DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis residents in rural areas who don’t have internet could soon be connected under a new county program.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County Commissioners, frustrated with the county’s economic development council’s former leader and his focus on broadband, debated this week whether to cut the group’s funding.

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff Pan Am Railways, Maine’s largest rail operator, will merge with Jacksonville, Florida-based CSX Transportation, the fourth-largest rail transportation company in the U.

HAMPDEN – CUSO Home Lending, a licensed mortgage company owned by credit unions and The Maine Credit Union League, has announced that they have signed a contract with MaineStream Finance to manage the servicing of their current portfolio of loans and take on servicing of any new loans they close going forward.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Each month the SeDoMoCha School recognizes “Students in the Spotlight” celebrating pupils from kindergarten to grade 8 and a staff member who teachers and staff have determined best demonstrate a specific positive attribute or characteristic chosen for the timeframe from the Habits of Mind (a set of life skills for educators and parents).

DOVER-FOXCROFT – SeDoMoCha Elementary School’s drama program Stageworks, Jr.

DEXTER — An Orneville man is facing multiple charges after allegedly kidnapping his 4-year-old son from his mother-in-law’s home and fleeing in a vehicle, then returning for money and trying to take his daughter.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are teaming up for PCSWCD’s spring installment of our Families in the Outdoors program, Fisheries Day.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — A man was taken to a local hospital but in good condition after his pacemaker shocked him at a State House rally on April 11  that police said likely happened because of interference from a sound system.

GUILFORD — The SAD 4 school board approved a 2022-23 budget totaling $7,772,120 during an April 12 meeting at Piscataquis Community Elementary School.

Photo courtesy of Maine Highlands FCU FOOD CENTER CONTRIBUTION – Kelly Sirimoglu, left, of the Piscataquis Regional Food Center received a check from Danielle Mailloux with Maine Highlands FCU.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The annual Whoopie Pie Festival, which draws thousands to downtown Dover-Foxcroft each summer, is returning on June 25 — and yes, that includes a whoopie pie eating contest.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Three major hospital construction projects will cost 40 percent more than initially thought as Northern Light Health encounters steep increases to the cost of labor and building materials.

Photo courtesy of Center Theatre SUNFLOWER WINNER – Artist Laurie Sproul of Brownville gives her hand-carved sunflower to Clayton Cole from Corinth.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School STUDENTS OF THE MONTH – Dexter Regional High School is pleased to announce the March Students of the Month as selected by the faculty and staff for being exemplary students.

Photo courtesy of Maine Highlands FCU ENDING HUNGER DONATION – Darcie Burch with Maine Highlands FCU presented a donation to John Cram with Dyer’s Hope House in Milo on April 8.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff The National Guard members brought in as reinforcements while Maine hospitals buckled under a surge in COVID-19 cases and staff absences have departed, and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide is at less than a quarter of its mid-January peak.

MONSON – Frontline Arts,’ a New Jersey based veteran-led art program, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Frontline Paper project with an exhibition at the Monson Arts Gallery through May 8.