Reactions on the Piscataquis Observer Facebook page to last week's column are interesting. Especially comments critical of my praise for the new campaign to repeal ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Maine. A few criticisms referenced parts of Maine history with which I was unfamiliar, so I did some digging on the internet for a better understanding.

The typical snowmobilers were older than they used to be, but helped inject $606 million into Maine’s economy last winter, according to the first economic study of the state’s snowmobile industry in 22 years.

Pine Tree Hospice participated in the 17th annual Maine Nonprofit Day at the Statehouse on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Nonprofit Day provides an opportunity for nonprofits and government to assert their commitment to working together in order to creatively, efficiently and effectively serve the people of Maine.

From 7-10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 there will be a Contra Dance at The Commons at Central Hall. This a change, for this month only, from our usual second Fridays.

A Monson resident is working to combat plastic pollution by launching a small-scale, community-based plastic recycling workshop called Precious Plastic Monson. Precious Plastic Monson is currently crowdfunding (fundraising many small amounts of money from a large number of people) to purchase a set of plastic recycling machines that will shred collected plastic, melt it and remold it into new products.

For anyone qualified and interested in a fulfilling and challenging career as a Maine Game Warden, the opportunities over the next few years will never be better. According to Warden Service spokesman Sgt. John MacDonald, there is among the warden ranks a large number of senior wardens who will be eligible for retirement in the near future.

But it was an issue that continues to be central to the ongoing story of the United States -- the enslavement of kidnapped African people -- that is irrevocably tied to Maine’s independence, thanks to an 1820 federal agreement known as the Missouri Compromise.

A former police officer in Penobscot County has sued the county’s top criminal prosecutor, claiming she relied on false information in putting him on a list of police officers who are potentially unreliable trial witnesses.

Five Foxcroft Academy boys and one Piscataquis Community High School girl took part in the 2020 Class B indoor track and field championships on Feb. 15 at Bates College.

Feb. 15: All of our trails have been groomed and are in great shape. Unfortunately last night our track truck broke down and appears to be unrepairable for the rest of the season. We will continue to groom with our trail sleds and drags.