With the current academic year nearing the halfway point, RSU 68 district officials have started work on developing the budget for 2020-21.

A $4.8 million-plus Piscataquis County budget for 2020, along with a $1,804,670 Unorganized Territory budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, were both formally approved and signed by the county commissioners during a Dec. 10 meeting.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Angus King, I-Maine announced their nominees to the United States military academies. Among the nominees is Greenville High School senior Halle Pelletier to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado

The 2019 riding season has come to a close for the Piscataquis County United Bikers of Maine. As usual, members have had a very busy year. Each winter, they plan their rides for the spring, summer and fall. Along with many fun rides, they also plan several rides to benefit local charities and individual people in the county.

The Greenville Fire Department will be recognized for receiving the Maine Department of Labor’s Safety and Health Award for Public Employers (SHAPE) at a selectmen’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The award will be presented to Chief Matthew St. Laurent at the town office, 7 Mindon St.

Piscataquis Community High School students Faith Ohlson, Sam Maines, Caleb Bailey and Tyler Libby, mentored by Thomas College student Megan Cousins, won the 2-foot trophy on Saturday. This is the first time students from PCHS have won this competition.

Each year about this time, the Maine Warden Service urges us to use extreme caution before venturing out onto any ice that may be covering Maine’s waterways.

When the former Guilford Primary building went up for sale last summer, the organization operating a fitness center at that location decided it was time to act.

There will be a meeting of the Piscataquis County Republican Committee on Friday, Dec. 13 at the Mayo Regional Hospital Resource Center. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

The Commons at Central Hall has been selected as one of three sites in Maine to oversee a new program aimed at improving the quality of care for older adults diagnosed with dementia. The Northern New England Network, the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging and national healthcare consulting company, Qualidigm, brought together key leaders within nine communities (three per state) across northern New England to work together to identify and share successful approaches, models and supports that can improve the health, care and care coordination of community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with dementia, as well as their care partners.

A former technology storage area off the SeDoMoCha Middle School art classroom is now a space for students to try their hand at metalworking and plans are being made for area residents to learn new skills through adult education offerings at the site. Following two years of planning and construction, with contributions from many community partners, the metalworking studio is now fully equipped after initially opening last year.

The SeDoMoCha Builders Club will host the Miracle Tree event this weekend at The Commons at Central Hall, 152 East Main Street, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec 7 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8.

The executive committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) is saddened to announce the resignation of Executive Director Christopher Winstead. On Dec. 4 Winstead notified the board of the PCEDC that he has accepted a position with Eastern Maine Community College. Winstead joined PCEDC in 2015, and served as executive director.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that Western Maine Community Action and Penquis will receive a combined total of $130,814 to support efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing and supportive services for persons with disabilities in Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Knox counties.

The Hon. Kevin Stitham of Dover-Foxcroft has been nominated for reappointment to the Maine District Court for his fourth term. The Hon. Stitham was first sworn in on Sept. 2, 1998 and previously practiced law in Piscataquis County for over 20 years.

For both Dan and Karen Cashman, childhood revolved around books. With mothers who were librarians, they were each exposed to reading at an early age. They devoured timeless favorites like Ramona Quimby and the Berenstain Bears as well as authors like Roald Dahl.

Sportsmen love their toys. Of course, they prefer to consider these toys as indispensable tools for the outdoors. Sometimes the best gift one can give to an outdoorsman or woman is a tool or device that he or she might not either think to buy for themselves or feel comfortable buying.

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville has announced his bid for reelection in Senate District 4.