4 years ago Mills extends coronavirus state of emergency for another month For the second time, Gov. Janet Mills extended her civil state of emergency proclamation for another month on Wednesday, giving her more time to access federal funding and use certain powers to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
4 years ago RSU 68 school board approves $11.97M 2021 budget The RSU 68 school board approved a proposed budget totaling $11,970,877 for the 2020-21 academic year, during a May 12 meeting at the SeDoMoCha School streamed live via YouTube. The directors also scheduled the annual district budget meeting for Tuesday, June 23.
4 years ago After lower-than-expected revenues, Hampden waste plant needs to borrow $10M The group representing 115 Maine communities that send their waste to a new plant in Hampden has made a loan of $1.5 million to the facility to help it make improvements after its first six months of regular operations brought in lower-than-expected revenues.
4 years ago Here’s how you can arm yourself against those pesky black flies Jokingly referred to as the “Maine State Bird,” black flies are one aspect of the Maine outdoors that most people would prefer didn’t exist. Dotting the air in early spring, these tiny bugs have an annoying habit of flying into people’s eyes and ears. And their bites can be especially itchy.
4 years ago Federal judge dismisses ex-officer’s lawsuit against Penobscot prosecutor A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former police officer against the Penobscot County district attorney because the complaint was filed too late.
4 years ago Dover-Foxcroft officials adjusting for $212K budget revenue shortfall The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all facets of the nation’s economy, including government coffers at the state and municipal level. Dover-Foxcroft officials are anticipating a near $212,000 combined shortfall between state revenue sharing and excise tax but adjustments have been made in the 2020-21 town budget.
4 years ago MaineCF’s Piscataquis County Committee awards $40,000 in grants The Piscataquis County Committee of the Maine Community Foundation has awarded $40,850 in grants to several nonprofits.
4 years ago Maine DOE to announce the 2020 Maine County Teachers of the Year on Facebook Live Thursday The virtual announcement will be streamed live on the Maine Department of Education Facebook page. The pictures and a recording of the presentation will also be available after the announcement.
4 years ago Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation awards nearly $900,000 for COVID-19 relief efforts More than 60 Maine nonprofits have received nearly $900,000 from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation for COVID-19 relief efforts, including Maine Highlands Senior Center dba The Commons at Central Hall of Dover-Foxcroft and Penquis.
4 years ago Center Theatre gives marquee to Foxcroft Academy grads The Center Theatre announced that it will be giving one side of the marquee over to congratulatory messages to Foxcroft Academy graduating seniors starting on Sunday, June 21. One hour slots can be reserved from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday the 21st through Friday the 26th.
4 years ago Maine Sporting Camp Association says Governor’s rural reopening plan fails According to a group representing sporting camps around Maine, Gov. Janet Mill’s rural reopening plan falls short of providing relief to commercial sporting camps, employees, guides and rural neighbors because it bans visits from non-residents. Non-resident fishing trips over the next six weeks generates almost 90% of the annual revenue for many of the camps operating across the state.
4 years ago Iconic ice cream stand in Dover-Foxcroft ready to serve Yet a steady stream of customers made their way to opening day of the new season at Butterfield’s Ice Cream in Dover-Foxcroft for a hearty scoop of the iconic parlor’s handmade, hard-serve ice cream -- perhaps as a cool change of pace from recent daily routines fraught with COVID-19 concerns.
4 years ago Maine joins small group of states in reopening some regions before others Maine has become one of at least a dozen states that are beginning to ease restrictions on businesses in rural areas with fewer cases of the coronavirus while many rules will be in place in more heavily populated areas until June.
4 years ago Business owners sue Gov. Mills to end shutdown A group of Maine business owners on Friday sued Gov. Janet Mills over her unprecedented shutdown orders to limit the spread of the coronavirus claiming they are unconstitutional.
4 years ago Gov. Mills introduces rural reopening plan Gov. Janet Mills announced on Friday a rural reopening plan aimed at reopening certain additional businesses in rural Maine over the course of the next two weeks with added health and safety measures. The plan comes after Mills stated last week that her administration was considering opportunities for regional variation as part of its Restarting Maine’s Economy plan.
4 years ago Late season storm to bring a few inches of snow to central and northern Maine The National Weather Service predicts that a late season storm will bring between 3 and 6 inches of snow to northern Maine on Saturday, and a mix of rain and snow to the Bangor region and farther south.
4 years ago How Maine’s virus testing ramp-up could affect its economic reopening A testing acquisition the governor described as a “game changer” could help Maine hit goals outlined by health officials as benchmarks for economic reopening, though effects on summer tourism are less clear and the state has performed fewer tests than most on a per-capita basis.
4 years ago Maple syrup producers regroup after pandemic cancels showcase events While the full extent of the economic impact that Moore -- who had expanded his business’ Maine Maple Sunday activities into a weekend-long event in recent years -- and approximately 100 other licensed sugarhouses around Maine will face from the cancellation of the open houses isn’t yet known, it’s likely to take a big bite out of maple syrup consumption this year.