WAPAKONETA- A former St. Marys City Schools bus driver convicted of having sexual contact with a juvenile student was sentenced to over 10 years in prison this week in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court.
CELINA-A 48-year-old Arkansas man this week in Mercer County Common Pleas Court admitted to intimidating an attorney and menacing several others via phone earlier this year.
CELINA- A former fugitive wanted in both Mercer and Darke counties was indicted on additional charges in Mercer County Common Pleas Court this week after a special response team forcibly made entry into his home and arrested him last month.
Osterloh faces minimum as Minster wins district title
BATH TOWNSHIP - Maybe it was the "Wildcats" name around Bath's campus that gave Minster confidence. Perhaps an earlier start time of 3:30 gave the te
ROCKFORD - Needing four runs in the bottom of the fifth to trigger the run rule and avoid a rain delay or suspension of play, Parkway came up with what they needed, defeating Perry 13-3 to advance in the Division VI baseball playoffs on Friday night at Don Black Field.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
and Joe Schatz
Coldwater's girls kept up their hot performance from Wednesday's opening day of the Division IV district track and field meet by winning the team championship on Friday at the Cooper Tire Track and Field Complex in Findlay.
Tourism in the Grand Lake Region
CELINA - The Grand Lake region is well-positioned for another packed summer full of family-friendly activities, whether a visitor wants to spend the weekend on the water or sit down and enjoy a family meal.
Chickasaw Community Picnic
CHICKASAW - The Chickasaw Community Picnic is not only a time for people to gather for a summer festival kickoff, it also serves as the major fundraiser for the village park board.
Wienerfest at Goat Hill
A neighborhood backyard barbecue that got too big for its backyard is returning this summer with new organizers, a new venue, and a lot more space for fun, music, camping and food.
Coldwater K of C Picnic
COLDWATER - Coldwater Knights of Columbus will host their 59th annual picnic June 5-7. This year's event will be held in the grassy area north of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church parking lot. Committee member Shaun Seitz said the move allows for more parking on the paved area next to the event site.
Burkettsville Community Picnic
BURKETTSVILLE - The annual Burkettsville Community Picnic, set for June 13-14 at the town park, will feature a host of children's activities and the perennial favorite mud volleyball tournament.
Versailles Poultry Days
VERSAILLES - Now that they've solidified their longtime self-proclaimed title of the world's largest chicken barbecue, organizers of Versailles Poultry Days are looking to raise a Chilly Willy Orange Drink - and possibly a beer or two - to say cheers to the festival's 75th anniversary.
Taste of the Town
COLDWATER - The Taste of the Town extravaganza returns to Coldwater June 16. It will take place 5-10 p.m. on Elm Street near the depot in Coldwater Memorial Park.
Governor's Cup Regatta
CELINA - Speed enthusiasts are in for a treat this summer, as the 2026 Governor's Cup Regatta is back with more than double the drivers of last year's return.
Fort Recovery Harvest Jubilee
FORT RECOVERY - Fort Recovery will host the Harvest Jubilee June 18-21.
Since its origin in 1906, the event has been a community touchpoint, allowi
Maria Stein Country Fest
MARIA STEIN - As always, the organizers behind this year's Maria Stein Country Fest plan to switch things up with exciting new attractions, while still providing the classic programming that keeps attendees coming back each year.
New Knoxville Independence Day Celebration
NEW KNOXVILLE - Organizers of the New Knoxville Independence Day Celebration were planning to skip a year before staging another parade. However, last year's parade was so well-received that it's back this year by popular demand.
Red, White and Blue Celebration
COLDWATER - A pair of committees are joining forces to throw a massive patriotic party in Coldwater Memorial Park on July 4.
The Village of Coldwat
St. Henry Community Picnic
ST. HENRY - This year's St. Henry Community Picnic promises something for everyone, with a packed line up of great food and entertainment from July 3-5 on the grounds between St. Henry Catholic Church and the public library.
Taste of Celina
CELINA - The Taste of Celina Block Party will serve up an array of food and drink samples from local restaurants and vendors as well as live entertainment, a kids zone, car show and new duck drop on July 10.
Summer Moon Festival
WAPAKONETA - The Wapakoneta Summer Moon Festival is set to take place July 14-19.
The festival, held annually in Wapakoneta, seeks to celebrate the
Immaculate Conception Festival
CELINA - Immaculate Conception Festival organizers have put together another fun schedule of musical acts and activities for this year's festival, which runs July 17-18.
Gathering at Garst
GREENVILLE - This year's Gathering at the Garst is set to be both familiar and exciting, with beloved attractions set to return and new, patriotic events planned for the country's upcoming 250th birthday.
Celina Lake Festival
CELINA - The 2026 Celina Lake Festival is draping itself in the patriotic theme of "Liberty on the Lake: America 250."
Taking place July 24-26, Cel
Berne Swiss Days
The 2026 Berne Swiss Days is set to be a three-day festival full of hands-on, family fun with plenty of Swiss-themed activities to keep everyone busy.
About 10,000 attendees are expected to stop out to the downtown event in Berne, Indiana, from July 24-25, organizer Kirstien Herman said.
North Star Community Picnic
NORTH STAR - This year's North Star Community Picnic will feature all its classic entertainment with some exciting new attractions in celebration of its 75th anniversary.
New Bremen Firemen's Picnic
NEW BREMEN - The New Bremen-German Township Firemen's Picnic, the longest-running picnic in Auglaize County, will mark its 106th year July 24 at the downtown Crown Pavilion.
Fort Recovery NTPA Grand Nationals
FORT RECOVERY - The 2026 Fort Recovery National Tractor Pullers Association Grand Nationals event returns July 31-Aug. 1 at the beautiful, 52-acre Ambassador Park in Fort Recovery.
Chattanooga Farmers' Picnic
CHATTANOOGA - Going back to the early 1900s, country folks and their town counterparts have been gathering for a day of fun for young and old alike at the Chattanooga Farmers' Picnic. This year's 111th edition of the celebration is set for July 30.
Coldwater Community Picnic
COLDWATER - The 66th annual Coldwater Community Picnic will be held July 30-Aug. 2.
As America celebrates 250 years the focus of this popular Coldw
Auglaize County Fair
WAPAKONETA - The 174th Auglaize County Fair, set for Aug. 2-8, will roll out the theme of "Freedom, Family, Red, White and Fair" to coincide with the American 250 Celebration occurring nationwide this summer.
127 Yard Sale
The World's Longest Yard Sale will return to Mercer County properties along U.S. Route 127 Aug. 6-9.
The annual event is nearly 700 miles long and
Mercer County Fair
CELINA - The 174th Mercer County Fair will stand out as a major milestone with the debut of the Grand Event Center during fair week Aug. 13-19.
Com
Multiple Donations Softball Tournament
COLDWATER - The 46th Coldwater Multiple Donations Softball Tournament will be held Aug. 12-16 at Coldwater Memorial Park.
Between 1980 and 2019, th
St. Marys SummerFest
ST. MARYS - This year's St. Marys SummerFest is back again with a full slate of attractions for the whole family.
Set for Aug. 13-16 in downtown St. Marys, the festival was first called Heritage Days, until 1983, when it took on its current moniker of SummerFest.
Bremenfest
NEW BREMEN - In conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, active duty service members and veterans will be honored as grand marshals of the Bremenfest patriotic-themed parade.
Win on the Wabash
FORT RECOVERY - The eighth annual Win on the Wabash returns Aug. 28-29 at Ambassador Park with an array of raffles, music, food, drinks, exhibitors and top-notch entertainment, including Back in Black, an AC/DC tribute act, and country star Joe Nichols.
Durbin Bean Bake
CELINA - The Durbin Bean Bake, one of the area's most historic and longest running events, returns Labor Day, Sept. 7.
The event, first held in 1898 and now in its 127th year, traces back to a reunion of Civil War veterans.
St. Joe Homecoming Festival
ST. JOE - The St. Joe Homecoming Festival is celebrating its 43rd anniversary this year.
The festival will take place Sept. 11-13 on the grounds of St. Joseph Parish at 1689 St. Joe Road, Fort Recovery.
Heritage Day Celebration
MARIA STEIN - The annual Heritage Day Celebration returns to the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics 12-4 p.m. Sept. 20.
Held in the shrine courtyard at 2291 St. Johns Road, Maria Stein, the festival began in 2016 as a family-friendly event, according to Diana Russell, fund development director.
Oktoberfest
MINSTER - Whether it be the German food, wide selection of beers, car show or the parade that spurs the public's interest, the end result is continued huge crowds flocking to Minster for the Oktoberfest celebration.
Van Wert Bluegrass Festival
VAN WERT - The 15th annual Van Wert County Fairgrounds Bluegrass Festival will be held Sept. 24-26, drawing fans from throughout Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and elsewhere.
Spirit of the Forest Bigfoot Festival
CELINA - Rumor has it that Bigfoot will again appear at the third annual Spirit of the Forest Bigfoot Festival Oct. 23-24 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
Grand Lake Mariners
For over 35 years the Grand Lake Mariners have allowed area baseball fans to watch college baseball players from all over the nation compete in June
Mercer Health 5K Challenge
The Mercer Health 5K Challenge returns for its 22nd season as area distance runners get a chance to compete at seven events in Mercer County through the summer.
Eldora Speedway
The 73rd season of racing at Eldora Speedway features its traditional schedule of crown jewel racing events with a new series coming to the renowned 1/2-mile dirt track.
Celina Concert Series
CELINA - Volunteers behind the Celina summer concert series aim to take another crack at hosting a handful of Sunday evening shows this summer at the Harley C. Jones Memorial Rotary Amphitheater, the so-called "crown jewel" of the Bryson Park District.
Coldwater Concert Series
COLDWATER - The ninth annual summer concert series at Coldwater Memorial Park Amphitheater will feature seven nights with performances by a variety of musical talents.
Fort Recovery Concert Series
FORT RECOVERY - The Friends of the Arts group will continue a tradition started more than three decades ago as the Summer Concert Series will again provide Sunday evening entertainment for Fort Recovery at Hein Amphitheater, 120 W. Butler St., in VanTrees Park.
Minster Concert Series
MINSTER - This year's Minster Summer Concert Series will take the audience back to the sounds of the 1960s, '70s and '80s as organizers have lined up three classic rock bands.
New Bremen Concert Series
NEW BREMEN - Audiences attending this year's New Bremen Summer Concert Series will be treated to the music of familiar acts that have been entertaining crowds for many years.
St. Henry Concert Series
ST. HENRY - The arrival of food trucks last year at some of the St. Henry Summer Concert events proved so popular that organizers have scheduled a different vendor with each performance this summer.
St. Marys Theatre Summer Concert Series
ST. MARYS - The Friends of the St. Marys Theater and Grand Opera House will host a variety of free summer concerts on the new Nidec Minster Grand Pav
Around the Region
By FRANK ROCCO SATULLO
Ohiotraveler.com
TROY - This year, Troy and Miami County are celebrating 50 years of the Troy Strawberry Festival. Locate
Grand Lake Golf Guide
The Grand Lake area offers a variety of public golf courses to challenge weekend golfers and low-handicaps alike.
Arrowhead Park Golf Course
Loc
Farmers Markets
Celina Farmers' Market
Mercer County Fairgrounds
Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
For 2026, over 60 registered vendors are selling homegrown, home-prepared
Around the Region
Jackson Center Community Days
May 29-31
Jackson Center
This weekend-long community festival brings the community closer together and affords its
Sites and Attractions
From a replica fort to outdoor murals to the shores of Grand Lake, the region is rich in historic places to visit and memorable sights to see. Below is just a small selection of what the Grand Lake region has to offer.
Grand Lake Area Lodging
Visitors planning a weekend stay or longer vacation have a wide variety of lodging options to choose from in the Grand Lake area. Scores of hotels, motels, inns and campgrounds are available for people traveling to Mercer and Auglaize counties this summer and fall.
