All children under the age of 18 will again be able to enjoy free summer meals across town, with no sign up required. The summer meals schedule is as follows:

A proposed 2019-20 SAD 41 budget of $9,639,532 was approved with all 15 articles passing with minimal discussion over 15 minutes during the annual district meeting June 13 at the Penquis Valley School. The approximate $9.6 million total is now moved to a referendum in the district towns of Brownville, LaGrange and Milo on Thursday, June 27 for a “yes” or “no” vote.

Next month a new county manager will start work as the Piscataquis County Commissioners appointed Michael L. Williams of Greenbush to the position during a June 18 meeting. Williams will start work on Monday, July 8, succeeding the retiring Tom Lizotte.

The SAD 4 school board approved a proposed $9,639,532 budget for the 2019-20 academic year during a June 5 meeting at the Penquis Valley School. The directors also scheduled the district budget meeting for 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 13 -- with an information session before at 5:30 p.m. -- at the school with the validation referendum in Brownville, LaGrange and Milo two weeks later on Thursday, June 27.

The state legislation that’s required for Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft to merge with Northern Light Health could be approved by next week, but it won’t include conditions proposed by a Piscataquis County lawmaker that would have given the towns that now own the hospital more control over the deal.

Local chapters of the National Honor Society.

As state lawmakers continue to evaluate a bill that would allow Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft to merge with the statewide Northern Light Health system, they must also consider a recent proposal that would give more control of the process to the communities that now oversee the hospital.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine spent Saturday, May 25 visiting with constituents from the Milo/Brownville area and touring local businesses. The day began with coffee and doughnuts at American Legion Post 41 of Milo where the Second District Congressman spoke individually with some veterans and then addressed the group thanking veterans for their service and reflecting on the significance of Memorial Day.

Larry Worcester, who is originally from Brownville and is a former Washburn High School teacher and long-time Aroostook County educator, has taken the helm of SAD 45 in Washburn and is bringing a spirit of collaboration.

Many visitors to Baxter State Park, the Golden Road, the Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway and other destinations in and near Piscataquis County will be able to learn more about the region, and use some new public restroom facilities, at a forthcoming Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) information hub at Millinocket Lake by the North Woods Trading Post and the Golden Road in T1 R9.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine will spend Saturday, May 25 visiting Milo and talking with constituents as he tours several venues in the area to begin the Memorial Day weekend. Local residents are encouraged to come out and meet with Golden and his staff at the American Legion in the morning and/or at Bissell Brothers Three Rivers in the afternoon.

A public hearing on bill “LD 1708” to amend the HAD 4 charter to authorize the merger between Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft and Northern Light Health, a statewide system comprised of hospitals across Maine, has been scheduled by the 129th Legislature’s state and local government committee for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15 in Augusta at the Cross Building, Room 214. More information is available at http://legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Committees/SLG.

Honored as the 2019 Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year is art educator Bobbi Tardif of SeDoMoCha Middle School in Dover-Foxcroft. Tardif is a resident of Corinna

On Saturday, May 4 American Legion Unit 41 Auxiliary of Milo hosted a luncheon to thank area first responders. There were 35 in attendance, representing the Milo Police Department, Three Rivers Ambulance and the Milo, Brownville, Sebec and LaGrange fire departments. Each organization was presented with a plaque and certificate in recognition of all the work done to protect the communities.

At the May 1 SAD 46 school board meeting the following students at the Tri-County Technical Center (TCTC) in Dexter were introduced for their recent achievements:

While most all-terrain vehicle riders are safe and respectful while operating their ATVs, some others aren’t. On May 1, Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced that she has formed an ATV Initiatives Task Force to address the riders who operate on the wrong side of the law, trespassing, damaging private land and making landowners reassess their access policies.

The Maine Senate enacted LD 555 “An Act To Reduce Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Morality by Updating Screening Coverage” after the bill received unanimous support in both the Maine Senate and House of Representatives.

Penquis Valley School students traded in their books and pencils for rakes and shovels to get out of the classroom and into the community to give back during the fourth annual Day of Service on the morning of May 2. The grade 5-12 pupils divided into more than a dozen groups to carry out service projects throughout Milo and Brownville as a thank you to those who support the school and its programs.