Two months ago the Dexter Town Council passed a moratorium ordinance regarding medical retail marijuana. The moratorium ordinance is in effect for 180 days through May 11, 2019 -- residents can still use medicinal and recreational marijuana within the law -- as the document covers the location, operation, permitting, approval or licensing of any medical marijuana retail stores, registered dispensaries, testing facilities, and manufacturing facilities in Dexter.

Last month three referendum questions concerning the town land use ordinance -- a revised ordinance, an ordinance concerning transportation corridors, and an ordinance on large-scale water extraction -- were each voted down. In the weeks since the Dover-Foxcroft Planning Board has met and devised a series of recommendations, which were presented to the selectmen during a Dec. 17 meeting.

The Penquis Valley High School girls overcame an eight-point deficit to start the fourth quarter, taking advantage of being in the bonus well before the opposition and then getting into the double bonus, with a 19-7 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes of play to defeat Stearns High School of Millinocket 40-36 in a Class C North contest on Dec. 19.

Each year about this time, the Maine Warden Service urges us to use extreme caution before venturing out onto any ice that may be covering Maine’s waterways.

During the annual Hometown Holidays Celebration on Dec. 1-2, 25 decorated trees and accompanying goods were on display at The Commons at Central Hall for the SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club’s fourth annual Miracle Tree Event.

The Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office did not have to look far to find the the department’s next chief deputy with the hiring of Dover-Foxcroft Police Department Sgt. Todd Lyford, who also has served as a police chief in Brownville and Milo. Sheriff-Elect and current Chief Deputy Bob Young made the announcement during the Dec. 18 meeting of the Piscataquis County Commissioners.

The Foxcroft Academy girls battled back to get within one at 29-28 late in the third quarter during the Ponies’ 2018-19 home opener in a Class B North matchup against Mount Desert Island High School on Wednesday, Dec. 12. The Trojans would then pull ahead and hold on for a 52-36 victory.

Piscataquis Community High School is the home of the Pirates, but over the decades the swashbuckler logo for the institution has varied. SAD 4 district officials have been seeking public input on the pirate design and lettering -- including posting four options on the PCHS Pirates Sports Central Facebook page -- for a new LED digital sign to be erected in the near future.

A Milo couple who over the last half decade have given back in the form of the Three Rivers Kiwanis Building, the Harrigan Learning Center & Museum, and the Milo-Brownville & Points North Visitor Center, all located in their hometown’s Eastern Piscataquis Business Park, have been honored as the 16th recipients of the Warren “Pete” Myrick Award by the Executive Committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC). Tom and Nancy Harrigan were presented with the honor on Dec. 10 at The Commons at Central Hall during the PCEDC annual meeting.

Eligible residents of the Dexter area in need of home repairs will have the opportunity to get these improvements taken care of at no cost when hundreds of volunteers come to town in late July. The Colorado-based Group Workcamps Foundation’s Group Mission Trips organization will be in Dexter from July 21-27, 2019.