Piscataquis Observer

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Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom LUNCH WITH THE SHERIFF -- Piscataquis County Sheriff Bob Young chats with Piscataquis Community Elementary School kindergarteners during a Thanksgiving lunch in 2019. Young has announced that he will not seek reelection when his term expires at the end of 2026 after eight years as sheriff and decades in law enforcement.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom LUNCH WITH THE SHERIFF -- Piscataquis County Sheriff Bob Young chats with Piscataquis Community Elementary School kindergarteners during a Thanksgiving lunch in 2019. Young has announced that he will not seek reelection when his term expires at the end of 2026 after eight years as sheriff and decades in law enforcement.

Sheriff Young won’t seek reelection

January 8, 2026

By Bridget Huber, Bangor Daily News Staff Piscataquis County Sheriff Bob Young will not seek reelection, he announced Jan. 8 in a message on his office’s Facebook page.

News BrowseNews

Ridge View Community School honor roll

Grade eight habits of work honors: Elijah Garland, Aiden Hamilton, Ava Kimball, Bentley Roderick, Addyson Thompson, Karter Vega; high honors: Peyton Hill, Cierra Canfield, Cameron Cobb, Sophie Denty, Blake Dodge, Makayla Holcomb, Kelsey Roy, Emma Spizuoco.

What to do with ash from your wood stove

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor Throughout winter, when people are burning wood stoves, many households end up with piles of ashes, and most simply dump them in the woods or trash.

The most expensive homes sold in each Maine county last year

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s most extravagant properties have attracted famous names such as John Travolta and Martha Stewart for decades.

Cushing reelected as Penobscot County Commissioners chair

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff BANGOR — Andre Cushing was reelected chair of the Penobscot County Commissioners with a 2-1 vote at the commissioners meeting on Jan.

What’s next for a bill that would let Maine counties declare bankruptcy

By Daniel O’Connor, Bangor Daily News Staff It’s the first week of the new legislative session, but the clock is already ticking on a bill that would allow Maine counties and municipalities to declare bankruptcy if they default on their debts — something that could happen within weeks in Washington County.

RSU 68 officials start work on 2026-27 budget

SEBEC — A week into the new year, RSU 68 officials are working on developing the budget for the 2026-27 academic year.

Sports BrowseSports

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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HEIGHT ADVANTAGE — Penquis sophomore Jake Haffenreffer uses a 9-inch difference in height to shoot over Bangor Christian junior Drake Nash during the second quarter of a Jan. 3 game in Milo, to the left is Penquis senior Michael Coburn. Bangor Christian won 63-28.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom HEIGHT ADVANTAGE — Penquis sophomore Jake Haffenreffer uses a 9-inch difference in height to shoot over Bangor Christian junior Drake Nash during the second quarter of a Jan. 3 game in Milo, to the left is Penquis senior Michael Coburn. Bangor Christian won 63-28.

Bangor Christian tops Penquis in two meetings of Patriots

January 5, 2026

MILO — The Bangor Christian School swept a girls/boys afternoon doubleheader at Penquis Valley High School on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Three area boys win indoor track events

ORONO — Three male area athletes won events at a Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League meet on the morning of Saturday, Jan.

Maine anglers kick off the new year on the ice

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor Early ice fishing opportunities in Maine exist in December on specific lakes and ponds, but the official statewide season typically begins Jan 1.

Opinion BrowseOpinion

I sat in someone else’s tree stand — and then this happened

Trump’s worldview leaves US isolated and less safe

To the Editor; It is not the 19th century and the Monroe Doctrine is not relevant in 2026.

AARP Maine’s News You Can Use

By Joyce Bucciantini, AARP Maine community outreach volunteer Happy New Year 2026! Along with the new year, many people make New Year’s resolutions.

This was the most important lesson of my guiding career

By John Floyd It was a foggy, damp October morning deep in the North Maine Woods, the second day of the annual Maine cow moose hunt.

Why this angler avoids ice fishing for brook trout

By Al Raychard Our kind and generous outdoors editor, Susan Bard, recently asked if I do any early season ice fishing for brook trout.

Why were so many deer permits issued in Maine this year?

Living BrowseLiving

Calendar of events

Recurring Events Mondays DEXTER: The Abbott Museum is open 10 a.

SBA launches disaster relief to small businesses and nonprofits hit by cold and moisture

How Penobscot County’s former administrator would fix its budget crisis

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County commissioners and officials should take additional steps to solve the county’s current budget problems, former County Administrator Scott Adkins said.

Winter workshops at Guilford Memorial Library

GUILFORD — Late last summer Wendy Lorrigan, a resident of Sangerville who teaches art at Piscataquis Community Elementary School in addition to being a community artist, was awarded two grants.

Maine will start tracking how much housing is being built in the state

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s largest city approved more than 1,300 new units of housing in 2025 — but only 159 homes were actually built in the last year.

Maine’s campaign to manage invasive spruce budworm is in its 2nd year

By Pete McGuire, Maine Public Timberland owners and state officials hope to capitalize on a successful pesticide campaign against a spruce budworm outbreak by resuming aerial treatment next spring.