As state lawmakers continue to evaluate a bill that would allow Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft to merge with the statewide Northern Light Health system, they must also consider a recent proposal that would give more control of the process to the communities that now oversee the hospital.

Nearly seven years ago, on July 13, 2012, then-Rep. Ken Fredette, a Republican from Newport, stood behind a podium at the State House and held up a black gadget the size of a cellphone that had a circular strap. It was an electronic monitoring device that would alert authorities if alleged domestic violence offenders went to places where they were forbidden, such as their alleged victim’s home or workplace.

Dexter Regional High School Principal Stephen Bell is honored to announce the Valedictorian for the Class of 2019 is Shannon O’Roak and the Salutatorian is Aino Rudloff-Eastman.

Two cars with teenage drivers behind the wheel and peers in the passenger seats collided head-on. Soon emergency responders were on scene as family members of those in the accident arrived, seeing the horrific scene and fearing the worst about their loved ones. The crash was staged but the lessons were real as Dexter Regional High School hosted the Every 15 Minutes program on the afternoon of May 21.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine will spend Saturday, May 25 visiting Milo and talking with constituents as he tours several venues in the area to begin the Memorial Day weekend. Local residents are encouraged to come out and meet with Golden and his staff at the American Legion in the morning and/or at Bissell Brothers Three Rivers in the afternoon.

For the second year in a row, aircraft will be landing at Lake Wassookeag during the first Saturday of August to benefit Make-A-Wish Maine. The Dexter Town Council learned about the 2019 “Wings on the Waterfront” event planned for Aug. 3 from organizer Jim Crane of Exeter during a May 9 council meeting.

On April 25 Dwight Kuhn of Dexter was awarded the Katahdin Award by the Maine Library Association for a lifetime contribution to children’s literature. Before an audience of over 400 librarians and book sellers, the illustrator graciously accepted his award and spoke about his career as a nature photographer and illustrator of children’s nature books.

A public hearing on bill “LD 1708” to amend the HAD 4 charter to authorize the merger between Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft and Northern Light Health, a statewide system comprised of hospitals across Maine, has been scheduled by the 129th Legislature’s state and local government committee for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15 in Augusta at the Cross Building, Room 214. More information is available at http://legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Committees/SLG.

On May 5 Dexter Hannaford organized a clean-up day around town with help from Dexter Recreation Department and Dexter Fire Department. Immediately after the cleanup, Hannaford put on a BBQ at the fire department for those who helped.

At the May 1 SAD 46 school board meeting the following students at the Tri-County Technical Center (TCTC) in Dexter were introduced for their recent achievements:

The SAD 46 school board approved a proposed 2019-20 budget totaling $14,550,306 during a May 1 meeting at the Ridge View Community School. The total is down by about $25,000 from the current academic year, but the share for the four district communities is up by nearly $166,000 to a little less than $3,370,700.

While most all-terrain vehicle riders are safe and respectful while operating their ATVs, some others aren’t. On May 1, Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced that she has formed an ATV Initiatives Task Force to address the riders who operate on the wrong side of the law, trespassing, damaging private land and making landowners reassess their access policies.

The Maine Senate enacted LD 555 “An Act To Reduce Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Morality by Updating Screening Coverage” after the bill received unanimous support in both the Maine Senate and House of Representatives.

On Tuesday, April 23, the Secretary of State for Maine, Matthew Dunlap, paid a visit to the Dexter Regional High School’s Current Events class to answer student questions about how the state secures our elections.

Residents and/or town officials of 12 of the 13 Hospital Administrative District 4 member communities have voted in favor of the proposed merger between Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft and Northern Light Health, a statewide system comprised of hospitals across Maine.

Citizens in Guilford, Parkman, Atkinson, and Sebec all voted Monday night in favor of moving forward with a merger between Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health. Guilford residents voted 48-4, Parkman residents voted 14-5, Atkinson residents voted 8-0 and Sebec residents voted 29-13, all in favor of the merger at special town meetings held Monday evening.

More than halfway through the process, seven of eight HAD 4 communities have given approval to the proposed merger between Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health, a statewide system comprised of hospitals across Maine.

Just two days after marijuana enthusiasts celebrated their favorite vice on 4/20, the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy posted draft rules for the state’s coming regulated cannabis market.