Business officials are excited to announce that Flying Dutchman Paintball has just reached a major milestone. On Oct. 10 they served their 50,000th player. Achieving this accomplishment is due in no small part to a focus on providing a quality experience and outstanding value to each and every one of their customers (that and maybe the fact they are just too stubborn to quit!)

For the first month of school students and families at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School had the opportunity to read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House in the Big Woods” at home together during the ninth annual One Book, One School program -- copies of the book were provided by the school. The shared reading program concluded with a celebration on the evening of Oct. 4.

The Charlotte White Center and Penquis, two prominent nonprofit service providers, announced the merger of the two organizations, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

In May a referendum on an approximate $2.3 million funding package for a heating system upgrade, converting from steam to hot water, and energy efficiency project at the Penquis Valley School was voted down via a count of 166 to 111 across the four SAD 41 communities. In the months since district officials have been discussing what to do next, including at the Oct. 3 meeting.

Dover-Foxcroft town officials and Police Chief Ryan Reardon have been talking with administrators from RSU 68 and Foxcroft Academy about the possibility of a school resource officer working at the SeDoMoCha School and the secondary school. During an Oct. 2 school board meeting at the Charleston Community Center a proposal for the position, to be funded between the two school units and municipality for the 2019-20 academic year, was presented by Reardon.

The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) has awarded an A rating to Rep. Norm Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft. In 2016 he was awarded an A rating.

Police officials from across the region have announced their support for Marianne Lynch, R-Bangor for Piscataquis and Penobscot County district attorney.

When Dover-Foxcroft residents head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6 they will be voting on three land use-related ordinances. Citizens will be asked if they wish to enact a revised land use ordinance, a land use ordinance pertaining to “Mega Projects: Transportation Corridors,” and a land use ordinance pertaining to “Mega Projects: Large-Scale Water Extraction.”

Despite rain and cool temperatures, participants walked in an approximate two-mile color fun run/walk through town and others attended the pre- and post-event ceremonies during the Partners for Peace Dover-Foxcroft End Domestic Violence Day on the afternoon of Oct. 2. The day was the first of three -- observances are taking place later in the month in Lincoln and Bangor on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16 respectively -- hosted by the domestic violence resource center serving Piscataquis and Penobscot counties to encourage the community to take action.

The first versions of the 2019 Piscataquis County budget and 2019-20 unorganized territory (UT) budget have been finalized as drafts of each spending plan was presented to the county commissioners during an Oct. 2 meeting.

Dover-Foxcroft Police Sgt. Todd Lyford was honored by the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department for his actions during a fiery car crash in late July. Lyford was presented with the State of Maine Lifesaving Medal of Valor by Fire Chief Joe Guyotte for his actions in pulling the driver out of the vehicle at great risk to himself, during a department meeting on Oct. 1 at the fire station.

The sports history of Piscataquis Community High School, previous secondary institutions, and the towns making up SAD 4 is now preserved in one place with the PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame. The inaugural class was formally inducted during an early evening ceremony in the gymnasium on Sept. 29 as part of the school’s annual homecoming festivities.

On Sept. 21 the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) honored the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Maine Woods Initiative as the 2018 Cooperator of the Year. The award was presented at Medawisla Lodge for exceptional on-the-ground conservation efforts, educational outreach and overall excellence in sustainable management of the land.

On Thursday, Oct. 18 from 5:30-8 p.m. the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting and Business of the Year celebration at The Commons at Central Hall. The chamber’s board of directors is pleased to announce that this year’s Business of the Year recipient is Gordon Contracting of Sangerville.

Kimball Insurance is excited to announce that we are expanding our services and we are now able to offer guidance and service to our senior clients with Medicare health plans. As of Sept. 1 we have made an addition to our team and Nolan Lovell will now be the primary contact that clients can rely on for this newly added service.

The case against a convicted murderer and Hancock County native who is charged with escaping the Charleston prison two weeks ago will likely be heard by a grand jury. Assistant Penobscot County District Attorney Alice Clifford said she is awaiting the completion of the investigation of Arnold Nash’s escape before seeking an indictment. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but rather a determination that enough evidence exists to bring a case to trial.

During a Sept. 24 meeting, the selectmen scheduled a public hearing for their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 (a date moved back a day on account of Veteran’s Day) to receive comment for another proposed 180-day extension to run from Nov. 22 to May 21, 2019.

If you are living alone as a person 60-plus years of age or as an adult with a disability, you may feel vulnerable or frightened from time to time. Family members, whether they are siblings or adult children, are increasingly busy as they scramble to make a living and raise their children. Adult children move far away for new, life opportunities, leaving parents and siblings behind by themselves. Individuals are often completely alone.