Friday, May 21, 2021: Top stories from the Newcastle Herald, your trusted voice in the Hunter

A notorious stretch of winding round from 12 Mile Creek near Medowie, passing through Gloucester to Taree, has claimed 10 lives in the past eight years and been the site of 40 serious crashes in a recent five year period, and yet the road remains riddled with potholes, patched tarmac and broken edges. Hunter Health experts are urging residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, as John Hunter Hospital expands its Pfizer rollout and the region prepares for the establishment of a mass vaccination hub. Rental values in Lake Macquarie East have risen 21.5 per cent marking the third highest jump in regional NSW and seventh highest in regional Australia for the year to April 30. Herald Women’s Premier League newcomers Maitland will be boosted by the starting return of leaders Sophie Stapleford and Kaitlin Radstaak when they face undefeated rivals Broadmeadow at Magic Park later tonight. And a class of Jesmond Preschoolers have proven that age is no barrier to making friends as they kickstarted the first “Adopt a Grand-buddy” program in the Hunter this week.