U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Angus King, I-Maine announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Maine Superior Court Justice Lance Walker, a native of Piscataquis County, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. His nomination will now be considered by the full Senate.

The handcuffed man accused of stealing a Dexter police cruiser in May was indicted Wednesday, June 27 on unrelated charges for allegedly stealing a car in January. A Penobscot County grand jury indicted Tyler D. Tibbetts, 22, on two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, driving after his license was revoked and attaching false plates, according to the Penobscot County District Attorney’s office.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine recently met with Kaitlin Young, general and vocal music teacher at SeDoMoCha Elementary and Middle School, in her Washington, D.C., office. Young is the recipient of the 2018 Maine Teacher of the Year Award. She has taught at the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft for eight years and was previously named the 2017 Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year.

Students at the SeDoMoCha School will have a new principal when they return to classes in several months as the RSU 68 board of directors unanimously (7-0) voted to employ Ridge View Community School of Dexter Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Adam Gudroe during a June 19 meeting.

In order to get started to fulfill its mission of helping end food insecurity and increase the vitality of the agricultural economy of Dover-Foxcroft and surrounding communities, the Piscataquis Regional Food Center (PRFC) is applying for $50,000 in federal funding through the 2018 USDA Rural Development Community Facilities grant program. As part of the application process, a public hearing was held during the selectmen’s meeting on June 18.

The Center Theatre and lead sponsor Shaw's Supermarket announced that 7,000 people attended the 2018 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 23. The festival brings bakers from around the state together with artists, crafters, and vendors to celebrate the whoopie pie, Maine's Official State Treat.

Last month three bids for constructing a Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) storage garage all came in multiple times more than the project budget. The structure now has gone out to bid again with some revisions to the specs.

Foxcroft Academy is embarking on a fundraising campaign for the construction of a new field house on campus, boosted by a lead commitment of $2 million from the Libra Foundation.

Tina Gerickont of Cambridge is the grand prize winner in the Piscataquis Observer’s annual Find the Whoopie Pie Contest. Gerickont was chosen from a pool of 10 weekly winners in which entrants successfully located a whoopie pie hidden in one of that week’s advertisements.

Prices for wood to build and renovate houses have as much as doubled over the past six months, increasing costs for consumers but boosting Maine’s softwood sales and signaling a turnaround in that segment of the forestry market, industry experts say.

A brand new 1,700-square foot showroom for the kitchen, bath and flooring offerings at Dave’s World was formally revealed to the public during a grand opening celebration with the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce on the evening of June 14.

SeDoMoCha Middle School sixth-grader Jasmine Lockwood is the state-level winner for grades 4-6 in the Letters About Literature contest. Lockwood’s letter to the author of “Too Tought to Hurt” came in first in a field of 833 submissions, which were narrowed to approximately 50 finalists as part of three rounds of judging.

Older students at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School put their art skills to the test while thinking about the proper way to travel to and from classes by taking part in the National School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

The Board of Directors and CEO Diane Dickerson are proud to announce some management additions and changes at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA. Janna Loureiro Wasel has been chosen to become the director of operations and development.

Results for Dover-Foxcroft, RSU 68 and SAD 46 referendums on June 12.

Anthony Levensalor, center, snips the ceremonial ribbon for Gym Dad Ironworks on West Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft on June 9 during a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Last month three bids for building a Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) storage garage all came in multiple times more than the project budget. The structure will now be going out to bid again, this time with some revisions to the specs.

The Dave’s World team is excited to reveal the new showroom. The grand opening will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. as the Piscataquis Chamber will hold the event for members and the community to experience the new showroom for themselves. Guests can expect to find refreshments including hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and great door prizes. RSVPs by June 11 to 564-7533 are appreciated but not required.