With each of three bids for building a Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) storage garage coming in multiple times more than the project budget, the county commissioners opted to table a decision during a May 15 meeting.

Maine’s 65 newest police officers graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on May 18, including Officer Alyshia D. Canwell of the Dexter Police Department.

A Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant who goes above and beyond the call of duty and who gives back in other ways has been honored by the Valley Grange with the organization’s 2018 Community Citizen of the Year honor. Lt. Jamie Kane received the recognition on the evening of May 18 at the Grange Hall.

On May 16 Dover-Foxcroft Police Department officers were called to investigate a suspicious person, associated with a domestic case of harassment and stalking. The suspect Edward Crooks, 40, of Dexter, was suspected of continued harassment of a female victim. Officers were seeking to make contact with Crooks who was believed to be intoxicated at the time and driving a silver or tan colored Chevy Trailblazer.

The man accused of stealing a Dexter police cruiser while handcuffed last week and leading police on a high-speed chase down rural roads remained in jail Wednesday, May 16 after making his first court appearance earlier in the day at the Penobscot Judicial Center.

The handcuffed man who stole a Dexter police cruiser last week was released from a Bangor hospital Monday and then charged for the theft, authorities said.

The hunt for an armed 22-year-old man who stole a marked Dexter Police Department cruiser during the late morning on Friday, May 11 ended that afternoon when the suspect got behind the wheel of another car and crashed, authorities said.

Paving on stretches of roads in Blanchard and Moosehead Junction will be done this summer by Vaughn D. Thibodeau II, Inc. of Bangor after the company’s low bid of $146,160 was approved by the Piscataquis County Commissioners during a May 1 meeting.

A man is recovering from his injuries after apparently being shot by another person Thursday night in Garland, according to police.

Maine’s newest state troopers received their badges April 13 in ceremonies at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Among the five new state troopers is David Olmstead.

The Maine Warden Service celebrated its 138th anniversary at the Winslow VFW. Included in the March 30 celebration was the annual awards banquet that gives special recognition to game wardens for their performance in 2017.

The Libra Foundation investment in Piscataquis County, which includes revitalizing downtown Monson and the planned construction of an ice arena on West Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft, is continuing as the Portland-based organization is donating $20,000 to fund equipment to improve emergency communications for the Monson and Dover-Foxcroft fire departments.

The Maine Warden Service was recently provided with a special gift, one that is at the heart of any outdoor enthusiast who loves a good Maine winter. Nine pair of genuine, Maine-made snowshoes were donated to the newest graduating class of game wardens to use in their missions that range from fish and wildlife conservation, search and rescue and public safety.

The Northern and Eastern Maine Chapter of the American Red Cross recognized community members who have gone above and beyond in service to others at its 21st annual Real Heroes Breakfast on March 21. The 2018 Real Heroes include Officer Kenneth Spaulding Dexter Police Department, who was presented with the Community Hero Award.

Five students artists will each have a hand in designing a new patch for the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department, town officials announced during a March 12 selectmen’s meeting.

A historic inn located on Chesuncook Lake in the Moosehead Lake region was destroyed by fire early on the morning of Saturday, March 17. The Chesuncook Lake House, located on Chesuncook Lake and accessible through a 52-mile drive up the Golden Road and another 15 miles on snowmobile trail, lost everything to the blaze, but everyone at the inn escaped without injury.

Penobscot County’s longtime Democratic district attorney will not run for re-election, leaving an open path for one of his colleagues to replace him. R. Christopher Almy, D-Charleston, indicated he would run for re-election when he filed signed nomination papers to the Maine secretary of state earlier this month.

Maine Drug Enforcement Agents (MDEA) have arrested a couple from Brownville and charged them with selling heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine in Piscataquis County.