By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff State agencies have identified new cases of two separate mosquito-borne viruses in southern Maine over the last two weeks in insects, mammals and birds.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff Mainers are being urged to take precautions against a surge in mosquito-borne diseases.

Piscataquis Observer staff picked up a half dozen honors among the state’s smaller weekly publications division from the Maine Press Association in the 2023 MPA Better Newspaper Contest, announced on Oct.

By Samantha Hogan, The Maine Monitor An $8.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Northern Light Mayo Hospital and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension are working together to improve access to fresh, local produce through gleaning, the art of recovering leftover food from local farm fields and farmers markets and redirecting it back to our community.

GUILFORD — Currently Piscataquis Community High School students end their day with a 45-minute block of Response to Intervention time on Tuesdays through Thursdays.

During Fire Prevention Week (Oct.

PARKMAN — The Parkman Grange is again helping out Santa to make Christmas special for SAD 4 area kids with the Santa Project.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Executive Committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council is seeking nominations for the annual Warren “Pete” Myrick Community Service Award, to be presented at the annual meeting of PCEDC in December.

BREWER — In an effort to grow the provider base in our state’s more rural areas, Northern Light Health is partnering with Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, introducing skilled physician assistant students to Maine.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A project to upgrade the HVAC system at the Piscataquis County Jail will have a slightly reduced rate.

GUILFORD — The sports history of Piscataquis Community High School continues to grow with the induction of a pair of athletes, a long-time coach, a state championship team, and a contributor into the fifth class of the PCHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

Northern Light CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals are teaming up with local schools and others in the community to spread awareness and encourage mammograms in October to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

GUILFORD — The Piscataquis Community High School Achievement Hall of Fame Committee is looking for nominations for their inaugural class.

By David Dahl, The Maine Monitor A Republican lawmaker said the state’s top social services agency “deserves all the scrutiny we can muster” in light of a Maine Monitor investigation that found eight people in public guardianship died under unusual circumstances.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff The backlog of criminal cases in Penobscot County is slowly easing after a spike caused by COVID-19 — but still remains among the highest in the state when compared with pre-pandemic numbers.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Northern Light Health Centers in Corinth, Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, Milo, and Sangerville encourage adults to get vaccinated against the flu at one of their upcoming flu vaccination clinics.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff Four farm animals in Piscataquis County have died after apparently contracting a mosquito-borne virus.