County & State News - Piscataquis Observer

County & State News

New owner, new name for Dover-Foxcroft salon

For 15 years Joanne Adkins has owned and operated the Wild Monkey Salon on West Main Street. On Dec. 1, 2019 the business was purchased by Miranda Nicole Durant, from Guilford, who renamed it Primpin’, Ain’t Easy or simply Primpin’.

State gives green light to Mayo merger with Northern Light

State regulators have cleared the way for Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft to join Northern Light Health, the Brewer-based health system that includes nine other hospitals stretching from Portland to Presque Isle.

State ATV task force submits recommendations

Maine’s ATV task force, created by Gov. Janet Mills to address opportunities and issues associated with increasing ATV registrations, submitted a report and recommendations to the governor, which include limits on ATV sizes and weights and recognizes the importance of private landowners who allow public use of their land.

SAD 4 will continue to utilize adult education cooperative resources

SAD 4 will continue to be a part of the PVAEC for the near future as the school board voted to extend its agreement with the Cooperative through the end of the 2022-23 academic year during a Jan. 14 meeting at PCHS. SAD 4 costs will be determined and the funds will be part of the next three school budgets.

Rep. Higgins’ bill to examine comprehensive 4-year high school program becomes law

Gov. Janet Mills allowed the passage of Rep. Norman Higgins’, I-Dover Foxcroft bill to create a comprehensive career & technical education system to examine a comprehensive 4-year high school career & technical education program.

Body of missing man recovered from Milo river

After more than two weeks of searching, divers from the Maine Warden Service and State Police found the body of a missing man in the Sebec River in Milo on Tuesday, according to Milo police.

Maine to fund fewer road projects over 3 years amid ‘slow decline’ of transportation system

The Maine Department of Transportation released a three-year road and bridge funding plan on Tuesday, Jan. 14 that will use more money to fund fewer projects, a symptom of rising construction costs and chronic underfunding of the state system.

PRYMCA launches new programs to welcome in the new year

It’s always exciting to change the calendar from December to January. A new year is filled with potential and the chance to start fresh. And after the busy holidays filled with celebrations and tables of delicious treats, it’s not surprising that, according to a 2019 survey, 65 percent of people resolved to exercise more with the New Year

Gov. Mills announces new heat pump rebates

Joined by leaders from Efficiency Maine Trust, Hometown Heat Pumps and the Maine Community College System at F.W. Webb Company in Augusta, Gov. Janet Mills on Jan. 14 announced that Maine was doubling its rebates to help Maine people purchase high-performance heat pumps.

Penquis Valley junior raising funds to attend Stanford Law School summer program

On Jan. 8 Penquis Valley High School junior Joslyn Black, 16, received an invitation in the mail from the education organization Envision. This group provides summer learning programs to students from elementary through high school. Black’s invitation is to the Stanford Law School outside of San Francisco, California to learn and engage in a 10-day intensive law and trial program.

Why some people think the term ‘nor’easter’ should be permanently retired

Amid all the wild words and phrases that weather reporters bandy about during the winter -- polar vortex, bombogenesis -- there’s one panic-inducing term that dates back hundreds of years, predating modern-day snowmageddons: nor’easter.

Rep. Higgins announces reelection bid

Rep. Norman Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft announces his candidacy for a fourth term in the Maine Legislature.

Community gets a taste of Peace, Love & Waffles

Peace, Love & Waffles, a new restaurant serving breakfast and lunch in the old bank building on East Main Street, was formally welcomed to the region with a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 9.

How to pick a trail that’s great for snowshoeing

I recently received two emails from readers looking for great places to snowshoe in Maine. They were looking for trail suggestions, and boy did I have a lot to say. Too much to say, really. So I decided to write a whole advice column on the topic.

SAD 41 officials to consider adding school resource officer

The details, including where the necessary funding would come from, are still all to be determined but officials in SAD 41 are considering creating a resource officer position to work across the three district schools. The possibility was a topic of discussion during a Jan. 8 school board meeting at the Penquis Valley School.

Piscataquis County may gain official shield via art contest

Through his research, Piscataquis County Manager Michael Williams cannot determine if the county has ever had an official shield and if so what the image may have looked like. While Williams is continuing his efforts, county officials are considering holding a design contest -- such as for high school students and/or artists living in the region -- to create an official shield in recognition of Maine’s Bicentennial in 2020.

Brownville Elementary students go for the Gold in WinterKids Winter Games

Students from the Brownville Elementary School are participating in the WinterKids Winter Games in January. Students compete in a four-week series of outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenges designed to help them be active in the winter and learn healthy habits. Each school is encouraged to involve volunteers, parents, healthy eating and active living organizations in their community and hold a winter carnival to close out the month’s events.

Ridge View, SeDoMoCha schools receive grants from Good Shepherd Food Bank

Good Shepherd Food Bank recently announced recipients of the annual School Pantry Capacity Building Grant program. Funded on a competitive basis to school pantry sites, the food bank’s awards range from $250 to $2,500. Among the 13 grantees across the state are the Ridge View Community School of Dexter and the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft.

Prev Page 1 Next