Year in Review – Part 1

Observer file photo
    INAUGURAL BALLOON FESTIVAL TAKES OFF — The Piscataquis Heritage Hot Air Balloon Festival was held June 1-3 and drew a nice crowd to Dover-Foxcroft. While the weekend’s hot and humid conditions may have not been ideal for flights, there was still plenty of interest in the unique aircraft.

Observer file photo
    BATTER UP — Brian Woodworth, with Owen Pratt in the background, flips pancakes during the annual maple breakfast on Maine Maple Sunday, March 23 at the fire station in Dover-Foxcroft. The meal is the single largest fundraiser for the annual Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming.

JANUARY
Legendary coach Ed Guiski passes away
    DEXTER — Edward V. Guiski, who spent 38 years in the Dexter Regional High School system as a teacher and coach, passed away at his home in Kennebunk after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.
D-F passes electronic sign ordinance
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Two months after residents approved amendments to the Land Use Ordinance, the Dover-Foxcroft Planning Board formally adopted rules to regulate electronic signs.
Big Moose Township land rezoning sought
    GREENVILLE — A Vermont couple applied to the Land Use Planning Commission to rezone part of a 38-acre tract in Big Moose Township so they could develop part of it into house lots.
Interest shown in shoe manufacturing
    DEXTER — More than 130 people showed up to fill out a survey at the town office on the prospective revival of a shoemaking operation in Dexter.

FEBRUARY
Monson town manager retiring
    MONSON — Town Manager Julie Anderson announced that she was retiring after 25 years of service to the community to spend more time with her family.

Longtime Mayo volunteer honored
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Ethel Hersey of Dover-Foxcroft, age 90, was recognized at a surprise reception for her 36 years of volunteer service at Mayo Regional Hospital.
Dyer announces candidacy for sheriff
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For the first time in 24 years, Sheriff John Goggin will have an opponent in the general election. Dover-Foxcroft Police Chief Dennis Dyer announced that he’ll run for the position as an independent.
J.D. Raymond donates vehicle to DFD
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — J.D. Raymond Transport donated a 2004 Ford box truck to the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department to be used as a rescue vehicle when larger trucks aren’t needed.

MARCH
Grant pending for Brownville business
    BROWNVILLE — The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council announced that it was working on a $375,000 grant for the General Store and More in Brownville that would allow them to expand the business and renovate their rental cabins.
Guilford residents vote down fireworks law
    GUILFORD — Residents of Guilford shot down two proposals at the annual town meeting to regulate fireworks in the community.
DRHS will start Jobs for Maine Graduates program
    DEXTER — A $300,000 grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation was announced to fund new Jobs for Maine Graduates programs at Lawrence High School in Fairfield and Dexter Regional High School.
Piscataquis SO concerned about drugged driving
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County sheriff’s deputies expressed concern over a spike in drugged driving arrests, mostly due to overuse of prescription medication.

APRIL
Lucy succeeds Smith in RSU 68
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — After five years on the job, RSU 68 Superintendent Alan Smith announced that he would leave the district at the end of the school year. The board hired Robert Lucy, the former assistant superintendent of the Bangor School system, on June 3 to succeed him.
SAD 41 board disputes status of Cook school
    MILO — School Administrative District 41 officials and the Maine Department of Education were at odds over the status of the Marion C. Cook School in Lagrange, which houses an alternative high school and behavioral program.
Flood damages Dexter streets
    DEXTER — A flash flood took out a culvert on Lincoln Street and a small bridge between Millside Fitness and the Grist Mill Museum in Dexter.
Sebec woman named Mrs. Maine America
    SEBEC — Mrs. Sebec — Liza Pembroke Smith — was crowned Mrs. Maine America for 2014 at the annual pageant in Portland.
MAY
D-F board endorses three development grants
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Three Community Development Block Grant programs were endorsed by the Dover-Foxcroft Board of Selectmen including a $450,000 application from a firm that wants to make wood fiber-based cleaning cloths in the former Creative Apparel plant.
McCarthy-Clark named county Teacher of the Year
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Dyan McCarthy-Clark, who teaches grade 6-8 social studies at SeDoMoCha Middle School, was honored as Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year.
Lawsuit filed over Sangerville election
    SANGERVILLE — Irving McNaughton, who lost a race for Sangerville selectman to incumbent Melissa Randall by one vote, filed a civil lawsuit against her claiming irregularities in the voting process.
Orton honored by Valley Grange
    GUILFORD — Julie Orton, the retiring principal of Piscataquis Community Elementary School, was honored as Valley Grange Citizen of the Year.
JUNE
Sangerville celebrates in style
    SANGERVILLE — Despite occasional showers, a huge crowd — including Gov. Paul LePage and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins — packed the streets of Sangerville to observe the town’s 200th birthday.
D-F votes “no” on E-W highway
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — W. Ernie Thomas, Elwood W. Edgerly and Stephen Grammont were the top three finishers among six candidates for the Dover-Foxcroft Board of Selectmen. Voters also validated the school budget and enacted a moratorium on construction of a “private distribution corridor” through the community.
Hundreds participate in Dexter race-walk
    DEXTER — The fourth annual Amy, Coty and Monica 5K Race-Walk in Dexter raised over $14,500 for programs to help curb domestic violence.
Whoopie Pie Festival packs D-F
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The fifth annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft drew an estimated 7,500 people to the community to celebrate Maine’s “official treat.”

Observer file photo
    PISCATAQUIS COUNTY’S TOP SPELLER — SeDoMoCha Middle School sixth-grader Steffi Victoria represented Piscataquis County at the Maine State Spelling Bee on March 22 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. 

Observer file photo
    DOWNEAST DICKERING — Nate Knight (left), Clint Rohdin and Bruce Thomas (not pictured) starred in several episodes of the History Channel’s “Downeast Dickering” last summer.