The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC), in partnership with Helping Hands with Heart (HHH), has received a $10,000 grant from a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation to investigate shared concerns about workforce development, youth aspirations, local youth and the barriers to successful employment in the towns served by five area school districts.

Each year, the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) honors an educator working in the county with the Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year award. The awarded educator’s dedication to fostering students’ learning and understanding of natural resource ecology and related curriculum is why they were selected. This year, the PCSWCD staff and board of supervisors will present Alexandra Conover Bennett, Maine guide and professor at the College of the Atlantic.

The SAD 41 directors had hoped to start the combined project this summer, but instead the plan will be for the elevator to be installed prior to the start of classes and the sprinkler work to be done in the summer of 2019.

On Saturday, July 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. the Milo Historical Society will host its fifth annual art show at the Three Rivers Kiwanis Building, on Gerrish Road off outer Park Street. The art show serves as a fundraiser for the historical society, light refreshments will be available, and the event showcases the talent and creative spirit of community members.

Two of the state’s busiest prosecutorial districts will have new district attorneys in November after long-serving chief prosecutors decided not to seek re-election. Both Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson, a Republican, and Penobscot and Piscataquis County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy, a Democrat, will step aside this winter.

The SAD 41 administrative staff for the 2018-19 school year is now all in place as Angela Kelley was hired as principal for the Milo Elementary School, during a July 9 school board meeting. Kelley was hired with a two-year contract running through the end of June 2020 at an annual salary of $64,000.

Rep. Norm Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft and Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham have announced the establishment of a Broadband Caucus of members of the Legislature to promote the development of high speed Internet in Maine. The bipartisan caucus will provide information and updates on current local and statewide initiatives in preparation for the 128th Legislature.

Darcie Fournier of Milford has been hired as the new AOS 43 assistant superintendent/curriculum coordinator. The action was taken by the AOS 43 board of directors at a June 18th board meeting.

Voters approved a 2018-19 school budget totaling $9,077,841

Last month three bids for constructing a Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) storage garage all came in multiple times more than the project budget. The structure now has gone out to bid again with some revisions to the specs.

A proposed 2018-19 SAD 41 budget of $9,077,841 was approved with all 15 articles passing with minimal discussion over 20 minutes during the annual district budget meeting on June 21 at the Penquis Valley School. The near $9.08 million total is now moved to a referendum in the district towns of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Mlo on Thursday, June 28 for a “yes” or “no” vote.

The dates for the annual district budget meeting and referendum on the 2018-19 SAD 41 budget were both scheduled by the school board during a June 13 meeting at the Penquis Valley School. The annual district budget meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 21 in the Walter E. Oakes Gymnasium at Penquis Valley, with an informational meeting before at 5:30 p.m. The total budget approved across the warrant items then will be moved to a referendum one week later on Thursday, June 28.

The Penquis Valley High School Class of 2018

The region's five chapters of the National Honor Society.

Penquis Valley announces the honor parts for the Class of 2018.

An area of the Eastern Piscataquis Business Park off outer Park Street that once was empty has had several buildings constructed and donated to the Three Rivers Kiwanis Club of Milo/Brownville over the last few years thanks to the generosity of Milo residents Tom and Nancy Harrigan. The Harrigans have provided a Kiwanis Headquarters, auction storage facility, Harris Pond Pavilion and the Harrigan Learning Center and Museum of Fossils, Minerals, and Indian Artifacts.

To approve an approximate $2.3 million funding package for a heating system upgrade, converting from steam to hot water, and energy efficiency project at the Penquis Valley School?

The Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation has awarded Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine’s largest hunger-relief organization, a $200,000 grant to fund strategies for eliminating food insecurity in Piscataquis County and central Maine, including Dexter.