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.”

Jayna Smith

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The Woodland Lady Dragons fell to the Washington Academy Raiders at home on Tuesday, January 28, with a final score of 62-36.

Woodland held a slim lead after the first quarter, up 9-8, but the Raiders gained momentum in the second, outscoring the Dragons and taking a 29-19 advantage into halftime.

Karleigh Smith led the Dragons’ offense with 22 points, while Mishun Cornelius added 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

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.

Jayna Smith

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On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Punxsutawney Phil, the famed groundhog of Pennsylvania, emerged from his burrow and saw his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter. This annual tradition, celebrated for over a century, continues to draw a large audience, despite questions about its accuracy.

Playground Fundraiser Continues this Saturday with Cribbage Competition

Jayna Smith

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Last Saturday evening, January 25, the Calais Elementary School PTO transformed St. Croix Tap & Table into a magical Winter Wonderland for an adults-only prom night, all to raise funds for the school’s playground fund.

Jayna Smith

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A cribbage tournament benefiting the elementary school’s playground fund is set for this Saturday, February 1, at St. Croix Tap & Table. This doubles tournament has a $20 entry fee per team, with the winning team taking home half the pot. To register, stop by, message, or call St. Croix Tap & Table at 207-454-4177.

Jayna Smith

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The Calais Blue Devils hosted the Machias Bulldogs on Tuesday, January 21, in a matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats. Despite a valiant effort, the Blue Devils came up just short, as Machias secured a narrow 43-42 victory and upped their record to 11-2.

Leading the charge for Calais was Kaesen Dana, who delivered an impressive performance with a team-high 16 points. 

Jayna Smith

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On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Calais City Council met for its regular meeting, with Mayor Marcia Rogers presiding over Councilors Mike Sherrard, Elery Beale, Pete Foster, and Bill Quinn. Councilors Kevin Niles and James McDonald were absent from the meeting.

What follows is a brief summary of the meeting, with the full meeting available for viewing on the City of Calais’s Facebook page.

Jon Reisman

That mouthful refers to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, now less than 18 months away. I have a feeling that Donald Trump’s TV and showman experience is going to play a big part in what I hope is a huge, happy party. I think there is a lot of work and planning to do for that to happen.

Jayna Smith

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The City of Calais has announced that all items and objects must be removed from city sidewalks by Monday, January 20, 2025, to ensure safe and efficient snow removal during the winter season. Items left on sidewalks make it difficult for crews to plow effectively, impacting the safety and accessibility of the community, and crews appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

Jayna Smith

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The Calais Elementary School PTO recently announced its upcoming Winter Wonderland Adult Prom, an evening set to bring the community together for a night of nostalgia and fun. Scheduled for this Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 8 to 11 p.m., the event will take place at St. Croix Tap & Table.

Jayna Smith

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GameTime Sports Bar & Grill celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 159 Main Street in Baileyville. This new hotspot boasts an array of amenities designed for sports enthusiasts and casual diners alike, including multiple large-screen televisions for optimal game viewing, a pool table, arcade games, and plenty of parking and seating to accommodate guests comfortably.

The St. Croix Council #149 of the Knights of Columbus donated 48 brand-new coats to the We Care Community Baby Center in Machias in January. The donations were part of the Knights’ Coats for Kids program, which has distributed more than one million coats to children in need around the world. The Knights also delivered knitted clothing, diapers, and wipes donated by parishioners of St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish, as part of the ASAP (Aid & Support After Pregnancy) program.

Paul Sylvain

Just because parts of Maine are considered “rural” and “sparsely populated” doesn’t mean there’s any lesser need for a strong law enforcement presence in places that fit those descriptions, like Washington County.

The county’s legislative delegation heard that message loud and early last week at a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Maine Sheriff’s Association. Among those traveling to Augusta for the 7 a.m. gathering were Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis and Chief Deputy Mike Crabtree.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved sister, daughter, and friend, Holli A. Tapley, on January 7th, 2025. Holli was born on December 19, 1978, in Presque Isle, Maine and raised in Calais,Maine. She was a basketball icon, known not only for her incredible skills but also for the positive influence she had on the Calais and Maine basketball communities.

Jayna Smith

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Calais citizens now have an easy way to stay updated on the latest city news, events, meetings, and emergencies through a new notification service. This service allows residents to receive updates via text or email, ensuring they are always informed about important community developments.

Jayna Smith

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At Woodland on Thursday, January 9, the junior high boys' basketball team hosted Calais in a competitive matchup. Calais emerged victorious with a final score of 48-38. 

Jacob Footer led the charge for Calais, scoring an impressive 15 points. 

Supporting Footer's efforts, Brock Collins and Rylan Harnoise each contributed 7 points, while Brayan Shirley added 6. 

Downeast Credit Union and Insurance is proud to announce a new partnership with area schools, including Calais High School Athletics.

 In a new program coined “Downeast Dunkers,” participating schools will receive around $4,000 in cash and in-kind contributions from Downeast Credit Union and Insurance throughout the 2024/2025 basketball season.

Jon Reisman

January has brought an array of alarms in California, Maine, and North America

Fire alarms in California

The California wildfires are both a natural and human-enhanced disaster. Governor Gavin Newsom’s inferno was made worse by decades of water policies prioritizing endangered snail darters and green liturgy over reservoirs and aqueducts. Controlled burns and fuel load management are apparently not consistent with a conviction that the cause of wildfires is anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change.

Paul Sylvain

The Washington County commissioners have a new look for the first time in a dozen years, following the swearing-in of District 1 Commissioner Billy Howard and District 2 Commissioner David C Burns at a brief ceremony at the commissioners’ meeting room on Jan. 2. 

Looking on was District 3 Commissioner John B. Crowley, whose seat was not up for reelection in 2024. 

Jayna Smith

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In a tremendous show of community support and generosity, the Pratt dealership in Calais has set a new record with its annual donation-match campaign to aid food pantries in Washington County. This year, the campaign reached an all-time high, collecting a total of $27,614 — the highest amount since Ian Pratt initiated this charitable effort.

Paul Sylvain

Maine winters aren’t what they used to be, considering the string of relatively mild winters we’ve enjoyed Downeast the past several years. Of course, with the snowiest and coldest winter months yet to come, it remains to be seen how Washington County will fare in this winter of 2024-25.

Still, the lingering memory of that last truly harsh, “old-fashioned” Maine winter a decade ago is one that anyone who experienced it won’t ever forget.