living

Ridge View seventh-graders recognized

Ridge View Community School grade 7 students were recognized for their academics and positive attitude and effort in their learning at the school in Dexter.

Calendar of events

Upcoming events around the region.

Pine Tree Hospice adult evening bereavement support group meets bi-monthly

Has the loss of a loved one been weighing you down? Whether it happened recently or in the past, the death of a significant person can be traumatic. Pine Tree Hospice is here to help. Grief is a normal reaction to the death of someone important to you. It can be both powerful and painful; yet, when we pay attention to our grief and have support from others, experiencing grief can lead to healing and growth.

‘Harm Reduction 101 & Naloxone Training’ Feb. 9 in D-F

Maine Family Planning and Maine Access Points will sponsor “Harm Reduction 101 & Naloxone Training” from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 9 at The Commons at Central Hall. This free, engaging, community-based public health education event is open to all.

Moosehead Lake Togue Derby with Ricky Craven Jan. 25-27

We have ice. We have fish. We have prizes, and we have the cash. We just need you. It’s time to fire up for the 12th annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby with Ricky Craven. It should be a great time for another big derby on Maine’s largest lake. The togue are bigger and fatter than ever thanks to all those anglers that have been helping to harvest fish since the derby’s inception. So, make your plans and grab your gear.

‘Power of Community’ film and discussion Feb. 1 in Dexter

Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) has been holding regular public discussion meetings and workshops about energy, economics, environment, and agriculture since 2009, and in acknowledgment of this 10-year history will be showing the film “Power of Community” from 6-8 p.m. at the Feb. 1 First Friday in the Abbott Memorial Library.