A need for more law enforcement officers across the region was a key finding of a recent countywide task force. While the issue has been identified, there are no easy answers to addressing the shortage, according to county officials who discussed the task force report during a May 2 meeting.

Piscataquis Community High School held off a seventh inning rally bid by visiting Penquis Valley High School during a Class C North softball game on May 5 between the two regional rivals.

Ten articles were approved at the 2017 annual town meeting on April 29 at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building gymnasium, with these items now moving to the Tuesday, June 13 referendum ballot .

Seven runs, six of which came with two outs, in the home half of the third inning helped Dexter Regional High School break open an April 28 Class C North baseball contest vs. regional rival Penquis Valley High School. The Tigers would finish with a baker’s dozen run total on the scoreboard to win 13-4.

The Brownville Police Department has been formally disbanded following a special town meeting on May 1 at the Brownville Elementary School.

A new $3 million facility bringing services such as radiology, phlebotomy and behavior health to the area, doubling the number of exam rooms from seven to 14 and providing for greater patient privacy opened its doors on April 25. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital’s Northwoods Healthcare new clinic at 22 Haley Court formally dedicated the facility that afternoon.

During an April 24 selectmen’s meeting the board scheduled a public hearing on a 180-day moratorium extension for the Monday, May 22 meeting. If granted the policy would continue through late November.

Downtown Monson is undergoing a transformation thanks to the Portland-based Libra Foundation as the non-profit organization has purchased several buildings and is in the process of replacing these structures as part of its mission of making significant contributions to worthy causes across Maine.

Following the vote made at last month’s annual town meeting to defund the department, a special town meeting asking if residents will disband the Brownville Police Department and discontinue town police services has been scheduled for Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Brownville Elementary.

Wilsons on Moosehead Lake was recently recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The establishment and its owners Alison and Scott Snell were named as the organization’s 2017 Maine Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year and the couple will be receiving the honor on May 15 at the Maine Small Business Awards in Freeport.