Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
$800,000 Mercer County typically receives from state will likely disappear
By Shelley Grieshop
Revenue is estimated to be $1 million less this year for Mercer County, mostly due to a huge loss in state funds.
But the financial outlook isn't all "gloom and doom," county commissioner Bob Nuding told elected and appointed officials during a meeting at the county courthouse Tuesday. [More]
By Shelley Grieshop
A finance meeting Tuesday with top Mercer County officials ended in a debate about employee raises.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Sheriff Jeff Grey praised retiring auditor Mark Giesige for his long-term devotion to the county. Seconds later, he put Giesige and other department leaders on the hot seat for ignoring a request by commissioners to forgo giving raises to their workers this year. [More]
By Gary R. Rasberry
ST. MARYS - Greg Phillips was well aware of the tradition of the St. Marys football program long before he applied for the head coaching position.
Approved by the St. Marys Board of Education on Tuesday night, Phillips brings 25 years of coaching experience - five as a head coach - to a program that will be looking to bounce back from a rough 2010 season (1-9). [More]
Obituaries on February 9th, 2011
Kevin W. Niemeyer, 54, of St. Marys and formerly of Celina, died at 11:04 a.m. Feb. 8, 2011, at his home in St. Marys. [More]
Josephine Mary Bruns, 89, Yorkshire, died Feb. 7, 2011, in Newark.
She was b [More]
Roseanna C. Holthaus, 79, Fort Loramie, died Feb. 7, 2011, at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Sidney. [More]
Betty L. Heitman, 83, Anna, died at 9:06 p.m. Feb. 7, 2011, at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Sidney. [More]
Local pictures on February 9th, 2011
Subscriber stories on February 9th, 2011
St. MARYS - An Auglaize County bridge engineer says the High Street bridge in St. Marys does not need replaced, and a simple upgrade to the structure could spare the nearby historic Reservoir Mill some residents are trying to save.
Mercer County elections
A lack of valid signatures on his petition means former Celina city councilman Ron Hammons' name will not appear on the Democratic primary ballot in May.
NEW BREMEN - Village council members put their final stamp of approval on the proposed Kuest Ditch project Tuesday night by accepting a bid well below the engineering estimate.
ROCKFORD - Parkway is among most Ohio school districts anticipating less state funding.
Superintendent Greg Puthoff met with school staff recently to discuss ways to cut costs, which may include staff reductions.
Seventeen Auglaize County bridges are scheduled to be updated this year, including several in the Minster, New Bremen and New Knoxville area.
Count
A Celina woman was injured early this morning while trying to escape her burning home.
Betty Feliciano, 1460 James Drive, summoned the Celina Fire Department at 4:33 a.m. to report her home was filled with heavy smoke.
ST. MARYS - St. Marys City Schools board of education approved plans to improve Skip Baughman Stadium while the new athletic complex is built.
Impr
COLDWATER - Coldwater Exempted Village Schools Treasurer Sherry Shaffer told school board members Tuesday there has been talk at the state level of eliminating the "transitional aid guarantee" money.
FORT RECOVERY - District officials are planning a sea change in the way they provide technology to students and staff at the high school, according to superintendent Pat Niekamp and technology director John Jutte.
Developers: Celina low on available sites
CELINA - Even though Celina has several vacant buildings, development experts say there are still few options for potential buyers.
"In one way, we
Local Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
St. Marys hit big free throws down the stretch while keeping Ottawa-Glandorf scoreless for the final six minutes of the game to stay undefeated in Western Buckeye League girls basketball play with a 43-30 win on Tuesday night at Murotech Court.
COLDWATER - For Veronica Bruns, Bowling Green State University made sense athletically and academically.
The Coldwater multi-sports standout will concentrate on running after signing her national letter-of-intent with BGSU on Wednesday.
CONVOY - For the second time in a 24-hour time span, the Celina girls' basketball team was in need of a big play at the end of a game to pull out a win.