The Maine Historic Preservation Commission is pleased to announce that the McCurdy Smokehouse in Lubec has been recognized by the National Park Service as having a “National level of Significance” in the National Register of Historic Places.

Paul Sylvain

The Washington County Sheriff's Office has a new “Deputy Dog” with the arrival of K9 Tango and his handler, Cpl. Matt Carter.

Tango is an 18-month-old German Shepherd who began his training on drug and evidence detection, in addition to tracking, on Jan. 28 with Cpl Carter. 

“We are expecting big things from this team and they are a great addition to the agency,” the Sheriff’s office said in a post on its Facebook page. “We consider ourselves pretty fortunate, as we have several MCJA trainers.”

David Cale

I didn’t know Chet and Aaron Barrett, but yet, we are related as fellow fishermen. I set off to Jonesport on Feb. 5 for the Bennett family’s benefit supper, not knowing them but wanting to pay my respects and give my condolences to the family of these two men. Many thoughts went through my mind on the 40-minute drive from Machiasport to the Community of Christ Church in Jonesport.

Paul Sylvain

Except for traveling to and from the courthouse in Machias to testify in criminal proceedings, it has been a rare sight since July 2023 to encounter a Maine State Police trooper in Washington County.

Paul Sylvain

A seemingly improbable sequence of unforeseen events no one could ever have envisioned a year ago has resulted in former Machias Valley News Observer editor Sarah Craighead Dedmon becoming the torchbearer to “Make Here Better.”

Paul Sylvain

Class was in session at the Feb. 20 County Commissioners meeting in Machias, as Sheriff Barry Curtis schooled Commissioner Billy Howard in defense of a letter Curtis wrote last month, outlining a policy of not responding to non-emergent complaints in towns with an active police department.

The undated letter sent out mid-January sparked a few moments of sometimes confused discussion between Howard and Curtis.

Paul Sylvain

Newly hired Machias Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon is living proof that someone “from away” can move downeast and find acceptance among its people. Not convinced? Not only is Dedmon now the town manager in Machias, but she defeated long-time Selectman Jeff Davis last June to win his seat on the selectboard in neighboring Machiasport, where she lives.

Will Tuell

As Maine’s commercial fishing industry gathered at the Samoset Resort in Rockland last weekend for the industry’s annual Fishermen’s Forum, the state’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) released new data showing growth across the industry in 2024. Fishermen, DMR said, earned $74 million more in 2024 than in 2023, with landings valued at $709,509,984. 

Paul Sylvain 

Machias police are continuing their investigation following an eight-hour stand-off on March 5 that ended with the subject taking his own life.

According to a statement issued by Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier, officers were summoned to Apartment 1 at Sunrise Residence at 19 Lyons St., at 8:20 a.m. on March 5 following a complaint that the apartment’s resident was out of control and threatening staff. 

Paul Sylvain 

Former Maine Game Warden and Master Guide David Craven of Bucks Harbor is speaking out against a bill to restrict coyote hunting in Maine after defeating a similar bill during the last legislative session. Craven, now a respected shepherd who has judged international competitions in the field, joined popular talk radio host Ric Tyler Feb. 28 to discuss LD 716, “An Act to Restrict the Hunting of Coyotes,” prior to a March 3 public hearing on the issue in Augusta.