The year in review: Part I

As the page on the calendar changes to the month of January and a new year, it marks the occasion where the newspaper staff reviews the past 52 editions and highlights the biggest news of 2015.

January

Citing his frustration in dealing with the Maine Board of Corrections and personal health issues, Piscataquis County Jail Administrator David Harmon stepped down from the post after serving his county for six years. County Commissioners appointed Maria Landry as interim administrator.

A national marketing firm considered Greenville Consolidated School among the top 25 small schools in Maine with a B-plus ranking.

Dr. Kenneth Woodbury, the longtime community development director for Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, was named town manager of Sangerville. The 73-year-old former college administrator, said the new municipal position was a “good fit.”

February

A fast-moving fire destroyed a well-known dairy barn on Ripley Road in Dexter as nearly 60 firefighters from eight departments battled the Feb. 2 blaze in sub-zero temperatures. The Top of Maine Farm had been operated by Fred and Carol Sherburne since the 1970s, but it had been sold to Jason and Heather Bowden of Corinna in November. The Bowdens were not occupying the farmhouse at the time of the fire.

Christopher Winstead of Bangor, who had worked as a district representative for former Congressman Michael Michaud since 2011, was appointed as the new executive director or the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council.

Dexter Regional Development Corp. directors voted to close Fossa’s General Store, but hoped to find someone to lease or buy the historic building. The business had been reopened in June 2013 and Judy Wilbur Craig was hired by DRDC to manage the store.

Piscataquis Regional YMCA Executive Director Deb Boyd stepped down to accept the role of CEO at the Old Town/Orono Y.

In order to follow her true passion of performing, teaching and directing, Center Theatre Executive Director Angela Bonacasa tendered her resignation. She had held the post for 30 months.

County Commissioners voted to spend up to $6,800 for a schematic design of a proposed new sheriff’s office in Dover-Foxcroft. Sheriff John Goggin promised the new building “isn’t going to be a Taj Mahal.”

March

File photo March in for cake — The Milo Elementary 60th birthday cake, made by staff member Katie Ladd of Piece of Cake.

With February going into the books as the coldest and one of the snowiest winters in recent history, most public works crews in the region were dealing with the challenges of keeping the roads and streets clear with few problems.

Foxcroft Academy trustees accepted a $200,000 naming gift from lifelong educator Mary Fittig, whose contribution jumpstarted teh Mary Kammerer Fittig Humanities Wing capital campaign.

The FA Jazz Band earned the highest rating at the district music festival in Millinocket and qualifed for the States at South Portland later in the month.

The Friends of Maine’s Mountains group withdrew their formal appeal of the Maine Board of Environmental Protection’s decision to approve a 62-turbine wind farm in northern Somerset and western Picataquis counties, paving the way for construction to commence. The action followed a highly publicized shakeup in the organization involving alleged conflict of interest within the leadership ranks.

Ninety-six-year-old Roland T. Clukey, a resident of Dexter Health Care, was presented with Boston Post Cane recognizing him as Dexter’s oldest male citizen.

Connor DiAngelo of Greenville Boy Scout Troop 120 earned his Eagle Scout rank during a March 15 Court of Honor. His father Joe is the Troop’s Scoutmaster.

Milo Elementary School was celebrating six decades of excellence in the community with a special day to commemorating the important milestone. A special 60th year birthday cake was made and shared by staff member Katie Ladd and the original school bell was retired and places with a plaque in the school’s trophy case.

April

Voters in Sangerville passed most of the 70 articles on the town meeting warrant and re-elected Selectman Tom Carone. They also rejected a code of ethics ordinance spearheaded by citizen Richard Dobson who conducted a successful community-wide petition drive to place the measure on the March 28 ballot.

After the contract of Town Manager David Maynard was not renewed by Milo selectmen, the role of interim town manager fell to Damien Pickel, Milo’s chief of police. Maynard had served as town manager for 30 months.

After nearly seven months of research and work by the Moosehead Lake Region Branding Initiative Committee, the group unveiled the results of their efforts with a brand launch April 10 which formally identified the tourism destination as “America’s Crown Jewel.”

Members of the Dexter Town Council unanimously rejected a proposed Community Bill of Rights Ordinance following a 50-minute public hearing.

May

During National Nurses Week, Cathy Cody, a former school nurse at the SeDoMoCha School, as 2015 Nurse of the Year at Mayo Regional Hospital where she had been employed for several years.

Vicki Wolfertz, a Monson architect hired by the county, presented the schematic design for a proposed new Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department Office that would replace the aging — and potentially dangerous — current building. The bottom line on the new one-story structure, which would be built on the former Liston Smith property, is around $675,000. The plan was later endorsed by County Commissioners.

Matt Hackett, a retired educator and former assistant headmaster at Foxcroft Academy, was honored by the Valley Grange as Citizen of the Year.

Three flowering crabapple trees were planted near American Legion Post 29 in Dover-Foxcroft following a donation by members of the Tisbury Manor Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The planting was done in honor of those who served in the Vietnam War and their family members.

June

File photo A Start in June — Runners take off at the 5th annual Amy, Coty and Monica 5K in Dexter on June 13, 2015. More than 300 people competed in the race and walking event.

The Sangerville Board of Selectmen enacted a new code of ethics policy for the town which established standards of conduct for officials and employees of the community.

More than 200 people walked in the annual Amy, Coty, Monica Memorial 5K Race/Walk to End Domestic Violence in Dexter.

County Commissioners voted to move up the timetable for a bond referendum for construction of a new sheriff’s office. Ultimately they chose to put the matter on a November 2015 ballot rather than wait until a June 2016 vote.

Milo Elementary School Principal Nathan Dyer was hired by RSU 68 to serve as assistant principal at SeDoMoCha Elementary School in Dover-Foxcroft.