By William Kincaid
CELINA - Three counties inundated with reports of drones operating over farmlands are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to launch a study to identify and examine potential threats posed by the unmanned aerial systems to livestock facilities in west central Ohio and east central Indiana. [More]
Marion Local hands Parkway first volleyball defeat
By Gary R. Rasberry
MARIA STEIN - Once Marion Local got rolling, not much slowed the Flyers down.
Marion fought off Parkway in the first set, cruised in the second and gave the Panthers a battle in the third set before pulling away in the fourth set to hand Parkway its first loss of the season 27-25, 25-14, 23-25, 25-13 in Midwest Athletic Conference volleyball action at the Hangar on Thursday. [More]
Obituaries on September 12th, 2025
Christy Anne Dircksen, 48, Celina, died at 2:50 a.m. Sept. 8, 2025, at Laurels of Norworth, Worthington. [More]
Local pictures on September 12th, 2025
Subscriber stories on September 12th, 2025
The Mercer County District Library system is set to lose around $20,000 in annual state funding next year, with larger cuts to come in 2027, due to changes in library funding in the state's recently passed biennium budget.
CHICKASAW - Work financed primarily with state funds has been completed on the first part of a project to upgrade Chickasaw's village ball diamond, and crews are expected to start soon on the next phase, village councilors learned Wednesday night.
VAN WERT - Three men dressed in all black broke into a pharmacy at a behavioral health facility in Van Wert on Thursday morning, according to a news release from city police chief Doug Weigle.
A global real estate development company has acquired a sprawling site in Van Wert for development of a hyperscale data center, touting the U.S. Rou
CELINA - Celina played like the better team for much of Thursday's game with Shawnee.
A late goal by Miley Werntz finally confirmed it.
As time r
Compiled by Joe Schatz and
Gary R. Rasberry
New Bremen remained unbeaten and took sole possession of first place in the MAC volleyball standings with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-20 win over Fort Recovery on Thursday at Fort Site Fieldhouse.
ST. HENRY - St. Henry's season ended last year at the hands of Coldwater in the District Final, so a sweep of the Cavaliers at home was just what the Redskins ordered up Thursday night.
From cost to aesthetics, roofing decisions are all about details
ST. HENRY - Metal roofing has slowly but surely picked up momentum locally over the last decade, but asphalt shingles continue to reign supreme as the go-to residential roofing material.
Photo Albums
Sports Preview
E-Edition
For all the day's news, subscribe to The Daily Standard E-Edition. The E-Edition is included for free with every paper subscription plan.
Today In History
Unraveling the meanings of the Declaration of Independence
By Erin Gardner
  ST. MARYS - The Declaration of Independence is a significant historical document as it has served as inspiration for other countries' independence and different groups' missions, while also making the argument that seceding from England was a necessary cost for democracy in the American colonies. [More]
By William Kincaid
CELINA - So far this year, area treatment trains that clean the water flowing into Grand Lake have performed extremely well and microcystin toxin levels have generally remained below long-term averages, according to Stephen Jacquemin, an environmental sciences professor at Wright State University-Lake Campus. [More]
Obituaries on September 11th, 2025
Conrad Bettinger, age 72, of Coldwater, passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at Celina Manor. [More]
Pamela Kay Gander, 76, of Celina, Ohio, passed away on September 9, 2025.
Pam [More]
Local pictures on September 11th, 2025
Subscriber stories on September 11th, 2025
LIMA - The Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a pair of deadly accidents that occurred on Allen County roadways Wednesday morning.
CELINA - This year's flu shots are starting to arrive in Mercer County, just in time for the Mercer County Health District's annual flu drive slated
ROCKFORD - Parkway school board members Wednesday night agreed to contract with a Columbus firm to provide comprehensive communications consulting at a rate not to exceed $5,000 a month, retroactive to the beginning of the school year.
CELINA- A 51-year-old Sidney man and a 34-year-old Troy woman were arrested for misdemeanor theft and felony drug possession on Tuesday at the Celina Walmart.
MINSTER - Minster Local Schools school board members at Wednesday night's regular meeting discussed the district's long list of recent campus upgrades targeted at improving district safety.
Duquesne University's volleyball team is out to its best start since 2008 at 6-0 after winning all three matches at last weekend's Chik-fil-A Robinson Classic held at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse on the Dukes' campus in Pittsburgh.
  The more things change, the more they stay the same, so says the old adage.
For the Minster Wildcats, the offseason was one where coach Seth Whiting had to find the right combination of players to fill the spots that graduation took last season.
  Both the Western Buckeye League and Midwest Athletic Conference are fully into league play, and this brings home one crucial point: there are only f
ST. HENRY at FORT RECOVERY
Barrenbrugge Athletic Park
Both teams are coming off tough losses after strong non-conference showings.
The Redskins came close to snapping Marion Local's 66-game winning streak as the Flyers escaped the Wally Post Athletic Complex with a 21-14 win.
Impact Players
Offense
Caleb Schmidt, RB, St. Marys
27 carries for 239 yards and a school-record six touchdowns in the Roughriders' 42-14 win over Celina.
By Abigail Miller
ST. MARYS - A St. Marys City Schools bus driver was dismissed from their job at the district due to an incident in which a child was left on a bus alone for an undisclosed period of time last week, superintendent Bill Ruane said.
In a note to parents that was shared with the newspaper, Ruane said the district recently concluded an investigation into an incident involving an Auglaize County Educational Services Center student who was left on a St. Marys City Schools bus midday on Sept. 2. [More]
By Joe Schatz
COLDWATER - After Coldwater and Botkins played to a 1-1 draw in the first half, the Trojans scored twice in the second half to pull away from the Cavaliers 3-1 in Western Ohio Soccer League action Tuesday night at Cavalier Stadium.
Coldwater started the match on the front foot by creating pressure in the first half, which forced Botkins to make adjustments. The Trojans took the lead just 15 minutes into the match, however, as a Taylor Huelskamp shot was misplayed by the Coldwater keeper. [More]
Obituaries on September 10th, 2025
Alice Grieshop, age 88 of Chickasaw, Ohio, died on Friday, September 5, 2025 at Vancrest St. Marys, Ohio. [More]
Mark "Mo" A. Stoker, 62, of St. Marys, OH died 4:18 p.m. Sunday September 7, 2025 in the emergency department of JTDM Hospital. [More]
On Saturday, September 7, 2025, Gloria Howell Spicer passed away at 9:34pm at St. Rita's Mercy Hospital in Lima, Ohio following a short illness. [More]
Charles "Pappy" Fuson, age 91, of rural Celina, passed away peacefully at his residence on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. [More]
Alfred T. "Ted" Maxwell Sr., age 88, of Celina, passed away Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Otterbein St. Marys SeniorLife Community. [More]
Nolan J. Mangen, age 84, of North Star passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, September 7, 2025. [More]
Local pictures on September 10th, 2025
Subscriber stories on September 10th, 2025
Auglaize Co. medical director explains process
WAPAKONETA - Despite the divisive politics surrounding vaccines, they remain the most effective and safe way to protect against disease, Auglaize County medical director Dr. Juan Torres said at the regular county health department board meeting on Tuesday.
Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz celebrated the opening of the new welcome center at Lake Loramie State
ST. HENRY - Trump-backed biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy laid out his vision Tuesday night for transforming Ohio into one of the greatest states
CELINA - A 38-year-old Celina man accused of physically assaulting his girlfriend on Friday was arrested this week on felony domestic violence charges out of Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
CELINA - Two Celina residents were arrested this month in Auglaize County on separate incidents related to drug possession and tampering with evidence.
ST. HENRY - The St. Henry Consolidated Local Schools Board of Education met Tuesday night to celebrate a strong start to the school year while approving staffing changes, new contracts, student fundraisers, equipment purchases and donations.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Minster picked up its third straight win to reach .500 at 6-6 with a 25-15, 25-20, 25-17 volleyball victory over fellow Auglaize County team St. Marys on Tuesday night at Wildcat Gymnasium. The Roughriders drop to 4-7.
Stories about locals who served
By Abigail Miller
ST. MARYS - Over 30 veterans native to St. Marys are set to be honored soon with the publication of "Hometown Heroes of St. Marys, Ohio, Vol. 1" the first in a planned series of books celebrating the city's long list of war veterans.
Co-author Kim Reiher, who is also president of the Veterans Foundation and Museum of St. Marys and the city's network administrator, said he first met co-author Diana Dominguez in 2022 when he was working on a book on the Ohio National Guard. [More]
By Joe Schatz
MARIA STEIN - Coming into Monday night on a two-game losing streak, Marion Local swept Anna in a 25-16, 29-27, 25-20 cross-conference clash at the Hangar.
Photo album of the match
A back and forth start to the match was wiped out by a big Fly [More]
Obituaries on September 9th, 2025
Alice Grieshop, age 88 of Chickasaw, Ohio, died on Friday, September 5, 2025 at Vancrest St. Marys, Ohio. [More]
Cinda Cook, age 86, of Celina, died on Sunday, September 7th, at Briarwood Village in Coldwater, OH. [More]
Susan N. Meyer-Swiger, age 53 of Minster, Ohio, died on Friday, September 5, 2025 at her home in Minster. [More]
Cheryl A. Rammel, age 63, of Fort Recovery, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. [More]
Virginia (Ginny) Irene Mulholland-Esmonde, age 79, of Crestview, Florida, passe [More]
Linda Jean (Weiland) Wahrer, age 84, of St. Marys, passed away peacefully at Otterbein Senior Life Community in St. Marys. [More]
Dennis E. Ries, 74, of Venedocia, passed away Friday evening, September 5, 2025, at Stillwater Hospice in Fort Wayne, Indiana. [More]
Local pictures on September 9th, 2025
Subscriber stories on September 9th, 2025
ST. MARYS - St. Marys officials and city councilors celebrated two big promotions within their police department on Monday, with the swearing in of their newest police chief and sergeant.
COLDWATER - Coldwater Village Council members on Monday night accepted the resignation of village administrator/engineer Eric Thomas.
During a seven-minute executive session, Thomas formally submitted his letter of retirement, effective Oct. 12, to Mayor Doug Bertke and the council.
NEW BREMEN - Following a presentation in August about a potential increase in village electricity rates, councilors heard first reading of an ordinance to modify the rate to reflect a 6% increase effective Jan. 15, 2026.
ST. HENRY - The St. Henry Village Council received updates on several major infrastructure projects at its regular meeting Monday night.
Village administrator Stanley Sutter reported that a major milestone in the North Park improvement project is set for this week.
CELINA - City administrators have proposed planting evergreen trees to block the view of the city's sludge ponds along U.S. Route 127 that some believe mar the southern gateway of Celina.
COLDWATER - The Village of Coldwater Court Project was officially dedicated to the citizens of Coldwater with a ceremony held Monday evening at Memorial Park.
MARIA STEIN - Construction of the $23.3 million new middle school building is progressing on schedule, Marion Local school board members learned Monday night. Superintendent Mike Pohlman also reported district enrollment is up again this year.
Timeout helps Indians rally to beat Celina
CELINA - Trailing Celina 7-2 in the fourth set with the thoughts of a fifth set looming, Fort Recovery volleyball coach Travis Guggenbiller called timeout and offered a blunt assessment of his team's performance.
Compiled by Joe Schatz and Gary R. Rasberry
Parkway ran its record to 9-0 on the season with a 25-16, 25-23, 25-22 non-conference volleyball win over Crestview at Panther Gymnasium on Monday night.
Public Notices
Stay informed with Public Notices in print and online. In the past 30 days there have been 45 public notices. Including: