A week after a $11,784,238 RSU 68 budget for the 2019-20 academic year was approved by a combined count of 249-50 across the four district communities, the school board set the assessments for Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft and Monson and Sebec during a June 18 meeting at the SeDoMoCha School.

This is the time of year when Maine’s state regional wildlife biologists examine their deer data in each of their wildlife management districts (WMDs) and make recommendations for the issuance of any-deer or doe permits in their respective districts.

An entirely new camping experience will be offered at state parks throughout Maine this summer, and it involves spacious canvas tents, stylish picnic areas and tiny wood stoves that will keep campers warm on chilly nights.

The Penobscot Valley High School softball team did some extra preparation to face ace Greenville pitcher Halle Pelletier in Saturday’s Class D softball state championship game.

The Bulldogs received a combined five-hitter from junior lefty Lauria LeBlanc and freshman right Brooke McKenney en route to a 7-1 victory.

Most players would be elated about being chosen to an all-conference second team as a freshman. Not Dexter High School softball pitcher Avery Herrick, who was a Penobscot Valley Conference Class C all-star selection a year ago.

On Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. the Portland Sea Dogs will take Hadlock Field as The Maine Whoopie Pies to kick off Maine Whoopie Pie Weekend. The weekend, which was recently recognized by the Maine Legislature, celebrates the taste of Maine's Official State Treat, the whoopie pie.

Pre-Halloween snow last fall turned many of Maine high schools’ grass athletic fields into slippery, muddy messes by the time the soccer playoffs began.

Avery Herrick got a second chance to swing the bat in the eighth inning of Dexter’s Class C North championship game against Narraguagus of Harrington after the catcher couldn’t snare her high, foul popup behind the plate. The sophomore pitcher took full advantage.

A number of spring athletes from across the region received postseason recognition from the Penobscot Valley Conference (PVC).

Unlike many of the hundreds of eager hunters in the crowd on Saturday afternoon, Alan Baron of Sanford wasn’t too nervous about hearing his name read aloud during the Maine Moose Permit Lottery, which was held at Cabela’s.

Penquis Valley High School senior Cymeria Robshaw concluded her prep track career by taking part in the long and triple jumps for the second year in a row, along with the other top performers from the six states, at the 74th New England Interscholastic Outdoor Track and Field Championship on June 8 at Thornton Academy.

Class B and C North and Class D South baseball and softball postseason results.

Matthew Spooner has been hired as the director of operations for the soon to be completed Piscataquis County Ice Arena (PICA). He will start the new position July 1 as the arena is on target to open in September.

Ah … spring – that elusive season is finally here, a time when thoughts turn to playing outside on green grass. And there’s nothing like a good round of golf to have some fun and exercise with friends or family. The Squaw Mountain Village Golf Course on Route 15 just north of Greenville Junction is open for the season and under new management.

“Did the last bear referendum affect you in any way personally?” she asked. That question was unexpected. It caught me off guard. A good question, though. It took me back in time to the highly-charged bear referendum, when Maine voters decided the fate of recreational bear hunting as we know it.

The Center Coffee House held its fifth annual Jacked Up 5K on the morning of Saturday, June 1 along 3.1 miles of River and Essex streets and the Vaughn Road. through town.

Penquis Valley High School senior Cymeria Robshaw won the triple jump for the second year in a row and she came in second in both the 100-meter dash and long jump at the 2019 Class C Outdoor Track & Field Championship on June 1 at Mt. Blue High School.