With the first 2018-19 academic year budget meeting set for the end of the month, RSU 68 officials are awaiting financial figures from the Maine Department of Education.

Foxcroft Academy boys soccer and wrestling coach Luis Ayala, who teaches health and physical education at the secondary school, was recognized as the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach on Jan. 4 during the 11th annual Under Armour All-American Game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

A missing Dover-Foxcroft man with dementia has been found safe, police said.

A month after meeting with representatives from RealTerm Energy -- which has contracted with about two dozen Maine communities and other towns across the U.S. and Canada -- the selectmen discussed having a proposed uniform plan for upgrading municipal street lights, during a Dec. 18 meeting.

In early February bids will be due for a pair of projects on the Piscataquis County campus. The first is for renovations to provide for more room at the district attorney’s office on the first floor of the courthouse and the second bid is for the construction of a roof enclosure over the exercise yard at the Piscataquis County Jail.

On Dec. 2-3, as part of the annual Hometown Holidays Celebration, over two dozen decorated trees and accompanying goods were on display at the Mill Event Center. The trees served as more than decorations for the season, but a fundraiser hosted and sponsored by the SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club. Inspired by the Anah Temple Shriners’ Festival of Trees, Builders Club Adviser Heather Whitten said $10,490 was raised through the purchase of raffle tickets

The man who fatally shot his ex-girlfriend then led police on the longest manhunt in state history was sentenced Friday, Dec. 15 to 55 years in prison. Robert Burton, 40, of Abbot, was convicted on Oct. 5 of murdering Stephanie Ginn Gebo, 37, of Parkman.

Crystal Saunders, center of Dover-Foxcroft, is the winner in the Piscataquis Observer’s annual Find the Shop Local Tree Contest. Saunders was awarded a grand prize package of goods from numerous area businesses after her name was drawn from a pool of 10 weekly prize winners

A fire crackled in the woodstove as Mary Margaret Ripley chopped carrots and ginger root. Her husband, Gene Ripley, helped their 20-month old daughter, Harriet, sort the vegetables into glass jars. They then added a scoop of curry powder and a simple mixture of salt and water, brine that would ferment the vegetables over the course of five to seven days. For the Ripleys, fermented vegetables are a way of life.

A 2018 Piscataquis County budget totaling just under $4.25 million and a near $1,489,000 Unorganized Territory (UT) spending plan for the 2018-19 fiscal year were both formally approved by the county commissioners during a Dec. 5 meeting.

With the calendar year nearing a conclusion, RSU 68 officials have started preparations for developing the 2018-19 budget. During a Dec. 5 school board meeting, Superintendent Stacy Shorey said the directors have now all received a budget meeting calendar.

Several inches of snow fell on Dover-Foxcroft over the weekend, leaving a lasting white coating over the town. More snow was forecast for Tuesday to help create a winter wonderland for the holiday season.

Chief Deputy Robert Young has announced that he is seeking the office of sheriff of Piscataquis County in 2018.

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville has announced his intention to run for Maine Senate District 4 in the November 2018 election. Davis currently holds that senate seat, comprised of all of Piscataquis County and parts of Penobscot and Somerset counties.

A proposed $4,247,114 Piscataquis County budget for 2018, along with a little less than $1,489,000 in the Unorganized Territory (UT) budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year, was presented at a public hearing on Nov. 27 as part of the process by county officials for developing the pair of spending plans.

According to a national cellphone company, the most “Most Valuable Coach” in the country resides in Dover-Foxcroft and works with student-athletes at Foxcroft Academy. Following the announcement last week Luis Ayala was formally recognized Monday morning as the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach during an all-school assembly, during which he received a $50,000 check which he has chosen to go to the two sports programs.

Piscataquis County sets aside one day early in December (Saturday, Dec. 2) to celebrate the wonder of Christmas and the magic of the holiday season. This year Monson, Guilford (Friday, Dec. 1), Milo and Dover-Foxcroft are participating.

Many different organizations and individuals have been involved in efforts over the last few years designed to improve the health of residents across the region. Many of these partners in the Feel Good Piscataquis! initiative were recognized during a breakfast on Nov. 16 at the Three Rivers Kiwanis building.