Reps. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, Thomas Skolfield, R-Weld, and Norman Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft, have formed the House Broadband Caucus to advocate for building out Maine’s broadband infrastructure in rural parts of the state.

The executive committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) is seeking nominations for the annual Warren "Pete" Myrick Community Service Award, to be presented at the annual meeting of PCEDC in December. Meeting date and location will be disclosed soon.

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.

Dispatchers with the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office are currently using an antiquated radio system, with components dating to the 1980s. Dispatch Sgt. Gary Grant has been working for several years to upgrade the telecommunications division of the department through grants and other funding sources, but in order to complete the project more money is needed. The specifics are to be determined, but the Piscataquis County Commissioners passed a motion to proceed with an upgrade during an Aug. 21 meeting.

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.

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.

Bissell Brothers, among the most popular of Portland-based craft breweries, has opened its long-awaited expansion in Milo. The new brewery, dubbed Bissell Brothers Three Rivers, opened Saturday, July 14 at 157 Elm Street, featuring food from Dover-Foxcroft-based Spruce Mill Farm & Kitchen, and eight taps featuring a rotating array of Bissell Brothers brews, including two Milo-only beers: Waveform, a wild IPA, and Square 3, a barrel-aged saison.

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.

On Sunday, July 15 at approximately 7:15 p.m. Danny Adams, 53, of Farmington, was driving his ATV north along the railroad bed trail when his ATV left the trail and struck some small trees, according to the Maine Warden Service. Adams, who was carrying two juvenile passengers at the time, received serious injuries as a result of the crash.

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 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.

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.

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.

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