6 years ago Grand jury indicts convicted murderer who escaped from Maine prison A man with a history of escapes from state correctional facilities is one step closer to trial for his latest escape. The Penobscot County grand jury late last week indicted Arnold Nash, 65, for his September escape from Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston when he had just 14 months left on his sentence. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but rather a determination that enough evidence exists to bring a case to trial.
6 years ago Hospital and food center officials declare second gadget drive a success Mayo Regional Hospital and the Piscataquis Regional Food Center (PRFC) collaborated for the groups’ second annual Gadget Drive during the months of October and November. Employees and community members collected more than 125 gadgets and raised $148 to purchase additional kitchen gadgets for clients of area food cupboards.
6 years ago Rep. Higgins appointed to new Innovation, Development, Economic and Advancement Committee The speaker of the Maine House of Representatives has appointed Rep. Norman Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft to the IDEA –- Innovation, Development, Economic and Advancement -- Committee. The IDEA Committee was recently established to increase the focus on statewide economic initiatives, innovation, and workforce development.
6 years ago Annual Find the Shop Local Tree Contest winner Debbie Young, left pictured with the Piscataquis Observer’s Keri Foster, is the winner in the Piscataquis Observer’s annual Find the Shop Local Tree Contest.
6 years ago D-F officials devise recommendations for new land use ordinance Last month three referendum questions concerning the town land use ordinance -- a revised ordinance, an ordinance concerning transportation corridors, and an ordinance on large-scale water extraction -- were each voted down. In the weeks since the Dover-Foxcroft Planning Board has met and devised a series of recommendations, which were presented to the selectmen during a Dec. 17 meeting.
6 years ago SeDoMoCha Builders Club Miracle Tree Event raises $9,400 to help brighten the holidays During the annual Hometown Holidays Celebration on Dec. 1-2, 25 decorated trees and accompanying goods were on display at The Commons at Central Hall for the SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club’s fourth annual Miracle Tree Event.
6 years ago D-F Police Sgt. Lyford hired as sheriff’s chief deputy The Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office did not have to look far to find the the department’s next chief deputy with the hiring of Dover-Foxcroft Police Department Sgt. Todd Lyford, who also has served as a police chief in Brownville and Milo. Sheriff-Elect and current Chief Deputy Bob Young made the announcement during the Dec. 18 meeting of the Piscataquis County Commissioners.
6 years ago Judge Walker formally sworn in day after ranked choice voting ruling A month after Lance Walker was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be a federal judge, he was assigned the case that could end up being the most important of his career. At the very least, it will be a long time before Walker presides over a case that draws the media attention U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s challenge to the constitutionality of ranked-choice voting in Maine did.
6 years ago D-F officer graduates from Maine Criminal Justice Academy Maine’s 62 newest police officers have graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, including Stephen Garib of Dover-Foxcroft Police Department. The officers spent 18 weeks in study and training and most will begin patrolling immediately, in time for Christmas and New Year’s Eve enforcement efforts.
6 years ago Foxcroft Academy named an IB Diploma Program School Recently Foxcroft Academy received word from International Baccalaureate (IB) that the school’s candidacy has been accepted to become a full IB Diploma Program school, with classes beginning at the start of the 2019-20 school year. Foxcroft Academy is making this bold move to better its mission and to better prepare students for the 21st-century workforce.
6 years ago Maine’s high court upholds Burton murder conviction The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday, Dec. 11 upheld the murder conviction of the man who led authorities on the longest manhunt in state history. Robert Burton, 41, of Abbot is serving a 55-year sentence at the Maine State Prison in Warren for the slaying of his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Ginn Gebo, 37, of Parkman after breaking into her home more than three years ago. A jury convicted him of murder in October 2017.
6 years ago On Santa’s nice list At the annual Christmas party at the Sebec Village Reading Room. Eliza Cary of Bowerbank had the opportunity to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas.
6 years ago Tom and Nancy Harrigan presented with Myrick Award for contributions to Milo and beyond A Milo couple who over the last half decade have given back in the form of the Three Rivers Kiwanis Building, the Harrigan Learning Center & Museum, and the Milo-Brownville & Points North Visitor Center, all located in their hometown’s Eastern Piscataquis Business Park, have been honored as the 16th recipients of the Warren “Pete” Myrick Award by the Executive Committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC). Tom and Nancy Harrigan were presented with the honor on Dec. 10 at The Commons at Central Hall during the PCEDC annual meeting.
6 years ago Foxcroft Academy, Libra Foundation to hold first public meeting on ‘Piscataquis County Ice Arena’ next month On Wednesday, Nov. 28 administrators from Foxcroft Academy and representatives from the Libra Foundation met for the first time with local town officials in regard to the newly named Piscataquis County Ice Arena being built in Dover-Foxcroft.
6 years ago New year brings breakfast at Pat’s Pizza with Tom Spencer After nine years in business. Spencer’s Bakery & Café of Dover-Foxcroft closed its doors at 922 West Main Street at the conclusion of the lease. Within hours, community members began inquiring at the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, wondering what became of their beloved breakfast spot.
6 years ago Work begins on 2019-20 RSU 68 finances With the calendar year nearing an end, RSU 68 officials have started preparations for developing the 2019-20 budget. During a Dec. 4 school board meeting Superintendent Stacy Shorey said the directors have now all received a budget meeting calendar.
6 years ago Commissioners formally approve $4.5M county budget for 2019 A week after the public hearing for the pair of spending plans, the Piscataquis County Commissioners approved a $4,535,958 Piscataquis County budget for the 2019 calendar year along with an Unorganized Territory (UT) budget of $1,756,657 for the 2019-20 fiscal year during the Dec. 4 meeting.
6 years ago D-F teen receives national community service honor for his efforts to support the JD Foundation TruStage, CUNA Mutual Group’s consumer insurance agency, is proud to announce Kholton Perry, 14, of Dover-Foxcroft has been named as one of 20 Community Spark Awards winners. The competition recognized exemplary young people from coast to coast who are actively taking strides to improve their communities through volunteer and community service activities. In recognition of Perry’s efforts, TruStage donated $1,000 to the JD Foundation of Abbot in support of Giving Tuesday on Nov. 27.