By Daniel O’Connor Just five people entered the basement of the Belfast courthouse for an August meeting.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff As temperatures continue to drop, Mainers are reminded that winter is on the way, bringing with it all the beauty and challenges of the season.

Photo courtesy of Town of SangervilleHALF CENTURY OF SERVICE — On Saturday, Dec.

By Annie Rupertus, Bangor Daily News Staff A $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor will help about 285 Maine families with emergency heating support this winter.

Nominations are now open for the Maine Teacher of the Year program, which celebrates excellence in teaching and elevates the importance of the teaching profession.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Two weeks after program cuts to a dozen organizations in an earlier version of the 2026 Piscataquis County budget were restored, some partially and some in full compared to the current year, both the county budget and 2026-27 Unorganized Territory budget were approved by the county commissioners during a meeting on Tuesday morning.

SANGERVILLE — A vacancy on the Sangerville Select Board created by the resignation of Josh Tracy last month will remain through the annual town meeting on the last Saturday of March.

Grade 12, highest honors: Bella Buehne, Audrey Chadbourne, Arianna Crosby, Brady Gaw, Molly Goodwin, Ava Goulette, Noah Kain, Elizabeth Libby-Gilbert, Zoe McInnis, Landon McKenney, Tyler Willey; high honors: Brady Ball, Brookelynn Hunt, Sadie-Mae Kelley, Chase Kilian, Ryan Mitchell, Kiah Nick, Isabellah Tetreault, Bear Yelverton; honors: Tristan Billington, Dawson Draper, Hannah Firth, Alexander Hall, Grant Higgins, Brandon Reed.

By Daniel O’Connor, Bangor Daily News Staff Property taxes have been the subject of some of Maine’s biggest local political battles of the last year, but they hit people far differently across the state.

By Kevin Miller, Maine Public A new referendum campaign aims to once again make it illegal to sell recreational marijuana in Maine.

GUILFORD — SAD 4 and neighboring SAD 46 of Dexter have applied for state funding for a comprehensive high school that will combine traditional academics, career and technical education, and access to college courses.

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor With winter setting in, snowmobile enthusiasts across Maine are gearing up for another season on the trails.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Surviving and enjoying winter in Maine takes certain skills, knowledge and gear to stay safe, warm and dry.

GUILFORD — A childhood sports goal has been realized for Piscataquis Community School senior Brady Gaw.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s most rural county is set to see the most homes sold per capita in the state for the third straight year.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff As temperatures continue to drop, Mainers are reminded that winter is on the way, bringing with it all the beauty and challenges of the season.

By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff Forecasters with the National Weather Service say conditions are right for Maine’s drought to last through the winter.

By Cameron Levasseur, The County Staff Three of the five largest high schools in Aroostook County are exploring forming a singular regional high school for central Aroostook.