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.

On Sunday, July 22 Turning Page Farm at 842 North Guilford Road will join similar operations across the state by inviting the public to stop by for Open Farm Day. The event provides an opportunity for attendees to meet the goats, pigs and chickens of Turning Page Farm, see how the cheeses and soaps are made, beer is brewed and experiecne how owners Tim and Joy Bueschen are living their dream.

For the fifth consecutive year a contingent -is hiking approximately 120 miles over a week and a half from downtown Monson to the summit of Mount Katahdin through the 100-Mile Wilderness along the northernmost section of the Appalachian Trail to raise funds through pledges. This year’s “Honor Rocks” hike supports the Wilderness Walk for Warriors, an organization that raises money for Maine veterans and service members and their families and honors the nation’s fallen heroes through a motto of “Assisting the Living, Honoring the Deceased.”

Maine’s newly released 10-year Big Game Management Plan clearly claims that, when it comes to managing our biggest and most popular big game animal, there is uncertainty.

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.

Caleb Ball's wife Lea has a popular hair salon in downtown Greenville. She’s been my “go to” for years. On my last visit I noticed intriguing bottles of products for hair, skin and lips on her counter. There was “Oats and Aloe” lotion, which smelled heavenly, and hair products like a shampoo named “Smell My Coconuts” and leave-in conditioner “Pull My Hair.” And then Lea mentioned she had used Caleb’s products on me during my visit.

On July 5 the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a 21-year-old female hiking southbound on the Appalachian Trail (AT) complaining of nausea near the Wilson Valley Lean-to. Four game wardens from the Greenville area responded along with Greenville Fire Department, Monson Fire Department and C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital EMS personnel.

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.

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.

Summer is finally here and the Greenville Recreation Department, under the able leadership of Director Sally Tornquist, has many offerings to make this special time of year adventurous and fun.

Not a lot of Atlantic salmon have danced off the end of my Sage 9-weight fly rod over the years, but just enough to make me a believer. There is no other angling experience quite like it! Not even the 64-pound Alaskan King salmon that a guide netted for me on the Kenai River outshined my first Atlantic salmon hookup on the fabled Upsalquitch River. There a battling 18-lb fresh-run fish took all my backing and left me with an angling memory that has never faded with time.

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

A Connecticut man accused of shooting a Garland resident in his home on April 19 was indicted Wednesday, June 27 by the Penobscot County grand jury on one count each of robbery and elevated aggravated assault. Neftali Colon, 34, of Hartford remained at the Penobscot County Jail unable to post $200,000 cash bail.

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.