In partnership with the United Way of Northeastern Maine, Helping Hands with Heart (HHH) has received one of six Early Childhood Community Planning Grants in the amount of $25,000 from The Maine Community Foundation. These funds will support a rigorous study of the region’s age 0-5 population, map community resources, identify barriers to early childhood education and develop local solutions intended to help communities ensure their youngest children are ready to learn and thrive when they begin school.

The town council passed an emergency moratorium ordinance regarding medical retail marijuana during a Sept. 13 meeting. The moratorium ordinance will be in effect for 60 days through Nov. 12 -- residents can still use medicinal and recreational marijuana within the law -- as the document covers the location, operation, permitting, approval or licensing of any medical marijuana retail stores, registered dispensaries, testing facilities and manufacturing facilities in Dexter.

Quilters of all experience levels are welcome to gather at The Commons at Central Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. each Tuesday. The Adult Quilting Group, facilitated by Cathy Flockton of Dover-Foxcroft and Roe O’Toole of Dexter, began in June, but “it seems like every two weeks a new person shows up, and that’s fine. The more the merrier,” O’Toole said.

An Integrated, Consolidated 9-16 Educational Facility Pilot Project involving four of the area’s school districts, the Tri-County Technical Center (TCTC) and the Jackman school system remains on a list of state fudning finalists. The local collaboration is again ranked third behind projects in northern and southern Aroostook County, the same position on several previous rating lists from earlier in the year.

Two other regional proposals that also made the approved priority list must now wait to see if the state will find additional monies to fund their projects. The third-ranked proposal was submitted by officials from SAD 46 (Dexter area), SAD 4 (Guilford area), SAD 41 (Milo area) RSU 82/MSAD 12 in the Jackman area, the Greenville school district and the Dexter-based Tri-County Technical Center.

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.

The man accused of stealing a Dexter police cruiser while handcuffed in May and leading police on a high-speed chase down rural roads was indicted July 26 by the Penobscot County grand jury on nearly a dozen charges.

Every guitar has a story to tell, believes David Iverson as the history of each instrument may reveal who has played it, where it has been and can also conjure up memories for the guitarist. Iverson plans to share many tales when his Story Teller Guitars store opens in early August.

As part of its Community Care Program, Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union recently presented a donation to the Valley Grange of Guilford. Employees contributed based on their “dress down” Fridays with the proceeds being distributed to local community organizations.

Following questions on the mill rate for a proposed 2018-19 net municipal budget of $4,566,286, the Dexter Town Council opted to table a decision on enacting the spending plan until next month during a July 12 meeting.

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.

A Connecticut man accused of shooting a Garland resident in his home on April 19 was indicted Wednesday, June 27 by the Penobscot County grand jury on one count each of robbery and elevated aggravated assault. Neftali Colon, 34, of Hartford remained at the Penobscot County Jail unable to post $200,000 cash bail.

The handcuffed man accused of stealing a Dexter police cruiser in May was indicted Wednesday, June 27 on unrelated charges for allegedly stealing a car in January. A Penobscot County grand jury indicted Tyler D. Tibbetts, 22, on two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, driving after his license was revoked and attaching false plates, according to the Penobscot County District Attorney’s office.

Students at the SeDoMoCha School will have a new principal when they return to classes in several months as the RSU 68 board of directors unanimously (7-0) voted to employ Ridge View Community School of Dexter Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Adam Gudroe during a June 19 meeting.

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville presented Dexter Police Officer Kenneth Spaulding with a Legislative Sentiment at the June 14 Dexter Town Council meeting. The sentiment recognizes Officer Spaulding’s achievement of earning a 2018 Community Hero Real Heroes Award from the American Red Cross of Maine for saving the life of an infant who had stopped breathing by performing CPR until an ambulance crew arrived to take over.

Results for Dover-Foxcroft, RSU 68 and SAD 46 referendums on June 12.

A proposed $14,575,628 SAD 46 budget for the 2018-19 academic year was approved at the annual district meeting on June 7 at the Ridge View Community School. The spending package will now go to a referendum in the towns of Dexter, Exeter, Garland and Ripley on Tuesday, June 12 with residents of the four communities voting either “yes” or “no” to make a district-wide decision.

A Superior Court judge has denied a new trial to a Guilford man serving two life sentences for the 1999 execution-style slayings of his ex-girlfriend and the toddler she was babysitting.