CELINA - The race for a Mercer County commission seat beginning Jan. 2, 2021, finds incumbent Jerry Laffin of Coldwater facing off against challenger Andy Schwieterman of Celina for the Republican nomination.

The winner advances to the Nov. 3 general election to take on Democratic candidate Don Holtvoigt of Celina, who is running unopposed. [More]

CELINA - Mercer County Commissioner Rick P. Muhlenkamp of Celina is being challenged by county soil and water conservation Board Vice Chairwoman Theresa A. Howick of Celina for the commissioner seat beginning Jan. 3, 2021.

The winner advances to the Nov. 3 general election. No Democrats filed to run in the primary. [More]

CELINA - Things got a little hairy when facial hair aficionados from across the nation took over Brew Nation on Saturday night.

The Mercer County Facial Hair Club hosted their second "Love is in the Hair" facial hair competition at the brewery. Contestants served up looks ranging from burly beards and magnificent mustaches to fake follicles made out of ribbons, moss and paper. [More]

BATH TOWNSHIP - The scenario was simple: win the Western Buckeye League wrestling tournament, capture the league title.

St. Marys and Celina were determined to claim the crown, and it came down to the wire on Saturday.

The Roughriders put seven wrestlers in championship matches and won four titles en route to holding off Celina 151-145 1/2 to win the tournament and capturing the program's first outright league title. It is also the first title for St. Marys since 1977 at Bath High School. [More]

ST. MARYS - A St. Marys-area woman won't face charges after shooting her husband to death at their home on Feb. 8.

An Auglaize County Grand Jury declined to charge Stephanie Sweigart, 30, for any offenses related to the death of husband Wesley Sweigart, 36, according to a news release Friday from the sheriff's office and county prosecutor Edwin Pierce. [More]

ST. HENRY - After a so-so first half, Minster boys basketball coach Michael McClurg knew his team had to kick it up a notch in the second half against St. Henry.

The Wildcats got timely shooting and played solid defense to take the lead and held on for the 55-49 win over the Redskins at St. Henry Middle School Gymnasium. [More]

Gene Steiner was not a fan of blind dates.

At 20 years old in 1950, he was working in Toledo and would visit Celina since his father was employed at New Idea. His friend, Carl, invited him to a Celina football game against Kenton and asked if he'd ever been on a blind date. Steiner replied that he hadn't and had no intention of ever doing so. [More]

FORT RECOVERY - In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were just beginning their NBA dynasty, "60 Minutes," "Roseanne" and "Cheers" ruled the television world, "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" was the hottest movie at the box office and the Fort Recovery girls basketball program won the Midwest Athletic Conference championship. [More]