To the Editor; Here it is October and the school board has just rolled out version 4 of a budget that should have been settled before July 1, and that has failed at public vote 3 times.

To the Editor; After six months and three failed budgets, there is finally some good news for residents and taxpayers of SAD 4.

To the Editor; The Red County Caucus, founded by Senator Paul T. Davis and like-minded County Republicans, is proud of the fact that Piscataquis County was the only county in all of New England that failed to elect President Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

In 1865 Horace Greeley advised “Go West, young man, and grow up with the country.” Long before these words were penned Americans were steadily moving to the west seeking new land. They moved westward in waves as early as 1776.

The beginning of a new school year is a good time to ask, “Are our state’s youngest students ready to learn and thrive in a school environment?” And, as we all have a vested interest in the quality of Maine’s future workforce, we also should ask, “Are our state’s early learners on a solid path to succeed, so they graduate on time with the necessary skills to be ready for college and the workplace?”

DOWN THE ROADA PIECEBy Milt Gross As soon as I moved to Maine as a fledgling minister, I bought my first shotgun from Bob, who owned a tiny store in Bethel.

AUGUSTA — Brenda Withers, CNA of Greenville and an employee of the Hibbard Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dover-Foxcroft, recently received the Maine Ombudsman Program 2016 Excellence in Long Term Care Award during a recognition ceremony at the Blaine House.

AUGUSTA — Patricia Whitman, CNA, of of Greenville and an employee of the Hibbard Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dover-Foxcroft, recently received the Maine Health Care Association (MHCA) 2016 Celebrating Excellence in Caregiving Award during a recognition ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center.

The JD Foundation and Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative will be offering workshops across the region in the next few weeks to teach warning signs and what to do if you or someone you know may be feeling suicidal.

GUILFORD — The Mid-Maine Duplicate Bridge Club played on Oct.