CELINA - Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday highlighted Mercer County's struggle with COVID-19 as he discussed the growing number of cases across the state.

DeWine's comments arrived the same day the county saw a record 39 new cases on Wednesday, raising the county's total to 1,523. [More]

South Central Mercer Fire District officials are asking voters to approve a 2.5-mill replacement levy to fund fire protection operations.

The five-year levy, if approved, would increase the amount collected annually by the current levy from $326,900 to $332,160, according to the Mercer County Auditor' Office. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $87.50 annually. [More]

ELIDA - Just like the first matchup between the teams, Wednesday's St. Marys-Celina Division II girls soccer district semifinal match looked deadlocked most of the way and came down to a lucky bounce.

Once again, it was St. Marys coming out on top, as Celina keeper Kennedy Henry couldn't corral a long shot from Lydia Will with less than five minutes remaining, and Lil Ankerman scored on the rebound to give the Roughriders a 2-1 win in the district semifinals at Elida Middle School. [More]

GERMAN TOWNSHIP - Officials say a 2.5-mill continuing replacement levy up for vote is integral to covering the cost of fire and emergency medical services for the township.

Voters will decide whether to replace a 1.5-mill continuing levy, first approved in 2013, with a 2.5-mill continuing levy. According to county auditor Janet Schuler, the old levy collects an estimated $37,287 per year. The replacement levy would collect $76,244, costing the owner of a $100,000 home about $87.50 per year. [More]

WAPAKONETA - Two deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Auglaize County on Tuesday, raising the county's total to 16.

Officials also reported 14 new confirmed cases, increasing the total to 1,026.

In Mercer County, seven new cases brought that county's total to 1,484. [More]

By TOM HAINES
thaines@dailystandard.com

FORT RECOVERY - The two top-seeded teams took care of business Tuesday night at the Division IV district volleyball tournament at Fort Site Fieldhouse.

Fort Recovery outlasted Lincolnview in a hard-fought first set and dropped the third before recovering for a 25-22, 25-13, 20-25, 25-16 win. [More]

CELINA - The developers of a proposed residential/entertainment district on West Bank Road want the city to pay for an additional $169,000 in water line work that was not negotiated when the project was first pitched as a condominium/hotel-style resort more than seven years ago. [More]

ELIDA - In the first 40 minutes, St. Marys took 10 shots on goal and Celina took two.

But it was Celina holding a 2-0 lead at the half, and that margin held as the Bulldogs went on to a 3-1 win over the Roughriders in the Division II Northwest District I semifinals at Elida Middle School on Monday night. [More]

U.S. 8th District Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy, faces Democratic challenger Dr. Vanessa Enoch and write-in independent candidate Isaac Reed in the November general election.

Warren Davidson

Davidson, a Republican, represents the 8th District and says it's been a humbling experience. [More]

COLDWATER - If you strike at the king, you best not miss.

For Fort Recovery, going up against undefeated Coldwater, a blocked extra point in the third led to a failed two-point conversion in the fourth, and that was one mistake too many as the Cavaliers prevailed 28-26 in the Division VI Region 24 quarterfinals at Cavalier Stadium on Saturday. [More]