Piscataquis Observer

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HEROS OF PCES -- Sixteen HERO honorees in kindergarten through grade 4 at Piscataquis Community Elementary School in Guilford were recognized during the Feb. 15 morning meeting. Students are selected for exhibiting honesty, effort, respect or responsibility, and/or showing concern and caring for others. HEROs are front, from left, Emilynn Brown, Auden Herrick, Samuel Richards, Sadie Bickmore, Lilah Davis, and Nya Hartford. Back, Brooklyn Milano, Haylee Marshall, Aiden Graves, Prudence Bridge, Breelyn Gaw, Allison Reed, Anna Folsom, Alexis Ames, Maeve Schnurr, and Kaleb Hammae.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HEROS OF PCES -- Sixteen HERO honorees in kindergarten through grade 4 at Piscataquis Community Elementary School in Guilford were recognized during the Feb. 15 morning meeting. Students are selected for exhibiting honesty, effort, respect or responsibility, and/or showing concern and caring for others. HEROs are front, from left, Emilynn Brown, Auden Herrick, Samuel Richards, Sadie Bickmore, Lilah Davis, and Nya Hartford. Back, Brooklyn Milano, Haylee Marshall, Aiden Graves, Prudence Bridge, Breelyn Gaw, Allison Reed, Anna Folsom, Alexis Ames, Maeve Schnurr, and Kaleb Hammae.

PCES recognizes January HEROs

February 19, 2019

More than a dozen students in the younger grades at Piscataquis Community Elementary School are now HEROs for their outstanding conduct during the month of January. The HERO honorees were recognized with the presentation of certificates during an elementary-wide morning meeting on Feb. 15.

News Browse News

Pay for Maine jurors in state courts could more than triple

If Maine lawmakers pass a bill endorsed by the Legislature’s judiciary committee, pay for jurors in state courts would more than triple, rising to $50 per day -- the same rate paid to jurors by the federal court system.

Eight train cars derail east of Brownville Junction

Eight rail cars on an Eastern Maine Railways train left the tracks in a remote area of Piscataquis County on Friday, Feb. 8, according to a spokesperson from J.D. Irving, the Canadian conglomerate that owns the rail company.

Greenville ambulance service deals with challenges

Greenville has long been considered a town on the edge of wilderness. Centuries ago the wild forests were logged and Moosehead Lake was instrumental in moving those logs from the forests to mills downstream of the lake’s outlets. The town, incorporated in 1836, prospered as a result of this industry. Homes and churches were built.

Dexter, other hospital communities await more information on potential merger

Directors from Dexter and the other dozen communities making up HAD 4 are awaiting negotiation details between officials with Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health on a potential merger of the Dover-Foxcroft facility serving the region with the statewide healthcare system, the town council learned during a Feb. 14 meeting.

Sports Browse Sports

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Bangor Daily News photo/Gabor Degre FACING OFF IN IN BANGOR -- Mattanawcook’s Alex Brown drives for the basket past Haedyn Gunther of Dexter during a Class C North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center. Mattanawcook ended winning the third meeting of 2018-19 between the two programs.

Bangor Daily News photo/Gabor Degre FACING OFF IN IN BANGOR -- Mattanawcook’s Alex Brown drives for the basket past Haedyn Gunther of Dexter during a Class C North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center. Mattanawcook ended winning the third meeting of 2018-19 between the two programs.

Mattanawcook tops Dexter in defensive struggle

February 20, 2019

In Tuesday, Feb. 19’s boys Class C North quarterfinal, there were no secrets when second seed Mattanawcook Academy met No. 7 Dexter. The teams, which played twice during the regular season, advanced to the tournament largely on the strength of their defense and that was the key dynamic as they met for the third time this season.

Pair of Pony relay teams swim at state championship

Four Foxcroft Academy girls swam between two relay teams at the 2019 Class B swimming and diving championship on Monday, Feb. 18 at the University of Maine.

Why the basketball tournaments are so special to me

My first experience with high school basketball came back in middle school. It was the annual Dover Grammar School spelling bee, and I figured I was one of the favorites to move on to the Piscataquis County finals until that dream came to a crashing halt.

Dexter wrestling places second at Class B championship

The Tigers of Dexter wrestled hard, brought home two state champs, an Outstanding Wrestler award winner, and placed second as a team behind Wells High School -- who brought 11 individual wrestlers to the tournament. Wells scored 161.50 points -- to earn the program’s third consecutive state championship -- and Dexter followed with 99 points.

Opinion Browse Opinion

Column5 hours ago

Time to reject wrong-number robocalls

Considering that we live in perhaps the safest, least war-torn time in all of human history, it feels like a disservice to complain about minor inconveniences. After achieving in-box zero right after the holidays, the endless stream of spam emails I receive on a daily basis has me creeping back up closer to a 1,000 reminders that I need to take out the trash.

Letter1 day ago

Carbon tax bill would pay dividends

Climate change is a polarizing issue everywhere, including Congress. So far it has been impossible to pass bipartisan legislation to address it. Citizens Climate Lobby, a national nonpartisan organization, is working on this. They helped bring about last month’s introduction of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act by a bipartisan group in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Column3 days ago

Maine winter swimming is as close as the nearest indoor pool

Swimming and snorkeling are my favorite parts of living on a Maine pond. I am in the water as early as possible. Last year, April 22 was ice out day. I was in the water mid-May. My last day in the pond was September 30.

Letter5 days ago

Sangerville school board member announces decision to not seek re-election

But in view of my three years there and a different direction in my life, I will not seek re-election to the board. I would say someone with children in SAD 4 would be better suited as a board member.

Living Browse Living

PRYMCA Water Wellness program lowers pain and increases mobility

In February, the PRYMCA will begin new session of Water Wellness. This effective program is suitable for members of the community who have arthritis, joint replacements, fibromyalgia, or other neuromuscular complications. Participants are led through a series of warm-water exercises designed to help reduce pain and inflammation and promote increased flexibility and strength.

High school one-act plays at Center Theatre

The Center Theatre will be hosting Foxcroft Academy and Piscataquis Regional High School for two nights as students present their one-act plays before going to the regional one-act play competition. The plays will be performed on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m., admission will be by donation.

Piscataquis Regional Food Center inaugural winter carnival March 2

On Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PRFC is hosting the first annual Winter Carnival, a family-fun event to include carnival-style games, snow art “canvases,” and human foosball. The event will be held at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds, where a custom arena is being built to accommodate both a foosball tournament for teams as well as a $1 pay-to-play time for the community.

‘The Story of Stuff’ film and discussion March 1

Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will host its regular monthly free film and discussion night on from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 1 (the First Friday) at the Abbott Memorial Library.

Local calendar of events

Upcoming events around the region.

‘All the President’s Men’ free screening Feb. 27 at Center Theatre

The discussion was part of a project funded by the Maine Humanities Council which will also include a free showing of the movie of the same name at the Center Theatre at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27.