Nominations are now open for the 2023 County Teachers of the Year and 2024 State Teacher of the Year.

DEXTER — For the safety of all involved, the fishing portion of the Dexter Fish & Game Association’s annual Ice Fishing Derby that had been scheduled for this weekend has been canceled due to poor ice conditions on Lake Wassookeag.

ORONO — State food safety specialist and UMaine alumnus Jason Bolton has been named associate dean at University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

By Larry Mahoney and Adam Robinson, Bangor Daily News Staff During a boys basketball game at Calais High School, a player on the opposing team who had donated blood earlier in the day passed out on the court.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff Zachary Brandmeir is the first independent to serve as a Penobscot County Probate Court judge.

SKOWHEGAN — Skowhegan Savings celebrated the holiday season with their second annual “Season of Giving” by donating $20,000 to 20 local nonprofits.

By WGME An internal power failure at two data centers for the 911 call system temporarily affected 12 of 24 public safety service organizations in Maine on Jan.

DOVER-FOXCROFT— A Dover-Foxcroft family with a newborn is without a home after a fire consumed their two-story house just days into the new year.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff The Bangor region’s largest health care system will turn to a national company to manage most behind-the-scenes administrative functions, in one of Northern Light Health’s latest money-saving moves to bounce back from the financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Recent moves by the Bangor region’s largest health care system to scale back or sell off services signal that Northern Light Health is facing some of the same financial headwinds as health care systems across the U.

Bangor Daily News file photo AUGERING WELL — Space is a premium these days at Frye Cove on Lake Wassookeag as fishermen stand nearly shoulder to shoulder, all seeking that trophy fish.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff Maureen Whitehouse likes to hear the whole story.

AUGUSTA — Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, announced Senate committee assignments for the 131st Maine Legislature.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School CHRISTMAS FOOD BOXES — Early on the morning of Dec.

Northern Light Home Care & Hospice understands how difficult it can be when you are missing a loved one, particularly around the holiday season.

Photo courtesy of Teresa Brzustowicz and Nichole Webber AUTHOR VISIT — Students and staff at Dexter Regional High School got a visit from author Paul Doiron on Dec 1.

Grade 8, high honors – habits of work: Vera Alexander, Ethan Campbell, Mellesse Grant, Tristan Hopkins-Watrous, Pace Jarrett, Grace Jiang, Madison LaGross, Bodhi Langlais, Jonathan Rock, and Ian Saunders; honors – habits of work: Gavin Bavelaar, Ella-marie Buschmann, Makenzie Curtis, Landen Gustin, and Baylee Packard; high honors – academic: Vera Alexander, Mellesse Grant, Grace Jiang, Ian Saunders; honors – academic: Landan Adams, Jaclyn Addington, Gavin Bavelaar, and Lauren Thompson.

Observer photo/Keri Foster FIND THE SHOP LOCAL TREE WINNER — Bill Cleaves of Sangerville is the grand prize winner of the Piscataquis Observer’s annual Find the Shop Local Tree contest.