A Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant who goes above and beyond the call of duty and who gives back in other ways has been honored by the Valley Grange with the organization’s 2018 Community Citizen of the Year honor. Lt. Jamie Kane received the recognition on the evening of May 18 at the Grange Hall.

Four years ago residents approved an ordinance concerning private distribution corridors, including paved highways, pipelines and high-tension transmission lines. The moratorium enacted in 2014 -- meaning permits for these types of development projects cannot be granted during the timeline -- was in effect for 180​ ​days.​ ​The​ ​moratorium​ ​has​ ​since​ ​been​ ​renewed​ ​seven ​times​ ​with​ ​the​ ​current​ ​extension​ ​in​ ​place​ ​through​ ​May 25. During a May 14 meeting, the selectmen approved another 180-day extension which will be in effect from May 26 to Nov. 21.

Visitors young and old were able to learn about the life of Anne Frank and think about how lessons from Europe during World War II can be applied today as the “Anne Frank: A History for Today” traveling exhibit was on display at The Commons at Central Hall from May 2-11.

After a decade of efforts to preserve and rebuild the more than 135-year-old Central Hall on East Main Street, the new look and renamed The Commons at Central Hall was formally opened to the public with a ceremony on the afternoon of May 12. The facility will now house an event center on the upper level and senior center and adult day services center is planned for the future on the first floor.

A proposed budget totaling $11,559,908 and 11 budget warrant articles making up the spending plan were approved by the RSU 68 school board during a May 8 meeting at the SeDoMoCha School. The directors also scheduled the annual district budget meeting for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29 with an information session right before at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria/multipurpose room.

Fourteen hits coming from each member of the starting lineup and runs scored in five of seven innings helped Greenville High School earn a 14-3 victory at Piscataquis Community High School during a May 9 interclass contest.

The search for the next principal of the Penquis Valley School is now underway, with interviews scheduled for later in the month, the school board learned during a May 2 meeting.

Players, coaches, teams and individuals who have made significant contributions to the Piscataquis Community High School athletic program and/or past educational institutions in towns that today are part of SAD 4 will have the opportunity to be honored in the newly-formed PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

Paving on stretches of roads in Blanchard and Moosehead Junction will be done this summer by Vaughn D. Thibodeau II, Inc. of Bangor after the company’s low bid of $146,160 was approved by the Piscataquis County Commissioners during a May 1 meeting.

On Thursday, May 10 residents of the SAD 41 towns of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo will head to their respective polls to vote on an approximate $2.3 million heating system upgrade and energy efficiency project at the Penquis Valley School.