MILO — Penquis Valley High School students had the opportunity to put the pens, pencils, books and laptops away for a day and instead took part in a morning of health-related workshops and games in the afternoon.

Piscataquis County will soon have a point person to organize community efforts and serve as a guide to municipalities on broadband expansion.

Penquis received $5,000 earlier this month from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation to support services provided by Eastern Maine CA$H (Credit, Assets & Hope), a coalition of non- and for-profit partners working to help empower individuals and families to achieve long-term financial stability.

ORONO – University of Maine Cooperative Extension recently named Aroostook native Melissa Arndt to serve as its first-ever director of marketing and communications.

By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff Community transmission rates of COVID-19 have dropped substantially in 15  Maine counties, with only one county reporting a moderate community transmission rate.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff Historic migration offset stark demographic trends to drive another year of population growth across urban and rural areas of Maine in 2021.

MILO — On Friday, March 25 Penquis Valley High School will be hosting a Power of Positive Choices Day, sponsored by Northern Light Mayo Hospital, Penquis, Community Health and Counseling Services, and the Helping Hands with Heart Collaborative.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency will be holding meetings open to the public to review and update the current hazard mitigation plan.

AUGUSTA — Rep.

Contributed photo ART RAFFLE FOR UKRAINE — Local artist Laurie Sproul of Brownville is raffling a hand-carved wooden sunflower to benefit Doctors Without Borders relief efforts in the Ukraine.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Old technology that causes Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency computers to lock up in the middle of tasks is making it difficult for the group to finish its new website.

The executive director of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council is leaving after leading the organization for two years.

MILO — An age-oriented playground has been in place behind Penquis Valley Middle School since last spring.

Piscataquis County Democrats continue to address the needs of local families by raising money for community food pantries and delivering non-perishable food items throughout the region.

AUGUSTA – The Legislature’s Taxation Committee voted March 15 to advance a bill sponsored by Rep.

Grade eight, high honors: Liam Atkinson, Vegas Carey, Amara Driscoll, and Paeton Mitchell; honors: Julian Gauvin, Lillian Hatt, Byron Severance, Connor Smith, Joshua Stineford, Cole Watts, and Gage Yenchochic.

The Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency wants to see more residents use an app it launched less than a year ago for alerts and emergency planning — even though it remains difficult for some to access it.

Grade 12, high honors: Alvin Robshaw, Emily McKinnon, Grady Atkinson, Hope Lovell, and Justin Chambers; honors: Angela Bryden, Benjamin Bouley, Bethany Clements, Desirea Stanley, Jonathan Paquette, Maxwell Osgood, Olivia Lagere, and Trinity Moulton-Moors.