The public has been advised to avoid all contact with water at the four public beaches on Grand Lake after tests detected unsafe algal toxins, according to notices released by the Ohio Department of Health. [More]

As the planting season moves ahead at full steam, everyday motorists have begun sharing the road with tractors and other farm equipment.

Jamie Hamp

CELINA - Mercer County commissioners on Thursday voted to deny a proposed amendment that would have restricted short-term rentals of dwellings in East Jefferson Township. [More]

MINSTER - Councilors this week awarded a $5.08 million contract to a Texas company to build a larger water storage tank, another step toward replacing the village's aging 250,000-gallon water tower on Ohio Street.

CELINA - Democrats will need to unite as a party to take back democracy in the November general election and improve Ohio for the next generation, state and local Democrats said at the Mercer County Democrats Equality Dinner at the Celina Eagles Thursday night.

CELINA - Mercer County Educational Service Center has been awarded a $100,000 grant for school safety and security upgrades, the first such award the office has received.

ST. HENRY - St. Henry's Nolan Schmitz tied his own school record with 16 strikeouts and allowed just one ball out of the infield in a 2-0 victory over Marion Local in the Division IV sectional final Thursday at the Wally Post Athletic Complex. [More]

LIMA - From the second inning on, St. Marys was watching Bath's taillights.

The Wildkittens took advantage of the backups in the infield and put St

MINSTER - With Wednesday's rainout raising the possibility of tournament games on back-to-back days, Minster needed a solid pitching outing on Thursday to help keep the bullpen fresh should the Wildcats advance.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Apollo Thomas and Roman Leszinske combined to hold Bluffton to six hits as Parkway advanced in the Division III sectional baseball tournament with a 7-3 win over the Pirates on Thursday.