There is a thief in Dover-Foxcroft. It currently exists in the proposed revision of the town charter and it's ready to steal away your right to vote all the budgetary warrant articles presented on the ballot at the June municipal election. That's right! If you approve the revised town charter appearing as a referendum on this June's ballot you will effectively lose the ability to vote by secret ballot on any budget-related item except a "bottom line" budget total.

Taxed enough already? Well, yes and no. In our last letters we discussed taxes levied by the State of Maine. About 50 percent of their revenue comes from regressive sales taxes and another 40 percent comes from (very) mildly progressive income taxes (the rest from licenses and other taxes).

The Forest Society of Maine (FSM), a land trust serving Maine’s North Woods, holds nearly 1 million acres of forestland in conservation easements. A good portion of the conservation easements we hold surround the Moosehead Lake region and extend to the north, west and east including many mountains, lakes and rivers. The conservation easements typically allow for continued sustainable forest management and the landowners, who still own the land, continue to pay taxes on the land. The public benefits from the permanently assured public access and the conservation of wildlife habitat, special natural areas, recreational assets, and scenic beauty the easements ensure.

After facing a number of referendums last November with questionable constitutionality, one state senator is looking to prevent such questions from being posed to Maine voters. Republican Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Androscoggin, submitted legislation last week that would amend the Maine State Constitution and prevent unconstitutional referendum questions from appearing on Maine ballots.

Suppose you’re a young, aspiring musician living in Piscataquis County. Or a young musician whose family is relocating to Piscataquis County. What kind of music scene will you find there?

The 45th annual Piscataquis River Race, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft, is scheduled for Saturday, April 22. Canoeists and kayakers will start from King Cummings Park in Guilford and paddle about 10 miles down river to Foxcroft Academy.

Dexter Regional High School is proud to announce that the following pupils have been selected by the faculty and staff as "Students of the Month" for March, from left, grade 9: Jacob Cardelli, grade 10: Ashley Crawford, grade 11: Mathison Deering and grade 12: Myeongah (Jane) Yoon.

Piscataquis Community Elementary School students were recently treated to a concert by the University of Maine Percussion Ensemble.

Over the past five months the Foxcroft Academy Key Club has been extremely busy raising money for different projects the membership feels passionate about. On April 13 at a special in-school presentation, the Foxcroft Academy Key Club presented nine area groups and/or families with checks ranging from $100 to $500. In all over $3,500 was given out, raising the total that the Key Club has raised and donated to to over $19,000 this school year alone.

The Maine Warden Service celebrated its 137th anniversary on April 14 at the Winslow VFW. This year’s Legendary Game Warden Award was presented to Retired Game Warden Don Annis of Monson.