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

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

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County officials are hoping new technology will help emergency responders communicate better while saving thousands of dollars a month.

Photo courtesy of Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church, United Church of Christ QUARTER SALE FOR PAWS — On Sunday, Dec.

The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District is excited to announce they are entering into a three-year contract with the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy that focuses on implementation of stream restoration and aquatic organism passage projects.

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.

By David Marino Jr.

PORTLAND — The Maine Connectivity Authority has launched a critical public education campaign called Correct the Dots, a call to action for individuals to check their addresses on new federal internet maps and to file a challenge if the information is incorrect.

WASHINGTON, D.

Grade eight, high honors: Violet Chai, Ashley Ladd, Logan Small, and Anna Smith; honors: Connor Badger, Max Cook, Abbygail Ellis, Shyanna Gauvin, Krista Graves, Kolbie Guthrie, Peyton Herbest, Jaylynn Horne, Donovan McEwen, Christopher McGuinness, Paul Moulton-Gray, Charles Nagle, Jessa Plummer, Joshua Ray, Nichollas Small, and Darlyn Young.

The Maine Community Foundation Animal Welfare Grant Program has awarded 25 grants totaling $342,884 to organizations and projects across the state that advance animal welfare.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — It will cost Piscataquis County $5,940,331 to operate next year, plus $2,205,199 to run the unorganized territories.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County’s economic development group recognized William “Bill” Thompson — a Guilford resident, teacher and longtime Select Board member — as this year’s Warren “Pete” Myrick Award winner.

Grade 12, high honors: Abigail Conlogue, Brianna Rouleau, Evan Horne, Jessica Morton, Rachel Broussard, and William Sanborn IV; honors: Aileen Strout, Emily Trask, Frederick Shaw, Ida-Grace Lundin, Imaan Ali, Kalan Decker, Macie Veino, Mason Searles, Mickayla Pierce, Sky Guzy, Syreniti Grant, and Victoria Boislard.

It starts with a few sniffles, a scratchy throat, and a couple of sneezes.

By Mehr Sher Mainers learned earlier this year that the state is approximately 75 percent carbon neutral, based on a first-of-its-kind analysis of Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions.

MILO — This year, Dyer’s Hope House Food Pantry is tucking the holiday spirit into pretty home-made stockings.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff A major company that runs testing sites and medical laboratories across the country will take over much of Northern Light Health’s lab services operation next spring.