The first versions of the 2019 Piscataquis County budget and 2019-20 unorganized territory (UT) budget have been finalized as drafts of each spending plan was presented to the county commissioners during an Oct. 2 meeting.

Dover-Foxcroft Police Sgt. Todd Lyford was honored by the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department for his actions during a fiery car crash in late July. Lyford was presented with the State of Maine Lifesaving Medal of Valor by Fire Chief Joe Guyotte for his actions in pulling the driver out of the vehicle at great risk to himself, during a department meeting on Oct. 1 at the fire station.

The sports history of Piscataquis Community High School, previous secondary institutions, and the towns making up SAD 4 is now preserved in one place with the PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame. The inaugural class was formally inducted during an early evening ceremony in the gymnasium on Sept. 29 as part of the school’s annual homecoming festivities.

The Greenville High School boys soccer shined just a tad brighter in overtime as the Lakers won at Piscataquis Community High School under the lights on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 29. In honor of PCHS Homecoming, the 50th anniversary of soccer at the school, and the induction of the inaugural class of the PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame, eight sets of portable lights were brought in to enable the interclass contest to be played in primetime between the regional rivals.

The Foxcroft Academy field hockey team preserved the squad’s scoreless streak during an interclass contest Sept. 27 at neighboring Piscataquis Community High School as the Pony defense prevented the opposition from getting any shots on goal and also yielded zero penalty corners. At the other end Foxcroft scored three times in the first half and four times in the second to earn a 7-0 win for the 9-0 Class B team’s ninth victory in as many games.

During a Sept. 24 meeting, the selectmen scheduled a public hearing for their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 (a date moved back a day on account of Veteran’s Day) to receive comment for another proposed 180-day extension to run from Nov. 22 to May 21, 2019.

An activity that began in high school has now grown into a large component of a business owned by 23-year-old Courtney Nichole Gay with her Courtney Nichole Salon & Photo Studio at the Millworks complex in the renovated woolen mill building in downtown Dexter.

Partners for Peace, the domestic violence resource center serving Piscataquis and Penobscot counties, will be observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month with three End Domestic Violence Days across the two county region in October, including from 2-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2 in Dover-Foxcroft.

Earlier in the month the Piscataquis County Commissioners asked County Manager Tom Lizotte to collect proposals to fund an upgrade to the radio system for the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s to replace antiquated dispatch equipment with components dating to the 1980s. During a Sept. 18 meeting the commissioners approved a lease purchase proposal from Gorham Savings Bank for a total of a little more than $127,000 to be paid over five years.

Touchdowns following a pair of second half turnovers and a blocked PAT helped Foxcroft Academy earn a 28-20 victory vs. fellow Class D North 2-0 program North Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln under the lights on Sept. 14 at Oakes Field. The Pony defense also forced two other turnovers in the second half and while these changes of possession did not lead to any points, the plays helped prevent the Lynx from finding the endzone on each drive.