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The Bethel Select Board race June 9 was close but did not produce an upset.

Sarah Southam won a decisive victory with 498 votes, securing her a seat on the board.

Incumbent Michele Cole narrowly retained her seat with 310 votes, edging out newcomer Becca Hoskins, who received 292, in a three-candidate race for two seats.

Town Clerk Tracy Walker and her team hand-counted ballots until after midnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. With the annual town meeting scheduled for June 10, town officials faced two long days in a row.

Walker expressed gratitude for the poll workers.

The budget validation referendum for Maine School Administrative District 44 passed in Bethel, Woodstock, Greenwood and Newry. The final count was 1,105 to 354.

Bethel Citizen writer and photographer Rose Lincoln lives in Bethel with her husband and a rotating cast of visiting dogs, family, and friends. A photojournalist for several years, she worked alongside...

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