ROCKFORD - Village property owners could receive a 50 percent property tax exemption for new construction and remodeling projects if a community reinvestment proposal is accepted by the Ohio Department of Development.

At this week's Columbus-based Conference of the Ohio Association of Election Officials, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner recommended Ohio counties ditch their touch-screen voting machines by the November general election in favor of optical scans. [More]

A 19-year-old Arizona woman, who reportedly came to the Midwest to smuggle drugs as part of an organized network, wept Tuesday morning as Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Ingraham sentenced her to one year in prison. [More]

Eighth Floor LLC, a holding company of Celina-based Visions Awards, has purchased Houston, Texas-based Craftsman Awards, a move that will let the local company expand into the glass and crystal market and add jobs, said Visions President Dave Willis.

A Celina man faces multiple sex charges stemming from a May incident involving a developmentally disabled woman.

Forrest E. Pinson, 49, 920 N. Bran

A Celina man has been indicted on multiple charges, including several related to firearms, stemming from a November altercation at The 211 Club on South Main Street. He allegedly pointed a handgun at a local man before it was wrestled away by a woman.

ST. HENRY - The village may get a new meter reading system that could calculate the entire village's water rates in 10 minutes.

During the regular

NEW BREMEN - Plans for the Kuenning-Dicke Natural Area were discussed when the Miami and Erie Canal Corridor Association met Wednesday night.

Tom K

Policies, planning and official appointments for 2008 was the only business at hand when the Auglaize County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) met in regular session Monday night.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

While the football version of the Backyard Battle has decidedly been in the court of Coldwater the last few years, the boys basketball version has been an example of St. Henry's power.

Last Game: Coming off a big win over St. Henry, the Indians downed Ansonia 44-35 on Saturday night to pick up their 10th win of the season. ... The Flyers suffered a power drain in the third quarter, allowing once-beaten Anna to post a 60-43 win at The Hangar.

Last Game: The Tigers were edged out 53-50 by Madiera. ... New Bremen picked up its second straight win with a 49-30 decision at home with Covington.

Last Game: Parkway picked up its second win in three games, beating Temple Christian 66-57. ... The Blue Jays snapped a four-game losing streak, posting a 70-68 triple overtime win in the annual Sunday matchup with LCC.

Last Game: The Titans picked up their third win in four games with a 71-57 win over Lima Senior at the Supreme Court. ... The Roughriders saw their losing streak go to three games in losing an 81-77 shootout at Wapakoneta.

Last Game: The Wildcats improved to 10-3 on the season with a 89-66 win on Tuesday against Morral Ridgedale. ... Celina fell to 4-8 on the season in losing 64-31 to Hillard Darby on Monday night.

Last Game: The Wildcats snapped a losing streak in beating Wapakoneta 61-38 on Saturday night. ... The Rangers made it 12-0 on the season with an 83-49 win over Botkins at The Barn.