On Saturday, Aug. 4 at approximately 12:45 p.m. Maine Warden Service divers being pulled underwater with planing boards located the body of Robert Hammond, 66, of Hanson, Mass.

The Academy of General Dentistry, a professional association of more than 40,000 general dentists who are dedicated to professional excellence through the pursuit of continuing education, is pleased to announce that Daniel L. Steinke, DDS, MAGD of Steinke & Caruso Dental Care in Dover-Foxcroft has earned the 2018 Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition for his commitment to lifelong learning, volunteering his services to communities in need, mentoring associates and new dentists and participating in organized dentistry. This is the second time Dr. Steinke has received this prestigious award.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gregory A. Sloat of Dover-Foxcroft, who perished in the crash of an HMH 463 helicopter in Vietnam on Feb. 18, 1971, will be awarded the Purple Heart, thanks to the diligence of his fellow Marines.

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.

The selectmen set the tax commitment for the 2018-19 fiscal year during a July 23 meeting, with the mill rate rising 30 cents from last year to a rate of $21.20 per $1,000 in assessed property.

The SeDoMoCha School administrative staff for the 2018-19 school year is now all in place as Andrew Shaw was hired as the pre-kindergarten to grade 8 assistant principal during a July 18 special meeting of the RSU 68 school board.

A Piscataquis County jury on Thursday, July 19 found a Baileyville man guilty of a series of charges stemming from an assault on his girlfriend and her son in early January, according to District Attorney R. Christopher Almy.

A couple formerly from the area who have resided in Michigan since 1991 decided to do something a bit different for their annual trip back to Maine. Dawn and Paul Finnemore decided to bring two dozen of their closest friends along on a motorcycle ride from the midwest to the northeast for a seven-day tour across the state.

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.

Over the summer months children visiting the Thompson Free Library on Wednesday afternoons will have the opportunity to get more comfortable and confident with their word skills thanks to “READing with Erma.”

The search for a plan to bid a Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) storage garage bid will continue after only one proposal was received after the project went out to bid a second time. With the bid totaling more than double the project estimate, the Piscataquis County Commissioners passed a motion during a July 10 meeting for County EMA Director Tom Capraro to speak with contractors himself and negotiate a proposal for the approximate 1,400-square foot building.

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.

The Piscataquis County Committee of the Maine Community Foundation has awarded more than $55,000 in grants to eight nonprofits located across the region.

A former Foxcroft Academy soccer star is again helping dozens of young players in kindergarten through grade 8 improve their skills on the pitch through his annual Ayala Soccer Academy. The third annual camp run by 2016 Foxcroft Academy graduate Tino Ayala was held in Dover-Foxcroft from June 25-29.

The fifth annual event is set for Saturday, July 7 with a pre-hike ceremony and American Legion Post 116 barbecue, live music by rock band Recall, a 50/50 raffle and door prizes to all start around noon. For more information, please see the Wilderness Walk for Warriors Facebook page.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Angus King, I-Maine announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Maine Superior Court Justice Lance Walker, a native of Piscataquis County, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. His nomination will now be considered by the full Senate.

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.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine recently met with Kaitlin Young, general and vocal music teacher at SeDoMoCha Elementary and Middle School, in her Washington, D.C., office. Young is the recipient of the 2018 Maine Teacher of the Year Award. She has taught at the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft for eight years and was previously named the 2017 Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year.