Ten-year-old Slade Dauphinee of Rockwood is the winner in the youth big deer contest sponsored by KC’s Country Store of Parkman. Dauphinee hunted all season and brought in this 195-pound, 6-point monster with just a few days remaining in muzzleloader season.

Bruce Poliquin will, and must, continue his challenge to the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) system and the constitutionality of the results. He will, because it is his choice as a citizen of this Republic and he has the freedom to do so. He must, because he is a Representative of the voters in the 2nd Congressional District (CD2) who, 20,000 strong, voted against the RCV and feel disenfranchised by the results of the new voting system.

Have I told you how Eileen met Santa Claus? December 9, 2016 (Was it that long ago?) Eileen and I were in Augusta, Maine shopping, browsing, and visiting her parents’ gravesite at Central Maine Veterans Cemetery. The day was overcast, sunshine breaking through the clouds now and then, but not enough to mitigate the chilly mid-20s temperature, 12 mph wind combination.

Over 80 beautiful parrots will celebrate the holidays at a free open house on Saturday, Dec. 29 from noon to 4 p.m. at Siesta Sanctuary, 104 Brown Road. There is no snow date.

Last week’s announcement of the first Maine Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at the Class B, C and D North tournament site, the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, is interesting, timely, beneficial, and exciting

Upcoming events around the region.

Early on the morning of Dec. 15, Dexter Regional High School student government and Key Club members, along with several Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis members, gathered at P&L Country Market to assemble and wrap 52 Christmas food boxes to be given to area families.

The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team hosted its home opener Thursday, Dec. 13. Three teams from the Penobscot Valley Conference competed with the Ponies, Bucksport, Ellsworth, and Calais. This turned out to be a special night as Foxcroft senior Dustin Simmons reached a great personal milestone with his 100th career victory.

Three Rivers Kiwanis will be serving Christmas dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 25 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Kiwanis Headquarters building, 15 Harris Pond Road, off Park Street. The Penquis Valley High School Key Club will be helping serve along with many volunteers from the community.

When Jamie Russell informed his players on the Central of Corinth girls’ basketball team that they would be playing a game at the Cross Insurance Center during the upcoming holiday break, the Red Devils reacted like they had just opened an extra Christmas present.