Have you heard the news? Foxcroft Academy is an IB World School. Our inaugural first semester is in the rearview mirror and we are on to the second semester filled with challenging learning and new experiences. If you’re interested in learning more and possibly joining the program, there will be an informational meeting for students and parents/guardians about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at 6 p.m. n Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Foxcroft Academy in Room 211 (the Washburn Parkman Room).

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville visited the home of Phyllis and Harlan Spaulding of Dover-Foxcroft and presented him with an Honorable Service Coin and a certificate from the State of Maine.

Eighth-grader Izzy Story earned top honors at the 10th annual SeDoMoCha Middle School District Spelling Bee on the evening of Jan. 23. Story will now go on to represent Piscataquis County at the Maine State Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Portland Press Herald and scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, March 21 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.

Dover-Foxcroft native Jesse Havea -- best known among her many fans as the high-energy New York City drag queen Brita Filter -- is among the 13 queens announced for season 12 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” set to premiere Feb. 28 on VH1.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine recently spent the day in Piscataquis County to visit small businesses, speaking with folks at the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, and learning more about the Piscataquis Regional Food Center in Dover-Foxcroft.

Everybody, and everything, loves a smelt. The sleek, silver fish -- officially known as a “rainbow smelt” -- is prevalent in many lakes and ponds, and is the preferred food of landlocked salmon and other larger fish. In streams, they might be gobbled up by opportunistic mammals or birds. And humans? Well, if we’re not using them as bait to catch other fish, we eat ‘em, too.

The Piscataquis County Commissioners approved the hiring of two people to fill open positions with the sheriff’s office and district attorney’s office during a Jan. 21 meeting.

On Monday, Jan. 21 the United Bikers of Maine, Piscataquis County presented Heather Sylvia, of PAWS in Milo, with a check for $850 at the Bear’s Den in Dover-Foxcroft.

The honorees are Caleb Leighton, kindergarten; Dahlia Stone, grade 1; Jameson Kennedy, grade 2;  Khloey Merrill, grade 3; Jack Gallagher, grade 4; Noah Bury, elementary unified arts; Kaycie Bishop, grade 5; Grayson Bruyette, grade 6; Eli Lane, grade 7; Karson Tibbetts, grade 8; and  Jacob Johnson, middle school unified arts.

For 15 years Joanne Adkins has owned and operated the Wild Monkey Salon on West Main Street. On Dec. 1, 2019 the business was purchased by Miranda Nicole Durant, from Guilford, who renamed it Primpin’, Ain’t Easy or simply Primpin’.

State regulators have cleared the way for Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft to join Northern Light Health, the Brewer-based health system that includes nine other hospitals stretching from Portland to Presque Isle.

Maine’s ATV task force, created by Gov. Janet Mills to address opportunities and issues associated with increasing ATV registrations, submitted a report and recommendations to the governor, which include limits on ATV sizes and weights and recognizes the importance of private landowners who allow public use of their land.

SAD 4 will continue to be a part of the PVAEC for the near future as the school board voted to extend its agreement with the Cooperative through the end of the 2022-23 academic year during a Jan. 14 meeting at PCHS. SAD 4 costs will be determined and the funds will be part of the next three school budgets.

Gov. Janet Mills allowed the passage of Rep. Norman Higgins’, I-Dover Foxcroft bill to create a comprehensive career & technical education system to examine a comprehensive 4-year high school career & technical education program.

The Maine Department of Transportation released a three-year road and bridge funding plan on Tuesday, Jan. 14 that will use more money to fund fewer projects, a symptom of rising construction costs and chronic underfunding of the state system.

It’s always exciting to change the calendar from December to January. A new year is filled with potential and the chance to start fresh. And after the busy holidays filled with celebrations and tables of delicious treats, it’s not surprising that, according to a 2019 survey, 65 percent of people resolved to exercise more with the New Year

Amid all the wild words and phrases that weather reporters bandy about during the winter -- polar vortex, bombogenesis -- there’s one panic-inducing term that dates back hundreds of years, predating modern-day snowmageddons: nor’easter.

Rep. Norman Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft announces his candidacy for a fourth term in the Maine Legislature.