DOVER-FOXCROFT — When a minor earthquake shook Sebec more than a week ago, Piscataquis County’s Emergency Management Agency director couldn’t get online to notify and update residents because of the spotty internet where she lives.

The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council has hired a new executive director at a time when big decisions that will affect the county’s future are pending.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Like many other organizations across the state and beyond, those involved with Partners for Peace — the domestic violence resource center for Piscataquis and Penobscot counties — did their best to navigate the pandemic.

Contributed photo DIP IN SCHOODIC LAKE – The ice was barely out of Schoodic Lake on Sunday when the Brownville Days Committee sponsored the first Schoodic Lake Polar Dip to benefit events set for July 22-24.

By Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News Staff LAGRANGE – The illegal killing of a black bear in the Penobscot County town of LaGrange is under investigation by the Maine Warden Service.

Photo courtesy of Maine Highlands FCU BENEFIT SUNFLOWERS – Monty Moose, mascot for Maine Highlands FCU, poses in Dover-Foxcroft with several “sunflowers” that were sold to raise funds for Ukraine.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Nearly 1,000 volunteers were a key part of the effort last year to set up and staff COVID-19 vaccination clinics across the 10-hospital Northern Light Health network.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis residents in rural areas who don’t have internet could soon be connected under a new county program.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County Commissioners, frustrated with the county’s economic development council’s former leader and his focus on broadband, debated this week whether to cut the group’s funding.

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff Pan Am Railways, Maine’s largest rail operator, will merge with Jacksonville, Florida-based CSX Transportation, the fourth-largest rail transportation company in the U.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — A man was taken to a local hospital but in good condition after his pacemaker shocked him at a State House rally on April 11  that police said likely happened because of interference from a sound system.

Photo courtesy of Center Theatre SUNFLOWER WINNER – Artist Laurie Sproul of Brownville gives her hand-carved sunflower to Clayton Cole from Corinth.

Photo courtesy of Maine Highlands FCU ENDING HUNGER DONATION – Darcie Burch with Maine Highlands FCU presented a donation to John Cram with Dyer’s Hope House in Milo on April 8.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff The National Guard members brought in as reinforcements while Maine hospitals buckled under a surge in COVID-19 cases and staff absences have departed, and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide is at less than a quarter of its mid-January peak.

DOVER-FOXCROFT – The show must go on! After a two-year hiatus, Pine Tree Hospice’s 26th annual Variety Show is back on Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.

MILO – Officials from SAD 41 and three other area school districts continue to work on a regional comprehensive high school project.

The Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency has hired a husband and wife team to update a plan that helps communities prevent and deal with natural and human-caused disasters.

In December the State of Maine was recognized for its success in patient safety measures by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization focused on health care safety and quality.