It is absolutely amazing and so gratifying how the entire community comes together every year to provide for the children of our area at Christmas. Now an unexpected crisis is at our doorstep.

With an effort to support social distancing and reduce potential exposure to COVID-19 within the Piscataquis community, the Piscataquis Regional YMCA announced that the facility will close on Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27.

The Center Theatre announced Monday that it is closing in an effort to slow the spread of COVID 19. According to an announcement posted on the website, "We are joining many other local organizations who are taking action to slow the spread of COVID 19 to give our healthcare systems and supporting infrastructure a chance to cope with this global pandemic. We do this not out of fear but from a sense of shared responsibility for the health and welfare of our community."

Maine Gov. Janet Mills declared a civil emergency on Sunday as the state announced seven confirmed positive tests of the coronavirus with another five likely cases over four days, including a couple that lives in a Falmouth retirement community.

Four of the region’s five school districts will be closed for the next two weeks in response to the coronavirus. The Dexter-based SAD 46 will be closed on Monday, March 16 and that evening the school board is set to meet to decide whether the district should join others in making a similar decision on a prolonged closure.

The board of directors for Three Rivers Kiwanis of Milo/Brownville have decided to suspend meetings for Wednesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 25. Due to the Covid-19 virus the board is taking every precaution to keep people safe and healthy.

The woods and waters of what is now Piscataquis and Aroostook counties were largely uncharted territory for the people of European descent in Maine in the years prior to statehood in 1820.

Roughly half or more of all Maine adults -- particularly older and rural people -- are at risk of developing serious illnesses if they contract the new coronavirus, making the state’s older population one of the most vulnerable in the U.S. to the virus.

A 42-year-old Bangor man died on March 8 after he was unable to stop at a snowmobile trail intersection and crashed into the trees.

The Piscataquis Regional YMCA is pleased to announce the appointment of Mandy Adams as its new executive director/CEO, effective March 11. Adams was selected by the Y’s CEO search committee, following a 3-month search.

To protect staff and constituents, the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District will be closing its office after 4:30 PM on Friday, March 13 and will be telecommuting starting Monday March 16. PCSWCD plans to reopen our office at 8 AM on Monday, March 30. If this date needs to be adjusted, we will communicate this.

RSU 68 officials are looking at an approximate 1.3 percent budget increase, in both the spending plan total and the tax commitment to the four district communities.

Connor DiAngelo of Greenville is this year’s Piscataquis County recipient of the Legislature’s $1,000 Memorial Scholarship. DiAngelo is majoring in finance and financial economics at the University of Maine. He also received the scholarship in 2019.

On Wednesday, March 11, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon will host a bean supper in Dover-Foxcroft beginning at 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and free to attend. The menu will include baked beans, hot dogs, brown bread, cole slaw, desserts and beverages for attendees. The event will be held at The Commons at Central Hall, 152 East Main St.

Today, after yet another report of a monster brook trout coming from the state’s largest lake, I’m changing my stance a bit and offering up some enthusiastic advice. If you want to catch the fish of a lifetime, you might want to consider Moosehead Lake.

The program can still reverse field and stay at the 11-player game, but Dexter Regional High School is looking to be among a number of Maine high school football teams -- including much of the Little Ten Conference (LTC)/Class  D North -- shifting to 8-man football when the 2020 season kicks off in August. The SAD 46 school board supported the transition with a formal motion during a March 4 meeting at the Ridge View Community School. A timeline would be determined by the superintendent and principal.

"I'd go, 'Well, we're going fishing this weekend. We can't do that,'" Brann said. For 11 years, that excuse worked. But this year, with an annual fishing vacation to Moosehead Lake with three other couples looming, Collins made Brann a deal he couldn't refuse.

Jim Young reached out to share his story and a photo of the impressive brookie he caught while fishing Moosehead Lake recently. The monster squaretail weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 25 inches long. The fish was also 18 inches around at its widest point.