Downtown Monson is undergoing a transformation thanks to the Portland-based Libra Foundation as the non-profit organization has purchased several buildings and is in the process of replacing these structures as part of its mission of making significant contributions to worthy causes across Maine.

Following the vote made at last month’s annual town meeting to defund the department, a special town meeting asking if residents will disband the Brownville Police Department and discontinue town police services has been scheduled for Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Brownville Elementary.

Wilsons on Moosehead Lake was recently recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The establishment and its owners Alison and Scott Snell were named as the organization’s 2017 Maine Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year and the couple will be receiving the honor on May 15 at the Maine Small Business Awards in Freeport.

The community will now be able to utilize AARP resources as an application to the AARP/World Health Organization Network of Age Friendly Communities has been approved. “We are officially an Age Friendly Community, I got that word this week,” Town Manager Shelley Watson said during an April 13 town council meeting. She said a kick-off event will be scheduled for Friday, May 19, time and location to be announced.

While the two districts are in the midst of the application process for an integrated, consolidated grade 9-16 educational facility, SAD 4 and AOS 94 -- which includes the Dexter-based SAD 46 and the towns of Athens and Harmony -- are also looking into ways to save money and share resources in the more immediate future. During an April 11 meeting of the SAD 4 school board, the directors voted to send a written request to AOS 94 Superintendent Kevin Jordan to explore a one-year cost sharing agreement with the neighboring school unit.

The selectmen signed a 10-article warrant for the annual town meeting on Saturday, April 29 at 9 a.m. in the gym at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building complex, during an April 10 meeting.

Derek “Shatterproof” Shorey had planned to take some time off from the mixed martial arts wars after a loss to Josh Parker last November. But family matters have prompted the head of the Dexter-based Shatterproof Combat Club to return to the cage on April 29 as part of a New England Fights card at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston. The sudden urgency for his return to action came in the aftermath of a recent two-alarm fire in Somersworth, N.H., that put four of his children and their mother out of their home.

With the finance committee having finished its work, a draft budget for the 2017-18 academic year was brought forward from the group to the full school board during an April 4 meeting. The directors are scheduled to vote on the spending plan during the May meeting

Piscataquis County needs more law enforcement officers. That’s one of the findings of a countywide task force -- comprised of town managers, police personnel and citizens -- that began meeting earlier this year to address law enforcement needs and processes, such as patrol, staff recruitment, coverage, mutual aid, communication, use of vehicles and contracts with towns. A final summary report and recommendations from the task force on how to strengthen police protection offered in the most efficient and affordable manner was presented to the Piscataquis County Commissioners during an April 4 meeting.

At last month’s annual town meeting, residents -- by a count of 131 to 43 -- voted to defund the Brownville Police Department after March 31 and rely on the existing coverage from the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office for the region as of April 1. During a selectmen’s meeting April 5 at Brownville Elementary, attendees learned that town officials are consulting with legal counsel on how to proceed. A special town meeting may be held in the future, with potential warrant articles concerning whether to formally dissolve the police department and the sale of police vehicles and equipment