Julia Gagnon celebrates winning the title of Central Maine Idol Wednesday as host Brad Wallace hands her a $10,000 check at the Quarry Tap Room in Hallowell. Ashley Allen/Kennebec Journal

The University of Maine defense prepares to take the field Thursday for the first football practice of the year at the University of Maine in Orono. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

Firefighters from Waterville and Winslow battle garage fire Thursday on Water Street in Waterville. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

Audra Schaab flips a battle rope in one hand while dribbling a basketball in the other during the 8th annual Bulldog Strong Summer Camp Wednesday in the Poulin Auditorium of the Augusta Civic Center. The session started with campers spending a few minutes at each of 15 different stations run by 48 high school and college volunteers. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Ann Wishart uses a pitchfork to carry hay while baling hay Thursday near her home in Burnham. It was the first hay cutting of the season due to wet conditions, said Wishart. The hay is fed to her Romney sheep, she said. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Tables, seen from a bird’s eye view, are set up on the lawn at Head of Falls for the Taste of Waterville event on Wednesday. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

Gray-New Gloucester/Raymond hitter Mason Amergian, center, hops onto home plate as he is greeted by teammates after hitting a walk-off homer to beat Augusta 12-0 in the Maine State Little League state final game on Sunday, July 30, in Hermon. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Joe Murray pops up from snorkeling and drops another invasive snail into a bucket Saturday, July 29, during a Chinese Mystery Snail Derby on Washington Pond in Washington. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

David Bucknam, center, leads the Kora Drifters down Water Street during the Bicentennial parade in downtown Skowhegan on Thursday. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

A participant receives an extra push Sunday, July 30, near the finish line as spectators cheer and reach out during the Ironman 70.3 Maine in Augusta. The event included 70.3 miles of swimming, then biking and finally running. Ashley Allen/Kennebec Journal