By Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press Maine has one of the highest rates of coronavirus vaccination in the country, but some of the rural counties in the state lag behind the more populated areas.

By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff Research is showing there is a connection between the tick populations, the mice populations and the spread of Lyme disease in Maine.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County Retired Educators met May 24 at the Bear’s Den.

AUGUSTA — Gov.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — After high demand, Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to present another Wild Edible Foraging Workshop on Saturday, June 26 with Maine naturalist and author Tom Seymour.

Observer file photo/Stuart HedstromCOLOR GUARD — The stars and stripes of the U.

WESTBROOK – Just in time for National Hunger Awareness Month, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger is launching a 30-day, $100,000 challenge beginning June 1 to raise money for Good Shepherd Food Bank, local community food pantries, and meal sites.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A proposed 2021-22 RSU 68 budget totaling $11,999,662 was approved during the annual district budget meeting on May 25 at the SeDoMoCha School.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Gov.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The SeDoMoCha School has been added to the CDC outbreak list, but school operations will continue as before.

GUILFORD — Members of the Valley Grange #144 opted for an atypical choice as the organization’s Community Citizen Award while looking back on a year-plus in the coronavirus pandemic.

BREWER — Northern Light Health announced that it will increase its minimum starting rate to $15 an hour across the organization.

By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff While Maine’s lakes, rivers and streams are home to some great freshwater fishing, they are also contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic mercury.

Grade eight, high honors: Heidi Clawson, Emily Greenlaw, Eli Lane, Brianna Lawrence, Korbyn McCormick, Jack Murray, Kael Niland, Chelsea O’Bar, Cameron Pratt and Elizabeth Richards; honors: Shem Atwater, Emma Bither, Brooklynn Black, Asa Booker, Leora Brochu, Shayli Cirulli, Margarette Clarke, Allison Conner, Carter Coy, Ashton Day, James Estes, Evalyn Fisk, Jackson Goodine, Grace Greene, Scott Greene, Alexis Heretakis, Hailey Holler, Madyson Kimball, Calvin Landry, Serenity McCabe, Kierstyn Nuite, Aspen Perry, Jason Rhoda, Lea Schnetzer, Flynn Schriver, Lochlainn Schriver, Conner Watt and Jaxson Zimmerman.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Residents had the opportunity to hear directly from the municipal candidates in Dover-Foxcroft about three weeks prior to the June 8 election during a Candidate Night sponsored by the Piscataquis Chapter of the League of Women Voters at the Center Theatre on May 17.

PORTLAND — The Diocese of Portland has announced major updates to the pandemic protocols currently in place at all 141 Catholic churches in Maine.

Many of Maine’s bird species are currently facing stresses causing populations to decline.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Elizabeth Palmer Tent #23, Daughters of Union Veterans FLAG DONATION — The Sarah Elizabeth Palmer Tent #23, Daughters of Union Veterans gives an American flag to a nonprofit group each year as part of their patriotic programs.