With the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) scheduled to release its first round of color designations pertaining to the individual levels of risk for the state’s school districts on Friday, July 31, officials with the region’s education units have been busy making plans for how students return to classes in the fall.

SANGERVILLE — Since taking on the role of the president/CEO of a Pittsfield-based construction company dating back to 1946, moving the firm to Sangerville and changing the name to Gordon Contracting Inc.

MILO — The budget approval process is a bit different this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but residents of Brownville, LaGrange and Milo will still head to their respective polling place and/or vote absentee on Thursday, Aug.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The hilly and mountainous geography of Piscataquis County provides much of the region’s natural beauty, but also creates communications issues for area fire and police departments and emergency medical personnel.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Unexpected costs for Dover-Foxcroft and other Piscataquis County communities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will be covered in part through an approximate $255,000 grant awarded to the town through the Keep Maine Healthy COVID-19 Awareness Campaign.

Thanks to  to the generosity of the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union, Piscataquis County officials will not need to take out a $145,000 bond for the purchase of the former Key Bank building at 2 Hudson Avenue in downtown Guilford to become the new home of the patrol and investigation divisions of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office.

DEXTER — The Dexter Town Council gave its approval to a $6,061,501 municipal budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year during a July 16 meeting.

DEXTER — A $15,389,287 SAD 46 budget for the 2020-21 academic year was approved across the four SAD 46 district communities during the July 14 referendum via a combined count of 617-301.

DEXTER — A proposed $15,389,287 SAD 46 budget for the 2020-21 academic year was approved at the annual district meeting on July 9 at the Ridge View Community School.

MILO — The annual SAD 41 district budget meeting will be different in 2020 as residents of Brownville, LaGrange and Milo can gather remotely via Zoom at 5:30 p.