An incumbent Republican state senator barely held off a challenge from an incendiary lawmaker in one of three Tuesday legislative primaries won by candidates backed by Senate Republicans over those preferred by former Gov.

Maine voters on Tuesday, July 14  overwhelmingly backed $120 million in bonds for transportation and broadband systems that have been stressed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger is pleased to announce that its month-long $100,000 Challenge raised over $227,000 to support Good Shepherd Food Bank’s COVID-19 response and community food pantries across the state.

For years, the common question among hunters has been, “Got your deer yet?” Thanks to a pilot program aimed at helping management efforts, this summer’s refrain might change to “Seen any deer yet?”   Nathan Bieber, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s deer biologist, explained that the agency is trying to gather more data by asking Mainers to take part in the Maine Deer Spy project.

One hundred years from now, when future Mainers decide to research what happened during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, what information will they find? What photos and artwork will they see? What kinds of documents will they come across? Whose stories will they read?   A number of Maine libraries are hoping to create an archive of all those things by asking Mainers to contribute their stories, photos, artwork and other documents about their experience during the pandemic.

The Bangor and Brewer school departments, like many others in the state, are putting together three separate plans for reopening public schools in fall, including a full return to in-person schooling, a combination of in-person and online learning and a fully online semester.

Maine Open Farm Day organizers encourage the public to visit farms online beginning Sunday, July 26 to learn how to support Maine agriculture this summer.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Ice Arena and Center Theatre have announced that they are extending the season of the temporary Dover-Foxcroft drive-in through Aug.

Maine jails recorded at least 837 private phone calls between attorneys and their incarcerated clients in the past 12 months, potentially violating state law in the process.

SANGERVILLE — The tradition of farming and the opportunities of the internet are being celebrated by the farmers of the East Sangerville Grange, as they announce the opening of their online farmers’ market — the Maine Highlands Farmers’ Market.

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DOVER-FOXCROFT — Golfers, you have waited long enough.

MACHIAS — The National Digital Equity Center is pleased to announce that it is now offering digital literacy and computer skills classes online statewide.

AUGUSTA — Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) is partnering with the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to ensure that adult learners have the technology they need to continue their studies.

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is reminding the public about the risk of spreading tree-killing invasive species while moving firewood.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Commissioners awarded bids for paving and road work projects on the Elliotsville Road during a July 7 meeting.

Observer photo/Keri FosterFIND THE WHOOPIE PIE WINNER — Allison Smith of Dover-Foxcroft is grand prize winner in the Piscataquis Observer’s annual Find the Whoopie Pie Contest.

GUILFORD — Thanks to the generosity of the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union, the patrol and investigation divisions of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office will have a new home in downtown Guilford at the former Key Bank building.