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.

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.

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.

Rep. Paul Stearns, R-Guilford is pleased to announce that he has recently received an endorsement from the Maine Conservation Voters Action Fund.

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.

Officials who oversee development in the state’s Unorganized Territory were urged June 20 to not make rule changes that critics say could create sprawl in the Maine woods and undermine development in northern municipalities.

It is with great pleasure that the Baxter State Park Authority announces the appointment of its new park director, Eben Sypitkowski. Sypitkowski is currently serving as Baxter State Park's resource manager and is managing its Scientific Forest Management Area. He brings knowledge and experience to the role of director, and a proven passion for upholding the Baxter Trusts and serving its mission.

Local solar energy entrepreneur Tyler Adkins announced his independent campaign to represent District 119 in the Maine House of Representatives. House District 119 includes Beaver Cove, Greenville, Shirley, Monson, Abbot, Parkman, Sangerville, Guilford, Willimantic, Bowerbank and Sebec, plus the unorganized territories of Blanchard Township, Northeast Piscataquis (including Barnard and Elliottsville Townships) and Northwest Piscataquis.

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.

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.

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.

For the last year in-town Monson has been undergoing many changes through the Portland-based Libra Foundation. The organization has purchased more than 20 properties along Main Street and across town, including the former Monson Elementary School that most recently served as a community center, and many of the buildings have been torn down or are in the renovation process for the purpose of transforming the community into the Monson Arts artists’ colony as part of the foundation’s mission of making contributions to worthy causes across Maine to spur economic and creative growth.

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.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Angus King, I-Maine announced that a combined total of $2.35 million in federal funding has been awarded to five recipients in Maine to clean up and redevelop brownfield sites. Among the recipients is the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, which has a $350,000 allocation.

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.

A Superior Court judge has denied a new trial to a Guilford man serving two life sentences for the 1999 execution-style slayings of his ex-girlfriend and the toddler she was babysitting.