On Tuesday, Nov. 6 Atkinson residents will be heading to the polls for a final vote on deorganization, which if passed would go into effect on July 1, 2019 with the municipality becoming part of the Pisctaquis County Unorganized Territory (UT). The town hall will be open for the referendum from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day. Residents will also be voting on a question asking if the town shall withdraw from SAD 41.

With total operating expenses having surpassed net patient revenue for more than half a decade, Mayo Regional Hospital officials and its governing HAD 4 board of directors have been looking at options for the long-term future of the West Main Street facility. A possibility being explored is for Mayo Regional Hospital to become part of Eastern Maine Health System -- which at the start of the month took on the new name Northern Light Health -- and hospital officials were present at the Oct. 22 Dover-Foxcroft selectmen’s meeting to discuss the potential change.

Three minutes after tying an Oct. 19 afternoon Class B North semifinal vs. third-seeded Winslow High School 1-1, No. 2 Foxcroft fell behind again at 2-1. The second Black Raider goal would end the afternoon’s scoring as the team won 2-1 to advance to Wednesday evening’s regional championship against top-seeded Gardiner Area High School at Thomas College in Waterville.

In recognition of its many projects big and small across the region, the state, and beyond and numerous ways of giving back to the community, Gordon Contracting of Sangerville was selected as the 2018 Piscaaquis Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. The honor was formally bestowed to Owner/President Brian Howard, his wife Samantha Howard (who handles human resources for the company), and Gordon Contracting employees during the Chamber’s annual meeting on Oct. 18 at The Commons Event Center at The Commons at Central Hall.

In late July the Piscataquis County United Bikers of Maine took a ride to Moxie Falls, not only traveling to Somerset County for a picnic but to raise money for Pine Tree Hospice. Through ride proceeds, the group was comprised of 19 bikes and 22 people, T-shirt sales, and a raffle a total of $1,300 was raised for Pine Tree Hospice.

Two weeks after five bids were opened for the record management system at the Piscataquis County Registry of Deeds, the proposal made by Info Quick Solutions Inc. was approved by the county commissioners during an Oct. 16 meeting.

The town council passed a moratorium ordinance regarding medical retail marijuana during an Oct. 11 meeting. The moratorium ordinance will be 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.

Three drives in the first quarter that each required just a single play helped Foxcroft Academy build a 20-0 lead against Washington Academy of East Machias during the Ponies’ Senior Night on Oct. 12. Foxcroft is set to play at Oakes Field again this season, most likely after a bye in the opening round of the Class D North playoffs, as the team earned a 41-0 victory to improve to 7-0 on the season with the Ponies’ first shutout of 2018.

Students at SeDoMoCha Elementary got into the season by filling a “Storybook Pumpkin Patch” in the school library through a contest featuring pumpkins decorated to resemble a character from the pupils’ favorite books.

From a pool of 300 nominations to 16 county winners who were narrowed down to eight semifinalists and three finalists, there is only one 2019 Maine Teacher of the Year. The honoree is Piscataquis Community High School English teacher Joseph Hennessey and the award announcement was made by Maine Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Robert G. Hasson Jr. during an assembly in the gym on Friday, Oct. 12.