Since the beginning of scientific deer herd management in Maine, the data needed to make informed decisions was always slow in coming. The public and the biologists who manage deer were lucky to get November deer harvest figures by early spring.

The Dexter Public Health Association nurses want to help people in the Maine Highlands region keep warm by holding the Keep Me Warm Raffle. The first- and second-prize winners will each receive a gift certificate from A.E. Robinson for 100 gallons of No. 2 fuel oil. The third-place prize winner will receive a $25 gift certificate from Dexter’s Ace Hardware.

In the past several days, you have heard many things about George Herbert Walker Bush. His decency and goodness. His commitment to service. His dignity. Yet, the former president's most enduring gift to the American people is not only his demeanor. Rather it is in something that never actually even happened. And the legacy of that gift is so tremendous, and his leadership so central to it, that each and every one of us should give thanks for his presence.

In his Dec. 5 column, Matthew Gagnon makes a flawed argument against ranked choice voting. He claims that with ranked choice voting we cannot evaluate the top two candidates for round two of against one another because we do not know in advance who they will be. However, with ranked-choice voting, we have effectively evaluated the top two against one another for a possible second round, no matter who they are, precisely because we’ve already evaluated and ranked all the candidates, including the final top two, in round one.

On Wednesday, Nov. 28 administrators from Foxcroft Academy and representatives from the Libra Foundation met for the first time with local town officials in regard to the newly named Piscataquis County Ice Arena being built in Dover-Foxcroft.

Approximately 1,300 Walgreens-owned Rite Aid stores will convert to the Walgreens brand over the next 12 months.This will bring Walgreens products and trusted pharmacy services to more customers and communities across the country. As part of an estimated $500 million investment nationwide, Walgreens recently converted the former Rite Aid stores in Guilford, Machias, and Calais.

After nine years in business. Spencer’s Bakery & Café of Dover-Foxcroft closed its doors at 922 West Main Street at the conclusion of the lease. Within hours, community members began inquiring at the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, wondering what became of their beloved breakfast spot.

All veterans are welcome to come to American Legion Post 41. We have a new sign when lit says OPEN meaning we are ready to accept your visit at the post home at 18 West Main Street in Milo (299-4308) and have several members who can assist veterans, widows, next of kin in obtaining discharge records and placing them in contact with the Department of Maine service officers who will assist in seeking veterans benefits and information -- they do not need to be American Legion members.

Leslie Lizotte, aging and disability resource center specialist from the Eastern Area Agency on Aging, will be holding a Medicare 101 class in the Sebec Room at Mayo Regional at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13.

Upcoming events around the region.