The rural reopening plan in Maine will gradually lift some limitations on certain businesses in counties where virus community transmission does not exist. Those counties with limitations being lifted are Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington, Hancock, Somerset, Franklin, Oxford, Kennebec, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc.

More than 60 Maine nonprofits have received nearly $900,000 from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation for COVID-19 relief efforts, including Maine Highlands Senior Center dba The Commons at Central Hall of Dover-Foxcroft and Penquis.

In his 2016 book “Maine Sporting Camps,” George Smith writes, “In 1904 there were at least 300 sporting camps in operation in Maine. By 2007, this number had dwindled to fewer than 40. In his interview with the Maine Sporting Camp Heritage Association Smith also learned that these few remaining camps “face serious challenges to their survival.” 

The American Legion National Organization has canceled its 2020 baseball season for teenage players across the country. American Legion officials went a step further than the Little League organization, which also cited COVID-19 concerns in canceling its regional tournaments and World Series for various age groups.

Join the Piscatquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  on Wednesday, June 3 to learn about invasive plant ecology, impacts, identification and management with presenter Nancy Olmstead, invasive plant biologist from the Maine Natural Areas Program in the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

The people of Maine now have an opportunity to try to resolve the bear debate by ending Maine’s bear feeding program. Since 2004, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has falsely claimed that bears must be fed in order to kill them to control their population.

The Dexter Police Department and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency have announced the arrest of a Dexter couple for Class A aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and three others for unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

The Center Theatre announced that it will be giving one side of the marquee over to congratulatory messages to Foxcroft Academy graduating seniors starting on Sunday, June 21. One hour slots can be reserved from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday the 21st through Friday the 26th.

According to a group representing sporting camps around Maine, Gov. Janet Mill’s rural reopening plan falls short of providing relief to commercial sporting camps, employees, guides and rural neighbors because it bans visits from non-residents. Non-resident fishing trips over the next six weeks generates almost 90% of the annual revenue for many of the camps operating across the state.

Yet a steady stream of customers made their way to opening day of the new season at Butterfield’s Ice Cream in Dover-Foxcroft for a hearty scoop of the iconic parlor’s handmade, hard-serve ice cream -- perhaps as a cool change of pace from recent daily routines fraught with COVID-19 concerns.