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.

American Legion Post 29 Commander Adrienne Clarke gave the keynote address during the 2019 Memorial Day observance in Dover-Foxcroft on Monday, May 27. A parade proceeded from Summer Street to Monument Square for a ceremony where Clarke addressed the crowd on what Memorial Day signifies. The procession then moved down East Main Street for a wreath and flower ceremony over the Piscataquis River bridge and then marchers walked to the courthouse.

In observance of Arbor Week 2019 from May 19-25, the town of Dover-Foxcroft conducted its annual tree planting. Pictured are, from left, the maintenance crew of Erin Speed, Gabie Johnson and Maintenance Director Tom Riitano. They planted two red bud and two flowering crab trees at Browns Mill Park on the Vaughn Road.

The Forest Society of Maine (FSM) is responsible for monitoring the Moosehead Region Conservation Easement (MRCE), 359,000 acres of permanently conserved working forestlands located east and west of Moosehead Lake. When the MRCE was put in place in 2012, a related effort was launched to identify 121 acres, within the MRCE boundaries, where non-motorized trails should be constructed or improved, and made permanent with trail easements. Decisions about trail locations were largely driven by a local committee, of which FSM Executive Director Karin Tilberg was a member.

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.

The 11 students are Ella Weber, kindergarten; Grace Wasel, grade 1; Jordon Dill, grade 2; Evie Wasel, grade 3; Jenna Hartford, grade 4; Samantha Kinney, elementary unified arts; Susan LaBree, grade 5; James Estes, grade 6; Tristan Turner, grade 7; Eli Sharrow, grade 8; and Evalyn Fisk, middle school unified arts.

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.

Many visitors to Baxter State Park, the Golden Road, the Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway and other destinations in and near Piscataquis County will be able to learn more about the region, and use some new public restroom facilities, at a forthcoming Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) information hub at Millinocket Lake by the North Woods Trading Post and the Golden Road in T1 R9.

A 10-year-old who battled a brain tumor took a step toward his dream of one day becoming a firefighter by being named an honorary junior firefighter with the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department during a presentation at the station on May 17. Brayson Dunton, who is a fourth-grader at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School, also had the opportunity to take a ride in the cab of his favorite ladder truck, being joined for the trip by his friend and classmate Evan Seavey.

Two Dover-Foxcroft women who have worked to provide comforting blankets to countless children through Project Linus and helped provide a happy holidays for numerous families via the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Community Christmas Project, among other volunteer efforts for each, have been honored by the Valley Grange with the organization’s 2019 Community Citizen of the Year honor. Barbara Austin and Judy Raymond received the recognition on the evening of May 17 at the Grange Hall.

Six Foxcroft Academy students were presented Horizon Scholarships by Tom Lizotte of the school’s board of trustees at a schoolwide assembly on May 17. Horizon Scholarships provide financial support for exceptional academic experiences not presently offered at Foxcroft Academy.

Students at Piscataquis Community Elementary School spent several months reading as many books as possible, not only for fun and to learn but for the opportunity to win a brand new bicycle and helmet. Thanks to the Masons of Abner Wade Lodge #207 in Sangerville and Mt. Kineo Lodge #109 of Guilford students could place an entry into a bicycle drawing for every title they read in the Masons’ annual Bikes for Books program.

The SAD 4 school board approved a proposed budget for the 2019-20 academic year totaling $7,174,825 during a May 14 meeting at Piscataquis Community High School. This figure is up by nearly $87,800 (1.239 percent) from the current spending plan totaling a little less than $7.1 million.

Senior Chief Mark Melia, a native of Guilford and who has served 17 years in the U.S. Navy, is a master-at-arms and is the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) Navy Element’s senior enlisted leader. As the senior enlisted leader, Melia’s job is the link between the enlisted community and the senior leaders.

Food insecurity has become an increasing problem and Dover-Foxcroft Area Food Cupboard is attempting to do something about it in its little corner of the world.

When Dover-Foxcroft residents head to the polls on Tuesday, June 11, they will be voting on the municipal budget, several town positions as well as the RSU 68 budget. The warrants for these items were signed by the selectmen during a May 13 meeting.

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.