It was a case of just having to get away, and what better idea than a short fall fishing trip with friends. They nicknamed me Scoop a long time ago from newspaper work and I thought writing about it would be fun. We traveled to Nesowadnehunk Wilderness Camps in the northern reaches of Piscataquis County. Pronounced Sow-da-hunk by the local folk, this lake is the largest fly-fishing-only lake in Maine.

When it comes to the legality of openly carrying a handgun in Maine, or concealing that handgun, questions abound.

The Maine Department of Corrections Mountain View Correctional Facility completed its American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation audit on Oct. 3, achieving a score of 99.6 percent of all standards.

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.

It is with great pleasure that the Baxter State Park Authority announces the appointment of its new Baxter State Park Chief Ranger, Donald Bolduc.

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.

An injured hiker was airlifted out of Baxter State Park to Millinocket Municipal Airport on Sept. 27 by Maine Forest Service helicopter. The 57-year-old woman from western Maine suffered an angulated ankle fracture as she ascended the Chimney Pond Trail the evening before.

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.

The biggest eye-opener for most first-time moose hunters is after the animal is down. This is when the real work begins. As we all know moose are large critters, very large, and getting a 1,000-pound carcass out of a tangled clear cut to the nearest accessible road can be a tall order.

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.

After 24 years in Sangerville’s Town Office, Town Clerk Alvina Church will retire at the end of October. To recognize Church’s many years of service and dedication Town Manager Lois Jones announced plans for a drop-in retirement party for Church at the Sangerville Fire Station from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25.

A Baileyville man was sentenced Monday, Sept. 24 at the Piscataquis Judicial Center in Dover-Foxcroft to seven years in prison with all but three suspended on a series of charges stemming from a January domestic violence assault.

An activity that began in high school has now grown into a large component of a business owned by 23-year-old Courtney Nichole Gay with her Courtney Nichole Salon & Photo Studio at the Millworks complex in the renovated woolen mill building in downtown Dexter.