By Valerie Royzman, Staff Writer A Piscataquis County physician is urging area residents to get COVID-19 shots as vaccination rates continue to lag in rural parts of the state and local hospitals struggle with capacity, strained mostly by unvaccinated patients.

WASHINGTON, D.

By The Associated Press About three-quarters of Maine’s eligible population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, but four counties remain below two-thirds.

By Rosemary Lausier, Bangor Daily News Staff The nomination of an assistant U.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Commissioners are awaiting more details on plans to upgrade the county’s public safety radio system.

The fifth annual 5K Walk/Run to “Wake the Silence” to support The JD Foundation will be held virtually on Saturday, Oct.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The $625,000 Drug-Free Communities Support Program award to Northern Light Mayo Hospital will support the proposed PYSUP project- Preventing Youth Use of Alcohol and Tobacco in Piscataquis County.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Retired Educators Association met at the Bear’s Den on Sept.

By Valerie Royzman, Staff Writer COVID-19 booster shots were approved by the U.

For 35 years the Maine Community Foundation Piscatquis County Fund has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to nonprofits working to improve the quality of life in the region.

WASHINGTON, D.

By Caitlin Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff The Maine Legislature on Wednesday breezed through approval of newly drawn legislative and congressional maps, shifting thousands of people from one congressional district to another and laying new political lines for the next decade.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — The Maine Legislature is poised to vote today on new legislative and congressional maps that will account for the recent population shifts and shape the state’s politics for the next decade.

Too many Mainers miss medical appointments because they lack transportation or go hungry because they are too proud to seek help.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Donations doubled! Pine Tree Hospice is elated to announce Pleasant River Lumber will be matching every Annual Appeal donation up to $20,000.

Katahdin Trust, a community bank serving northern Maine and the greater Bangor and Portland regions, is pleased to announce a $2,500 donation to Penquis’ “We’ve Got Your Back” campaign.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County Democratic Committee held their annual fall gathering at Peaks Kenny State Park on Sept.

Observer photo/Keri Foster FIND THE WHOOPIE PIE CONTEST WINNER — Darlene Burgess of Dover-Foxcroft, center, is the Piscataquis Observer’s 2021 Find the Whoopie Pie Contest winner.