Dunn, Rosignol, Warner, The Anchor Win MBACC Awards

By Will Tuell

By Paul Sylvain

A newly created position of Machias operations manager, which was vaguely funded without being specifically named in last year’s annual town meeting warrant, has been reposted with a new name — operations coordinator — and a revised set of qualifications and responsibilities. 

In the span of about a year, Sarah Craighead Dedmon went from serving as recording secretary for the Machias Selectboard and Planning Board to the town’s first operations manager, on an interim basis, and for the past two months, permanent town manager.

Construction a Go but Still a ‘Wait-See’

By Nancy Beal

One year to the day from last spring’s oral arguments before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court,

Kingfish Maine received word that it had prevailed in the last of a string of challenges mounted by groups opposed to its plan to bring industrial land-based fish farming to Jonesport. 

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias School Board last week submitted its proposed 2025-26 budget to town officials, representing an overall increase of around 3.15%, which is up $265,157 to $8,674,699, from $8,409,542 last year. However, the proverbial elephant in the room is what the education cost will actually be if President Trump makes good on his threat to withhold federal money from Maine over Gov. Janet Mills’ hard-line stand allowing transgenders born as males to play in girls’ sports in Maine’s schools.

By Paul Sylvain

Governor Janet Mills swore in Carl Wilson as Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) on April 8, following the Maine Senate’s unanimous vote to confirm his nomination.

By Nancy Beal

Some 30 Beals residents gathered in the elementary school gym April 7 to act on a 58-article warrant at their annual town meeting.

Moderator Terry Beal guided voters in a meeting lasting a little over two hours. In the end, voters agreed to raise a total of $348,251, as well as reelecting all incumbent town officers to their posts. 

One departmental position — road commissioner — was absorbed into the selectmen’s duties, and the $3,000 salary, raised for that role last year, was moved into the surplus account. 

By Nancy Beal

Jonesport Fire Chief Boyde Crowley brought good news to his town’s selectmen April 9; the department’s pumper truck that was destroyed while battling a fire on Beals on March 28 is covered by insurance. 

And he had even more good news to share with the board. The town of Cutler has loaned the Jonesport Fire Department a 40-year-old pumper until a permanent replacement for the destroyed vehicle can be found.

Jonesport’s truck was pumping water on a massive, fully involved house fire on Beals Island last

By Paul Sylvain

Whitneyville Selectboard Chairman Nate Pennell is disputing claims at a public meeting that his town was invited but failed to attend a March 21 meeting in Machias to discuss a regional policing plan being floated by Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier.

By Paul Sylvain

Any team is only as strong as its weakest member. It’s true in sports, the military, and with first responders. And as Machiasport volunteer firefighter David Cale will tell you, strength comes from teamwork and training. Lots of training.

By Will Tuell

It is a cornerstone of life Downeast that, when a beloved community member is in distress, his or her family members, friends, and the broader community respond to the crisis in a big way.