Brig. Gen. Hugh T. Corbett, assistant adjutant general, Maine Army National Guard, promoted Lt. Col. Dean A. Preston to the rank of colonel in front of family, friends, and service members at Camp Keyes on Monday, June 12. Preston is a 27 year veteran having served in both Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, respectively.

by Nancy Beal

 Bob Simons and Renee Goodwin are folk guitarists who have been friends since the 1960s and who merged their singing and instrumental talents in 2006. In the past eight years, as a duo they call simply Simons and Goodwin, they have entertained audiences in various settings: pubs, coffeehouses, outdoor and indoor concerts and private parties. Next week (2 p.m., Saturday, July 8), they will bring their songs back to Jonesport’s Peabody Memorial Library in a repeat of a popular performance of last August.

Photo: Local artist Ellie Carbone’s work will be on exhibit at Expressions Gallery & Studio in Machias, with an opening reception scheduled for Friday, June 23. “I find boundless opportunities and adventure as a watercolor artist, painting places. I’m able to spend my days doing the thing I really love to do,” said Carbone.

Watercolor artist Ellie Carbone set to exhibit in Machias 

Expressions Gallery & Studio in Machias hosted the first reception of the 2017 summer season 5:30 p.m. on June 23. 

Finn Furth controls the outfield action up the middle for the Raiders

Second baseman Caden Steeves handles the play at first.

Lady Raider senior Rylea Steeves connects for a home run over the right-center field fence against George Stevens Academy.

by Phil Stuart

 Washington Academy senior Micharah Robinson has been a major force for the Raiders outdoor track squad this season.

Robinson racked up 28 individual point with a first place finish in the 200 and 400-meter runs, a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash and ran the third leg of 4x400-meter relay to help his team finish second at the state Class C Championship at Foxcroft Academy on June 3rd.

by Phil Stuart

 The Washington Academy girls softball teams finished the regular season at 8-8 and entered the postseason in ninth place with a 8-8 record.

The 8-8 record produced victories against teams seeded lower so they had to settle for 9th place in the heal point standings. That meant a long trip to the St. John Valley to face the 8th-seeded Fort Kent Warriors.

The Warriors compiled a sub par 4-10 record but finished 11 points higher due to their strength in schedule.

Chad Perry and Kayla Toppin of Narraguagus Jr/Sr High School were nominated 2017 Athlete of the Year.     Submitted photo

Grade 4 - high honors:   Izebelle Blyther, Luke Ingalls, Tyler Pottle and Ashton Whitney. Grade 4 - honors: Emmanuel Albee, Madison Albert, Sean Bennett, Andrew Fletcher,  William Good, Hannah Harmon, Lily Jacques,  Sethlen Lester, Taylor MacDonald, Maleah Rhodes, Lucas Robicheau, Brystin Rudge, Olivia Sokoloski, Elayna Van Ormer, Nora Vicaire, and Lauren Wood.

 Permilla F. de Rochemont, 91, died Tuesday, June 13, at the Sussman House.  Pam, as she was known to her family and friends, was born in Greenville in 1925, the youngest child of Ida and William Fraser.  After William’s early death the family moved to Harrington to be near Ida’s family.  Pam raked blueberries to earn money, played on the school basketball team, and graduated as valedictorian from Harrington High School.  She moved to Gardner, MA after high school to live with relatives and work at the Franklin Stove Company.  

Charles W. Bevier III and Rebecca A Bevier of East Machias to Richard E. Page, Jr. and Paula M. Page of Methuen, Massachusetts a certain lot or parcel of land together with the buildings and improvements thereon situated in Machiasport beginning at a stake on the southerly side of State Route 191 leading from East Machias to Cutler

June 26, 2017 – Independence Day and fireworks go hand in hand, but fireworks shouldn’t go in consumers’ hands. That’s the message the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reinforcing this Fourth of July. Fireworks annually cause devastating burns, injuries, fires, and even death, making them too dangerous to be used safely by consumers.

Photo: Almost every one of the 170 voters present at last week’s annual town meeting in Machias raised their hands to defeat Article 5 of the town warrant. The article proposed cutting two driver-dispatcher positions from the Machias Fire Department budget, for a tax savings of $81,585, and prompted extensive voter discussion.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

 Since at least Saturday, June 3 thousands of adult river herring attempting to migrate downstream after spawning in the Union River have been killed or injured while passing through Brookfield Energy’s Leonard Lake Dam in downtown Ellsworth.  Community members have reported seeing hundreds of dead fish floating down stream below the dam and the Route 1 bridge on multiple occasions over the past 12 days.  Dead fish have been seen as far downstream as the City’s Harbor Park.