Piscataquis Observer

Photo courtesy of Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE — From left, Ruth Griffith, Olympia’s Leader of Piscataquis '22 and Alum Council chair; the Hon. Olympia J. Snowe, former United States senator and institute founder; MacKenzie Dawe, Olympia’s Leader of Skowhegan '25; and Mary Mahoney-O'Neil, Ed.D., OLA of Piscataquis ’25 and director of Maine NEW Leadership and the Maine Government Internship Program at UMaine.

Photo courtesy of Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE — From left, Ruth Griffith, Olympia’s Leader of Piscataquis '22 and Alum Council chair; the Hon. Olympia J. Snowe, former United States senator and institute founder; MacKenzie Dawe, Olympia’s Leader of Skowhegan '25; and Mary Mahoney-O'Neil, Ed.D., OLA of Piscataquis ’25 and director of Maine NEW Leadership and the Maine Government Internship Program at UMaine.

Snowe celebrates graduation of more than 150 Maine girls from her leadership institute

PORTLAND – The Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute, founded by former U. S.

News BrowseNews

Maine’s pivotal ranked-choice voting count will stretch into Thursday

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — Maine’s ranked-choice voting count to determine the nominees for key gubernatorial and 2nd Congressional District races will stretch into Thursday.

Marshall elected chair for Penobscot County Commissioners

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County Commissioner David Marshall was elected June 17 as the group’s chair, beginning July 1.

Dexter May Students of the Month

Composite photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High SchoolSTUDENTS OF THE MONTH — Dexter Regional High School is pleased to announce the May Students of the Month as selected by the faculty and staff for being exemplary students.

Commissioners approve $2.3M jail budget

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Commissioners approved a budget totaling a little more than $2.

Milo considering pumper truck purchase

MILO — The Milo Fire Department may have found a replacement pumper truck in suburban Nashville, Tennessee.

Senate District 4 Republican primary going to ranked-choice voting

The Republican primary for Senate District 4, which consists of all of Piscataquis County and a number of nearby Penobscot County towns, will proceed to ranked-choice voting tabulation after none of the four candidates met the 50% threshold.

Sports BrowseSports

PO-spdexgaw-26-25.JPG

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom TOP SENIOR — Dexter/PCHS’ Brady Gaw led off the 2025 Class C North championship against Washington Academy at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor as he and Raider catcher Daniel Gardner await the pitch. Gaw is one of nine finalists for the 2026 “Mr. Baseball” Dr. John Winkin Award.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom TOP SENIOR — Dexter/PCHS’ Brady Gaw led off the 2025 Class C North championship against Washington Academy at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor as he and Raider catcher Daniel Gardner await the pitch. Gaw is one of nine finalists for the 2026 “Mr. Baseball” Dr. John Winkin Award.

Gaw is a ‘Mr. Baseball’ finalist

Recent Piscataquis Community High School graduate Brady Gaw, who played for the Dexter Regional High School/PCHS cooperative team, is one of nine “Mr. Baseball” Dr.

Three area athletes take part in New England track championship

NORTH BERWICK — Three athletes between Dexter Regional High School and Piscataquis Community High School took part in the New England outdoor track and field championship on June 13 at Noble High School, a week after they combined for four individual titles at the Class C championship.

PVC honors

A number of athletes from across the region received recognition from the Penobscot Valley Conference for their performances during the 2026 spring season.

Opinion BrowseOpinion

Tick-borne illness is a quality of life changer

To the Editor; I read the letter that Alpha-Gal tick-borne allergy is in Maine with interest and horror.

I spent a day with some of Maine’s most experienced fly fishermen. Here’s how it went.

No Kings rally in Dover-Foxcroft

Contributed photosNO KINGS — Over 50 area residents lined the East Main Street Bridge in Dover-Foxcroft on Flag Day, June 14, in peaceful protest of the Trump Administration’s authoritarian actions and in support of the Constitutional Democracy of the United States.

Beware, meat allergy ticks are in Maine

To the Editor; This is in response to the recent story about not worrying about tick bites and allergies to red meat.

I thought deer were my biggest garden problem. I was wrong.

By Al Raychard During the later part of May the weather finally started to warm and cooperate, so we managed to get our raised vegetable beds near the house planted with some of our favorites: cukes, some Big Boy or Better Boy tomatoes including a bunch of Romas for homemade salsa, some carrots and bush beans, Brussels sprouts and Swiss chard.

Rep. Boyer is right. AI license plate readers have no place in Maine

By Dylan Oliver Accountability is finally coming for artificial intelligence in Maine.

Living BrowseLiving

Calendar of events

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

Gascoine Gallery summer show ‘Naiad Flow’

By Jemma Gascoine MONSON — One of the most remarkable things about living on a river in Piscataquis County is how sensual it is.

Dexter Students of the Year

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High SchoolDEXTER HONOREES — At the Dexter Regional High School senior assembly, Students of the Year were awarded.

Heart of Maine Resource Center Dexter Family Fun Day

DEXTER – Heart of Maine Resource Center invites families from across the region to attend the 2nd Annual Dexter Family Fun Day from 10 a.

Center Theatre to host auditions for youth musical ‘Junior High’

DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Center Theatre is excited to announce upcoming auditions for “Junior High”, a new youth musical written and directed by local student Aurora Youngblood.

9,000 attend 2026 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre and the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce announced that approximately 9,000 people attended the 2026 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds on June 13.