ST. HENRY - A St. Henry teen will compete in a statewide high school battle of the bands competition with a recording contract on the line.

Natalie Uhlenhake, 17, will travel to Columbus on Thursday to compete against nine other finalists in the 2020 Instaband competition hosted by Elementary Records, a student-run label at Groove U. Groove U, a two-year music career program in Dublin, chose 20 applicants from a large pool of applicants to advance to the semifinals. [More]

ST. MARYS - Minster pulled away from Parkway for a 57-23 win, while Marion Local came from behind to nip Lima Central Catholic 51-48 in a pair of girls Division IV Sectional finals Saturday at St. Marys.

Minster and Marion's wins set up a rematch between the Midwest Athletic Conference rivals in the district semifinals Thursday at Wapakoneta High School with a 6:15 p.m. tip-off. [More]

A new competitive sport is taking root across the state, and some local schools are getting their heads in the game.

After classes on a recent Monday, a handful of Coldwater High School students gathered under the watchful eye of district technology director and volunteer coach Nick Wirwille. [More]

Friday marked the final time in which Kenzie Conn, Zoe Rolfes, Emma Guggenbiller and Claire Gass swam together as members of the Celina High School swimming team.

It could not have been more memorable.

The quartet teamed for two first team All [More]

COLDWATER - A blaze that consumed an apartment complex late Wednesday night, possibly injuring two residents, causing $500,000 worth of damage and leaving about 10 people homeless, has reportedly been ruled an accident by the state fire marshal.

Coldwater Fire Chief Brent Forsthoefel said his department responded to 911 N. Seventh St., Apt. 47, after receiving a call at about 11 p.m. Wednesday about an apartment fully engulfed in flames. [More]

Exterior work continues on the Reservoir Mill recently in St. Marys. Workers are removing additions to the 1846-1847 flour mill and stabilizing the original structure.

Construction crews are working on phase 1, which focuses on rehabilitating the exterior and making sure the foundation and interior are stable. The city received permission from the state to use $1 million from a $1.4 million revolving loan fund for phase 1, for the purpose of relieving "slum and blight" conditions. [More]

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

The Celina girls swim team will compete for state titles in two relays and an individual event at the OHSAA Division II State Swimming Championships.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs qualified for the A-Finals in the 200-yard medley and 400 freestyle relay while Claire Gass earned a spot in the 100 breaststroke A-Final during the preliminaries at Branin Natatorium in Canton. [More]

CELINA- A Mercer County agency is targeting a new state grant program to help some property owners get their downtown Celina building up to code.

County community development director Jared Ebbing said he is writing a grant application for $250,00 [More]

ST. MARYS - The two Republican candidates running for Auglaize County commissioner discussed county and national issues at a Wednesday forum hosted by the St. Marys Rotary Club.

Dave Bambauer and Steve Henderson are vying for the seat being vacated by Don Regula, who is retiring. With no Democratic candidates running in the primary, whoever wins the March 17 primary election will likely become the next commissioner. [More]

For Holden Cubberley, it was a big jump up on the podium.

For Vivian Niekamp, it was bouncing back from a tough finish a year ago.

And for Kameron MacLean and Xander Spees, it was a solid debut.

Celina junior Cubberley improved on his eighth-place finish at the Division II boys state diving championship a season ago by placing third in a competitive field at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton on Wednesday. [More]