Fiddlehead Focus

Community members listen in a meeting in October as the Valley Unified Educational Service Center Site Selection Committee discussed which lot they feel would be best for a new regional school in the St. John Valley. (Jessica Potila | SJVT)

Community members listen in a meeting in October as the Valley Unified Educational Service Center Site Selection Committee discussed which lot they feel would be best for a new regional school in the St. John Valley. (Jessica Potila | SJVT)

Fort Kent seventh-grader surveys classmates about regional school site

December 4, 2019

A Fort Kent seventh-grader recently took it upon herself to ask her classmates where they would like to see a new regional school built in the St. John Valley.

News Browse News

Maine potatoes expected to be in ‘strong demand’ after frosts stunt western harvest

It’s looking like people across the country may be eating County potatoes in the new year.

Facebook page favoring regional school attracts 1,200-plus members

A Facebook page in support of a new regional school in the St. John Valley attracted more than 1,200 community members within a few days of its creation.

UMPI sees positive trends in enrollment numbers despite demographic changes

UMPI has experienced a “significant” overall increase in student population over the past five years — more than the other campuses in the University of Maine System.

Allagash guide bags 200-pound, 20-point monster buck of his own

When a client called off his Saturday morning hunt with Wayne Bernier of Allagash Adventures Guide Service due to cold weather, Bernier decided to make the most of the last day of rifle season and head out in search of a buck of his own. And boy did he find one.

Craft fair and Christmas tree lighting bring folks together in Fort Kent

Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Dona Saucier said the craft fair brought in more than 2,000 people over the weekend, with 1,362 attending on Saturday, breaking the fair’s single-day attendance record.

Here’s where you should explore in the St. John Valley

Have you ever wanted to toss a few things into a bag, hop in your car, pick a compass point and just start driving? That’s really not a bad way to start a weekend getaway.

Police & Fire Browse Police & Fire

Police charge juveniles with burglarizing marijuana facility

Police charged three juveniles following a break-in at a marijuana facility in Eagle Lake.

Maine State Police Troop F Report, Nov. 4-10, 2019

The Maine State Police Troop F barracks in Houlton responded to a number of calls for service during the period of Nov.4-10, including the following.

Maine State Police Troop F Report, Nov. 11-17, 2019

The Maine State Police Troop F barracks in Houlton responded to a number of calls for service during the period of Nov.11-17, including the following.

Marijuana facility burglarized in Eagle Lake

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying two suspects who burglarized a marjiunana dispensary in Eagle Lake.

Police arrest Fort Kent man who allegedly halted Main Street traffic with disruptive behavior

Several concerned callers reported to the Fort Kent Police Department Monday afternoon, Nov. 11, that a man was causing disturbances at several locations along West Main Street.

Maine State Police Troop F Report, Oct. 21-27, 2019

The Maine State Police Troop F barracks in Houlton responded to a number of calls for service during the period of Oct. 21-27, including the following.

County Candids Browse County Candids

Nicole Hunt Ayotte at Mad. Elem

A frosty morning outside the Madawaska Elementary School Wednesday. (Nicole Hunt Ayotte)

A frosty morning outside the Madawaska Elementary School Wednesday. (Nicole Hunt Ayotte)

A frosty morning

September 18, 2019

A frosty morning outside the Madawaska Elementary School Wednesday.

State, National and World News Browse State, National and World News

Crime in Maine drops for the seventh straight year

The total number of crimes reported in Maine dropped for the seventh straight year in 2018, according to data from the Maine Department of Public Safety released Wednesday, but there were more assaults and homicides than there were in 2017.

$100 checks headed for more than 300,000 Maine households

More than 300,000 Maine homeowners can expect a $100 check early next year under a new state law.

NASA preparing for first all-female spacewalk later this week

Astronauts Jessica Meir, a Caribou native, and Christina Kock are preparing for a spacewalk scheduled for later this week, according to a NASA press release.

Democratic senators plan town hall series

A group of Democratic leaders in the Maine Senate will host a series of town hall meetings around the state, including one in Aroostook County.

Living Browse Living

Weekly digital jigsaw ~ Crosswinds residents created beautiful wreaths

Crosswinds residents created beautiful wreaths in anticipation of the holiday season.

Fiddlehead Focus Crossword Puzzle for Dec. 4, 2019

You can complete this crossword puzzle online. Just click on the box you want to fill in and begin typing the word you think is the answer to the clue.

Valley Girls Comic December 4, 2019

Valley Girls Comic December 4, 2019

K of C lotto winner, Nov. 18-24, 2019

The Fort Kent Knights of Columbus has announced the winner of its ongoing lotto fundraiser for the week of Nov. 18-24, 2019.

PAWS pet of the week – Peanut

PAWS Animal Welfare Shelter presents Peanut as the Pet of the Week. Peanut is a special-needs cat, approximately 9 years old.

From Our Files – Week of Dec. 2, 2019

50 Years Ago -- December 4, 1969 Jaycee Cabin Takes On A New Community Role -- The Jaycees of Madawaska have moved their cabin from the Midtown Shopping Center to the church lot on the corner of St. Thomas Street and 12th Avenue where the structure will be used for various functions.

Poll Browse Poll

What’s your favorite Valley staple?

Let us know what you think.

Opinion Browse Opinion

Maine viewers deserve increased access to local news

We must have a free press where journalists are able to report indisputable facts. But we must also have a way for citizens to access this reporting and make informed decisions for themselves.

Ku Klux Klan

According to “Voyages: A Maine Franco-American Reader,” edité en 2007 par Nelson Madore pi Barry Rodrigue, ceci est sur la page 336: “In 1925 the (Ku Klux) Klan had as many as 37,000 members in Rhode Island; 65,590 in Connecticut; 75,000 in New Hampshire; 80,301 in Vermont; 130,780 in Massachusetts; and 150,141 in Maine.”

State should join Mainers in supporting local business

Mainers like to shop local, and that extends well beyond the holiday season. Whether it’s purchasing local produce from family-run farms or buying quality, handcrafted goods for loved ones, Maine people recognize the value of keeping their hard-earned dollars local.

Fighting back against Social Security scam criminals

It is estimated that America’s seniors lose a staggering $2.9 billion each year to an ever-growing array of financial exploitation schemes and scams.

All in a name

In the last column I discussed tips for locating the surnames of female ancestors. This can often be a difficult and long task.

Record cold, blocked doors and slippery roads

Ever since that record-tying 68 on the first of November, which I wrote about in my last column, we've been burning a lot of fuel. Through midnight on the 18th, Caribou's heating degree days were about 5 percent higher than last November, which was itself a colder-than-normal month.

Sports Browse Sports

Continue deer hunting with muzzleloading guns

When the regular firearm season for deer ends each November, a few sportsmen who didn’t tag a whitetail and aren’t willing to throw in the towel, turn to black powder hunting.

Board announces 2019 Butch Shaw awardees

The Northern Maine Board of Approved Soccer Officials recently announced their 2019 Butch Shaw Award recipients.

Use sounds, not silence, to bag a buck

Maine’s habitat of heavy forest, especially throughout Aroostook County, has dictated the most productive styles of deer hunting since the early 1900s.

Huskies fall short in league championship game

Hopes of bringing home a league championship were not to be for the Aroostook Huskies football squad Saturday.

Summerside prevails in hockey shootout

The Summerside Western Capitals and the Edmundston Blizzard played a real playoff game on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 17, at the Jean-Daigle Centre.

Western Capitals defeat Blizzard 5-3 on Nov. 16

The Summerside Western Capitals capitalized on the power play late in the game to defeat the Edmundston Blizzard 5-3 in front of a crowd of 2,628 spectators gathered at the Jean-Daigle Centre Saturday afternoon, Nov. 16.

Business Browse Business

Bank promotes new senior credit analyst

Katahdin Trust has announced the promotion of Sarah Gardiner to senior credit analyst.

NMMC earns gold star for being tobacco-free

The 10th annual Tobacco-Free Hospital Gold Star Standards of Excellence Awards Celebration, hosted by the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence’s Breathe Easy initiative, was held on Nov. 14 at the Maine Hospital Association.

Madawaska selectmen/school committee to meet jointly on Dec. 2

The Madawaska Board of Selectmen and the Madawaska School Committee will hold a joint meeting at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2.

United Way of Aroostook holds turkey drive to help feed County folks at Thanksgiving

Despite cold, rainy weather, volunteers from the United Way of Aroostook and Townsquare Media dedicated most of their time collecting turkeys that will help make Thanksgiving just a little more festive for hundreds of people in need.

NMMC to increase providers for greater access to mental health

Recognizing that mental health is underserved across the country, Northern Maine Medical Center announced an initiative to expand its provider team to better serve individuals and families dealing with mental health issues.

Katahdin Bankshares announces dividend

Katahdin Bankshares Corp. (OTCQX: KTHN), parent company of Katahdin Trust Company, announced that it has declared a cash dividend of $0.1125 per share for the fourth quarter of 2019.