Take advantage of the free fishing weekend on Saturday, Feb. 15.  Discover the basics of ice fishing on Chalk Pond in Bedlington with the Downeast Salmon Federation(DSF). (Snow Date Sunday, Feb. 16). Join us from 12 to 4 p.m. and enjoy an afternoon out on the ice!  DSF Fish Biologist Brett Ciccotelli will provide equipment and advice to kids of all ages. Meanwhile, snowshoe enthusiasts can join Land Trust Director Tanya Rucosky exploring the nearby Little Narraguagus Preserve.

by Lupe Soto

Washington Academy Wrestling ended the regular Dual Meet season with a 17-8 record.

With the regular season behind them, the Raider wrestlers knew their fate was in their own hands. The team competed in the Penobscot Valley Conference Championship, held Saturday, Feb. 1 at Mt. Desert Island (MDI).

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A web-based threat sent Friday, Jan. 31 listed Machias and Jonesport-Beals schools as potential targets for violence along with eight other Maine schools. Both Machias and Jonesport-Beals responded by notifying parents that the threat occurred, that authorities deemed it not credible, and by going into “soft lockdown.” Local law enforcement was dispatched to protect them, and all after-school and weekend activities were canceled at both schools.

by V. Paul Reynolds

Henry David Thoreau, beholding Moosehead Lake for the first time, wrote this: “a gleaming silver platter at the end of the table.”

If only he could have seen the lake from the air! The first time that I saw the big lake from the air in a northbound ski-plane my jaw dropped. The expansiveness, not only of the lake itself but the entire north woods watershed, presents a panorama like no other.

by Joseph Horn

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Three people were killed and a fourth injured in a shooting rampage that took place at three locations in Machias and Jonesboro on the morning of Monday, Feb. 3. 

Maine State Police Lt. Troy Gardner spoke at a press conference in front of the Washington County Courthouse Monday evening and said that suspect Thomas Bonfanti, 63, of Northfield,  has been arrested and charged with murder after the shooting deaths of Shawn Currey, 57, Samuel Powers, 33, and Jennifer Bryant Flynn, 49. A fourth victim, a female, was injured and is hospitalized.

Click here to view the press conference https://www.facebook.com/machiasnews/videos/194917595237717/

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Countless hours spent in pursuit of a federal grant have paid off for Roque Bluffs, now the winner of a $1M award that will enable the town to build its own broadband network. Axiom Technologies will administer the network which, when built, will offer every home in Roque Bluffs state-of-the-art internet service.

“From my perspective this a game changer for Washington County,” said Axiom President Mark Ouellette. “Roque Bluffs is now going to have better connectivity than New York City.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

It started with a third-grade classroom assignment: write a persuasive letter to your teacher about something you want.

“We want more playground equipment because it’s not much fun on our side of the playground,” said Aynslee Emery, one of the Jonesboro Elementary students who have organized themselves into a fundraising team called “Four Girls with a Goal.”

Principal and teacher Marjorie Hicks said the assignment wasn’t only about making a wish.

by Ruth Leubecker

In a proud tone, describing trying times and predicting unity and growth for Maine, the state’s first female governor presented her first State of the State address on Tuesday.

“Maine’s economy is on a solid footing and growing,” said Gov. Janet Mills. “Revenues are up, gross domestic product is up, housing starts, construction and car sales are up, and the state budget has a healthy surplus.”