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🌱 Why are Franklin County commissioners giving up their health insurance stipends?

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Good morning to you Farmington! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why are Franklin County commissioners giving up their health insurance stipends?
  • How a former Farmington shoe factory figures into a $13M pot case
  • Could Jay’s trash shake-up signal changes ahead for Farmington pickups?

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Farmington? Post it to Farmington photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Find out what's happening in Farmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Farmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 31 and low of 16 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Wednesday: Cloudy, temps: high: 36, low: 21.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 35 and low of 31 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Second Franklin County commissioner stops accepting health insurance stipend (newscentermaine.com) — Franklin County commissioners, including Farmington’s Fen Fowler, are moving to end their own $6,000 health insurance stipends retroactive to July 1 after pushback from the Farmington Select Board and the county Budget Advisory Committee. Farmington board members, who help oversee the county budget, say the cuts were legal and want commissioners to accept the decision and focus on improving next year’s budget process.
   

• Lucas Sirois, Franklin County pot operation ringleader, seeks acquittal (wgme.com) — A major federal marijuana case tied to Franklin County included a 2020 law enforcement raid at a former shoe factory on High Street in Farmington, underscoring the town’s role in the investigation. Now, convicted ringleader Lucas Sirois is asking the court to overturn five of his convictions or grant a new trial, arguing prosecutors failed to prove the seized material was illegal marijuana rather than hemp.
   

• Jay takes first step toward changing contractor for trash pickup (newscentermaine.com) — Jay officials are moving toward replacing Archie's as the town’s trash and recycling hauler, a change that could affect service expectations in Farmington, which Archie's also serves. The board advanced a pricier contract with Riverside Disposal, approved funds to refurbish used police cruisers instead of buying new, and began planning 2026 firefighter wage increases tied to the state minimum wage hike.
   

📸 Around Farmington

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Walmart posted a job opening for Front End Service Team Supervisor in Farmington. Apply here.
  • McDonald's posted a job opening for 4:00 am - 11:00 am Team Member Shifts in Farmington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Farmington here.

🗞 Nearby News

Wilton

  • Franklin County commissioners still getting stipends removed from budget (sunjournal.com)

Jay

  • Jay-area school district defends transgender sports policy as public continues debate (sunjournal.com)
  • Spruce Mountain set to join high schools banning cellphones (newscentermaine.com)
  • Start Here: Filling Maine's worker shortage + Road debate could lead to lawsuit (sunjournal.com)

Ok Farmington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
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