Will Tuell

Newly-elected District Attorney Bob Granger and three-term Sheriff Barry Curtis were formally sworn in before an audience of county employees, legislators, and members of the public on New Year’s Day. The pair were sworn in by longtime county jail administrator Paula Johnson-Rolfe, who also serves as a notary public.

Jayna Smith

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On Tuesday, December 27, Calais Lady Blue Devil sophomore Kate McPhee had a game high 24 points, along with 15 rebounds, to lead her team to victory, 71-61, at a game hosted by the Woodland Dragons.  

Senior Neveah Thomas contributed 20 points, with six shots made from behind the three-point line.  

Also in the points column was sophomore Kayleigh Scott with 13 and senior Mercedes Owen with 11.  Junior Brenna Critchley added three.

Home heating fuel prices are at record highs this winter, and local Rotarians are concerned that many of the most vulnerable in Washington County, including the elderly and others on fixed incomes, may be left out in the cold.

Jayna Smith

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In 1986, the New York Mets claimed victory over the Boston Red Sox in the World Series, the word “walkman” entered the Oxford English Dictionary, Aerosmith and Run DMC mixed rock and hip hop with Walk this Way, and Navy recruitment increased by 500 percent as Tom Cruise starred in the movie Top Gun.  And, in Calais, Bobby O’Brien hit the streets of Calais as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service.

Ricky Cleghorn

Downeast Broadband Utility (DBU) is the first and only municipally-owned internet broadband utility in the State of Maine. It’s a one-of-the-kind network, and it is entirely owned by the residents of Calais, Baileyville, Alexander, Indian Township, and now Princeton. Essentially, DBU is a system of fiber-optic wires that different service providers can lease to offer consumers broadband coverage. 

Jayna Smith

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At a game at George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill on Tuesday, January 3, Coach Sean Cavanaugh’s Lady Blue Devils picked up another win this season, beating the Eagles 44-34.

Senior Nevaeh Thomas led Calais with 17 points, shooting two for three from the three-point line and four for five from the field, according to the coach.  

December was a whirlwind for students at ERII as they prepared for their performances and felt the building excitement and anticipation of Santa coming to visit. They very much enjoyed searching daily for Elf Charlotte and Elf Kenneth throughout the halls and classrooms of the school and seeing what mischief they were into.

The Ranger basketball team played two hard-fought games against Medway and East Grand in December. They played very well and learned the ins-and-outs of the game while having fun.

Jayna Smith

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Calais first responders were called on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 to the corner of Washington and Downes Street for a frightening incident involving a school bus and a child.

According to Calais Police Department, a young student exited the bus, along with others, and as she crossed, realized she had dropped something.  

Will Tuell

After a marathon day of votes and counterproposals from Republicans in the House and Senate, Governor Janet Mills (D) secured passage of her $475 million fuel assistance package just in time for her second inauguration after securing two-thirds majorities in each chamber. The Senate voted 24-10, while the House tally was 114-29. 

Early this morning, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, Washington County Sheriff's Department responded to the Circle K convenience store at the corner of Main and South Streets in Calais for a report of a stolen vehicle.

According to Calais Police Sgt. Matt Vinson, just before 5 a.m., the vehicle’s owner had gone into the store to pay for gas, leaving the vehicle running at the gas pumps.  

Two people then got into the vehicle and headed onto South Street.

Sarah Craighead Dedmon

More than 60 emergency medical service workers, local officials, and health care stakeholders met last Thursday in Columbia Falls to discuss Washington County’s ambulance crisis, most recently evidenced by the possible closure of Petit Manan Ambulance Corps, and extended patient wait times at Washington County’s two hospitals. 

Jayna Smith

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The Youth Ministries group at Bethel Chapel in Talmadge has been busy warming community members up from the inside out through its Breaking of the Bread program, which provides free meals once a week to any area residents.

The Breaking of the Bread program started at the church back in October, at which time the group made 17 meals.  Now, just three months later, the group is making 50 meals each Saturday, with a new goal of making 75.

Jayna Smith

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@Jonesport-Beals         

At a game at Jonesport-Beals High School last Tuesday, January 10, the Lady Dragons claimed their fifth win of the season, beating the Royalettes 49-42.

Karleigh Smith, a freshman, led all with 17 points.  Smith went 6-6 from the free-throw line, had eight steals, five rebounds, and four assists.

In keeping with local artist Tom Brennan's use of local people as models for his work, he used Dayton Dineen's granddaughter Falon Eales  and her boyfriend Jason Durgan as Mary and Joseph in his recent piece that appeared on the Dec. 22, 2022 cover of The Calais Advertiser.  Brennan recently donated the original piece to the Immaculate Conception Church.  Pictured are Tom MacDonald, Dayton Dinneen, and Father Brad Morin.  (Photo courtesy of Tom MacDonald)

Ricky Cleghorn

The Town of Baileyville has hired a new fire chief, Bill Delnicki. Appointed January 10th, Chief Delnicki is preceded by Chief John McPhee, who has served as chief for 14 years prior to Delnicki. McPhee will be staying on in the department as a member of the staff.

 Chief Delnicki comes with a whole array of certification and experience, which he was happy to share. 

Jon Reisman

Jayna Smith

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The Calais Lady Devils played three games last week, going 1-2.  

According to Coach Sean Cavanaugh, the team “is looking forward to trying to get back on a winning streak with their next six games being at home.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Blue Devils hosted George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, earning the victory, 51-32.  

Calais was led by Kate McPhee, a sophomore, who had 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Calais Blue Devils cheering team earned runner-up in the Downeast Athletic Conference Cheering Competition at Calais High School on Saturday, January 21st. The team is made up of (front) Taylor Carter, Hailie Bowen, Sierra Jones, Cadence Spencer, Jaylan Johnston, (back) Coach Heidi Ryan, Shaylee Moores, Cadence Braughton, Kloe Francis, Ashaliegh Sulkowski, and Bailey O’Rourke.  (Photo by Natalie Boomer)

Letter carriers certainly appreciate mailboxes being cleared of snow.  In the case of this Robbinston resident’s mailbox, the snow was cleared and then used to create a very unique snowman.  Postal Service worker Lynne Quinn was met with this on her route Monday and said it definitely put a smile on her face.  (Photo courtesy of Lynne Quinn)

Jayna Smith

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During mass last Sunday, the children at Immaculate Conception Church presented a check for $505.87 to the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry.  

The money was generated from a bake sale the children held at the church after a mass in November.  According to Marc Podschlne, Director of Faith Formation, all of the baked goods for the sale were donated by the children, catechists, and many members of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish.