Funding plans discussed for Harmon Preservation land
By William Kincaid
CELINA - Lake officials hope to land about $144,000 in state funding to get the ball rolling on a water treatment initiative in Auglaize County estimated at $1.1 million.
The Grand Lake St. Marys Lake Facilities Authority approved Tuesday morning a resolution authorizing Mercer County agriculture and natural resources director Theresa Dirksen to apply to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for Section 319 funding for the design of the Harmon Preservation treatment wetland project. [More]
Celina advances to first district final in 13 seasons
By Joe Schatz
COLUMBUS GROVE - While dogs are a man's best friend, Celina was Shawnee's worst nightmare as the Bulldogs used a big third quarter to win the Division III district semifinal 50-42 in Columbus Grove.
The Western Buckeye League Boys Basketball Player of the Year award will remain in the Bertke family with brothers sharing the honor.
Shawnee's Beckett and Trevick Bertke were named the league's Players of the Year after helping the Indians win an outright league championship this season. The brothers are the sons of former Marion Local standout and current Shawnee assistant coach Nick Bertke. [More]
Gloria Jean Vann, 87, formerly of Rockford, Ohio passed away Monday morning, February 23, 2026, at Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio. [More]
CELINA - City council president Jason King defended the council's intention to raise water rates 26.5% over the next two years, citing ballooning treatment expenses and big-ticket infrastructure projects in the near future.
A months-long criminal investigation into locals that reportedly downloaded and shared child sex abuse images resulted in the drug arrest of a 53-year-old Fort Recovery man last week, with additional charges possible pending the completion of the investigation.
MENDON - Mendon village councilors on Tuesday heard the village solicitor, working on behalf of the village, will send a second letter to the homeowner of a property not in compliance with several village ordinances.
CELINA- Three area people were arrested in the last week on felony charges in Mercer County Common Pleas Court related to theft, assault and a protection order violation.
The Celina girls bowling team will return to the Division I state tournament for a second straight season after winning the district title on Tuesday at Star Lanes at the Harbor in Port Clinton.
It's been a while since any area bowling team has brought home a state championship. Coldwater won the last boys state title in 2021 while St. Marys was the last area girls state champ in 2019.
CELINA - City council members green-lighted the purchase of multiple parcels of land along Grand Lake Road, including the former Orchard Tree restaurant lot owned by Mercer Health, for nearly $750,000 to build a new firehouse.
Not originally listed on the agenda, the two pieces of legislation were introduced and subsequently approved as emergency measures at Monday night's regular meeting, after councilors suspended the rules requiring three public readings. [More]
For the third straight season, there was no question who is the top boys basketball player in the Midwest Athletic Conference.
Delphos St. John's senior Cameron Elwer was the unanimous choice by the conference coaches for Player of the Year for the third straight season, the first three-time honoree for the conference. [More]
CELINA - School board members are weighing whether to have students occupy the new grades 7-12 building midway through the 2026-27 school year or at the beginning of the 2027-28 school year.
NEW BREMEN - Village councilors on Monday passed an emergency resolution to purchase a new $1.3 million fire apparatus, essentially a two-in-one vehicle which would replace the fire department's aging pumper and emergency equipment trucks.
ST. HENRY - St. Henry Village Council moved forward on a real estate purchase, began work on its long-term budget and confronted upcoming staff retirements during its meeting Monday night.
COLUMBUS - The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced a formal step last week that could lay the groundwork for cheerleading to become an official high school sport.
2026 Division II State Swimming and Diving Championship Preview
Late bucket lifts Arcanum past Fort Recovery at sectional
By Dave Stilwell
COVINGTON - Fort Recovery fought its way through 29 turnovers and 23% field goal shooting to give itself a chance at the end.
Fourth-seeded Arcanum got a clutch bucket in the closing seconds and then denied the Indians a decent look at the end to prevail 33-30 in the Division VI sectional at Covington High School Saturday afternoon. [More]
MARIA STEIN - A local architectural and engineering firm that has been closely monitoring the aftermath of the devastating May 29 fire has been selected to design the new St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
ST. MARYS - An early 11-9 deficit had St. Marys thinking comeback, but a big run from Bryan in the second quarter pushed the Golden Bears past the Roughriders 48-36 in the Division IV Northwest sectional final.
The qualifiers for the Division II state swimming and diving championships were formally set over the weekend with the addition of at-large competitors.
Work could close road for 90 days with 22-mile detour
By William Kincaid
MONTEZUMA - A major state project necessitating the complete shutdown of the State Route 219 bridge over Beaver Creek in Montezuma for now nearly three months is expected to get underway early next month and run through late summer.
The Ohio Department of Transportation had committed to the bridge restoration in March 2021 and was targeting a project starting date - and 22-mile detour - in late spring or early summer of 2025. [More]
St. Henry outlasts Fort Recovery in double overtime
By Joe Schatz
ST. HENRY - It took all of 40 minutes inside of Redskin Gymnasium, but the MAC finale between St. Henry and Fort Recovery lived up to the billing.
After a slow start it was seniors Brayden Heath and Jack Huelsman that willed St. Henry (16-6) to a 74-69 win in double overtime to beat the Indians (12-10) in the regular season finale. [More]
CELINA - The Mercer County Commissioners have tapped Brumbaugh Construction Inc. as the design-builder for the renovation of the Central Services Building, a project now estimated at $1.4 million.
Donald Stipp, the driver of the van that was struck head-on by a semi-trailer driven by a Kyrgystani national in a multi-fatality crash in Jay County Feb. 3, is suing the driver and the associated trucking companies he worked for.
CELINA - Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel swore in police officer Hunter Mote on Friday afternoon, providing a much-needed boost to the Celina Police Department.
COLDWATER - A Fort Recovery man was arrested Friday on a drug possession charge after authorities executed a search warrant in Fort Recovery related to their investigation of potential Internet Crimes Against Children activities.
MINSTER - The threes came in bunches, and provided the momentum Minster needed to post a 59-47 victory over Coldwater in the regular season finale Friday night at the Wildcat Gymnasium.
