Even as health insurance companies report record profits, I regularly read about the growing crisis of Surprise Medical Billing (SMB). It seems implausible that these two trends are somehow unrelated. SMB occurs when health insurers won’t pay for medical care and, instead, those costs are shunted off to patients who can scarcely afford them. So are the insurance companies pocketing more profits at the expense of patients they claim to insure? It would certainly appear so.

On Nov. 19 the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program board voted unanimously to allocate $105,000 to the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation’s (MLREDC) project to acquire the last remaining greenspace in downtown Greenville to conserve it as a permanent public park with direct access to Moosehead Lake for everyone to enjoy. The LMF’s commitment brings the MLREDC’s fundraising campaign to $216,000 on the way toward its goal of $250,000 to purchase the 3 Lakeview Street property and develop the site and the docking system plus an additional $40,000 goal to establish a reserve fund for annual maintenance.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Friday night was opening night for The Center Theatre and the Slightly Off-Center Players’ production of “Little Women the Broadway Musical.

Dexter Regional High School Students do their part to help save lives. Students recently donated blood at a drive with the American Red Cross and sponsored by Dexter Regional High School student government.

Poor dental health impacts both individuals and their families. Being able to provide and take care of a family becomes increasingly difficult when someone is suffering.

Brunswick High School boys basketball coach Todd Hanson reached a milestone, earning his 300th career victory as the Dragons scored a 47-40 victory at Yarmouth. The Dover-Foxcroft native is in his 24th year at Brunswick, his only head coaching stop.

Embracing new technology, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and the Maine Forest Service are in the process of purchasing up to 20 drones to help monitor and map the state’s natural resources.

In general, Maine citizens need a better understanding of how government works, and more involvement in choosing and monitoring their elected officials. Limiting by law the number of terms one person can serve consecutive and/or total terms in office (aka term limits) has the opposite effect on citizens. As such, I oppose mandatory term limits for our elected officials.

It was my honor to present to retired First Sgt. Jeff Weatherbee the Maine Honorable Service Coin,” Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, left, said.

This past deer season a 7-year-old deer hunter made the front page of the Bangor Daily News – above the fold! She had a reason to  smile. With the help of her grandfather, the young girl had bagged a trophy buck that will earn her the right to wear a Biggest-Bucks-in-Maine patch.