Piscataquis County needs more law enforcement officers. That’s one of the findings of a countywide task force -- comprised of town managers, police personnel and citizens -- that began meeting earlier this year to address law enforcement needs and processes, such as patrol, staff recruitment, coverage, mutual aid, communication, use of vehicles and contracts with towns. A final summary report and recommendations from the task force on how to strengthen police protection offered in the most efficient and affordable manner was presented to the Piscataquis County Commissioners during an April 4 meeting.

At last month’s annual town meeting, residents -- by a count of 131 to 43 -- voted to defund the Brownville Police Department after March 31 and rely on the existing coverage from the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office for the region as of April 1. During a selectmen’s meeting April 5 at Brownville Elementary, attendees learned that town officials are consulting with legal counsel on how to proceed. A special town meeting may be held in the future, with potential warrant articles concerning whether to formally dissolve the police department and the sale of police vehicles and equipment

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Earlier this year an application made by the town of Dover-Foxcroft to join the AARP/World Health Organization Network of Age Friendly Communities was approved.

On Saturday, April 29 residents will gather in the gymnasium at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building at 9 a.m. to vote on a 10-article warrant at the annual town meeting. Items approved on April 29 will then go to the referendum ballot set for Tuesday, June 13.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Ryan Reardon, who grew up in Dexter and has worked in law enforcement since 1994 including for a time as the interim sheriff of Kennebec County, was appointed as the chief of the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department effective as of April 30, by the selectmen during a March 27 meeting.

GUILFORD — The first formal step toward pursuing an integrated, consolidated grade 9-16 educational facility shared by SAD 4 and SAD 46 of the Dexter-area was taken by the SAD 4 school board as the directors authorized Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick to work with SAD 46 officials — who approved the application during a school board meeting earlier in the month — on the initial project application, during a March 21 meeting at Piscataquis Community Secondary School.

DEXTER — Having lost a member of the school community last year to suicide, students involved in the Seeds of Peace program at Dexter Regional High School wanted to do something to break the stigma related to mental health issues.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — High school and youth swimmers competing at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA will now be able to instantly see their times upon finishing.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The morning after Brownville residents voted to defund the community’s police department after the end of March — at town meeting citizens amended the proposed $167,620 budget line item to $35,767 or the estimated cost for the first three months of the year — county officials discussed the future of law enforcement services in eastern Piscataquis County during a March 21 commissioners’ meeting.

BROWNVILLE — Residents decided to stop funding the town’s police department during the annual town meeting on March 20.