The Knights of Columbus conducted its annual Free Throw Competition for kids ages 9 through 15 on February 4th at Calais Elementary School. The contestants each had to shoot their best out of 25 shots. Winners from this regional shoot will be able to participate at the State Free Throw Championships at the Old Town High School on Saturday March 11th. 

Jayna Smith

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The next game played by the Calais Blue Devils won’t be until next week, when they hit the hardwood at Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center for the 2023 Maine Principals’ Association Basketball Tournament.  They will enter the Class C North tourney ranked number one when they play on Tuesday, Feb. 21, having earned a first-round bye. 

Jayna Smith

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The First Hoop Program brought in $2,500 this season for the Calais High School Athletic Department.

At the final home basketball game of the season, representatives from First National Bank were on hand to present the check, which was accepted by members of CHS's boys’ basketball team.  

Ham radio operators are “unsung heroes” as they quietly volunteer to provide emergency communications in support of state and county emergency management agencies, other disaster relief organizations, and local communities. 

State Senator Marianne Moore made this remark in the senate chambers at the State House in Augusta on February 2 after the joint resolution was read, lauding Maine’s amateur (ham) radio operators and recognizing World Amateur Radio Day. The senate members then stood and gave a long round of applause as several hams were in attendance.

Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Pierre Little, publisher of The Calais Advertiser and Machias Valley News Observer, has purchased the Union Springs Herald, one of Alabama’s oldest newspapers, and says he’s looking forward to working with the community in Bullock County, where the newspaper was founded in 1866. Little also publishes Alabama’s Southern Star, founded in 1867.

January has been full of outside winter fun as our Rangers have been participating in the WinterKids competition! Our students have been able to learn and implement fun ways to get outside and stay healthy and active during our state’s long winters. We’re currently in the last week of participation and have had lots of fun–especially enjoying healthy smoothies and homemade fruit and yogurt parfaits!

Coach Sean Cavanaugh’s Calais Blue Devils hosted Coach Mark Hornbrook’s Woodland Dragons on Saturday, Feb. 4 for the annual Pink Zone Game.  The event, sponsored by Calais Community Hospital and PCT Communications, raises awareness of breast cancer and the importance of breast cancer screening.  Both teams, shown here, donned pink shirts for pregame warmups, while many fans of both teams came also wearing pink.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Joyce Kryszak, 

Maine Monitor

Once a thriving lumber community that dates back to the late 1700s, the humble town of Dennysville in far Downeast Maine now could be easily overlooked. Travelers zip along US Route 1 on their way to busier, more prosperous places, such as the City of Calais, 50 minutes farther east at the Canadian border.

Jayna Smith

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vs. Narraguagus

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Lady Blue Devils hosted the Narraguagus Knights, picking up their eighth win of the season, 54-42.  

Calais had three players score in double digits.

Sophomore Kate McPhee led with a double-double, dropping in 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.  She also had three blocks.

Jayna Smith

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Starting with Small Business Saturday in November and through the first week of January, all were encouraged to shop locally for a chance to win a cash prize with the St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Loyal to Local program.

This was the first year the Chamber hosted the event, and the board said it was hugely successful with many taking part and local businesses being very receptive.

Ricky Cleghorn

This is a two-part article providing information on Downeast Broadband Utility (DBU), the first and only municipal broadband utility in the State of Maine.

Woodland’s Asher Bishop Claims Third

The 2023 Penobscot Valley Conference Wrestling Championship was held last Saturday with 12 teams competing at Mount Desert High School. 

The Calais varsity wrestling team, coached by Spencer McCormick, has three wrestlers on the roster, all of whom are freshman: Chase Scott at 106 lbs., Ike Soucy at 126 lbs., and Wyatt Demmons at 170 lbs.

According to McCormick, first-year wrestler Wyatt Demmons has consistently progressed his skill set and has earned a 10-11 record on the season so far.

Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A forecasted low temperature of -17 degrees followed by a high of 2 degrees will bring dangerously low temperatures and shocking wind chills to Washington County this weekend, which means residents should prepare now to ensure their safety and the safety of their loved ones.

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. 

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)

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)

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.

Jon Reisman

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. 

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)

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.