Weston Bragg, 8, falls into ice-crusted snow Tuesday while he and brother Desmond, 10, used sleds to slide down the hill in the pasture next to their home in Sidney. The boys made a handful of runs on the hill and found it difficult to climb up without falling and sliding back down. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Abby Leger, left, gives a thumbs up as the rules for the final round are announced Thursday, Feb. 2, during the Kennebec County Spelling Bee at Cony Middle and High School in Augusta. Leger, an eighth grader at Cony, won and Abhinav Reddy, an eighth grader at St. Michael School in Augusta, finished second. Both will go on to compete at the state bee in March. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Nordic skiers compete Sunday, Feb. 5, during the men’s 7.5K Freestyle race at the Roy Varney Memorial Eastern Cup at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville. More than 400 skiers from New England competed in eight mass start races during the event. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

The Cony Concert Choir performs Tuesday on the fourth floor under the dome at the Maine State House in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Hunter Libby, 8, of Waldoboro, right, is swung Sunday, Feb. 5, by Steve Krause of Huard’s Martial Arts as they battle Kacie Benner, also of Waldoboro, during the Maine Sci-Fi & Fantasy Nerd Fest at The Olde Mill Place in Vassalboro. They were using foam swords during their battle. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

The Solon Hotel Restaurant & Pub reflects Wednesday in water in the parking lot at 4 S. Main St. The hotel, built in 1895, is scheduled to reopen Friday after having been closed for about a year for renovations. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

Gardiner girls basketball players, from left, Megan Gallagher, McKenna Johnson and Lizzy Gruber celebrate their victory over Lawrence during a girls basketball game Tuesday in Fairfield. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Noble team personnel celebrate as Hannah Perro pins Massabesic’s John Madigan to win the 106-pound match during the state duals wrestling meet Saturday, Feb. 4, at Cony High School in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Lawrence’s Alisabeth Dumont dives for a loose ball during a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A game against Nokomis on Friday night, Feb. 3, in Fairfield. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

Carl Sheesley stands outside The Lighthouse soup kitchen in Waterville on Saturday, Feb. 4, as temperatures dropped to a dangerous low below zero. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

The Lady of Wisdom statue atop the Maine State House is seen through condensation coming out of the Cross State Office Building on Saturday, Feb. 4, as temperatures plunge to minus 15 degrees in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal