Thursday, March 13th, 2008
By Margie Wuebker
ROCKFORD - George and Candes Fetters look at the charred and gutted remains of their two-story home as George puts an arm around Darla, their 2-year-old Boxer.
"This dog saved our lives," George says of the early Sunday morning fire. "We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her."
Candes awakened shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday to find the pregnant dog in bed licking her face. She remembers trying to push Darla away and then hearing a faint noise from another part of the house. [More]
By Janie Southard
GREENVILLE - History tells us Nathaniel Currier was tall and melancholy yet with the ability to charm almost everyone. James Ives was a pudgy, happy man, a professional bookkeeper and self-trained artist. In the mid-1800s, the two joined forces in producing the lithographs that will be the delight of collectors forever. [More]
By Gary R. Rasberry
Local success in basketball isn't just for the high school teams.
Four area Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) teams, two boys and two girls, will head to Cleveland this weekend for the state CYO tournament. All four teams play in the North Valley League, made up of teams from Mercer, Auglaize, Darke and Shelby Counties. [More]
Obituaries on March 13th, 2008
Eugene "Gene" Dues, 87, 3618 state Route 118, Coldwater, died at 2:33 p.m. March 12, 2008, at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater. [More]
Matthew Bernard Huelskamp, 22, of Huber Heights, died at 7:51 a.m. March 12, 2008, at home. Death was due to natural causes. [More]
Dr. Mark Nitschke, 40, of Botkins, died at 10:25 p.m. March 10, 2008, at the Centinela Freeman Hospital, Marina Del Ray, Calif. Death was due to cancer. [More]
Local pictures on March 13th, 2008
Subscriber stories on March 13th, 2008
When Sandy Schmitmeyer began her carpet cleaning business 13 years ago, it cost about $1 per gallon to fill the tank of her cargo van.
Triple that
COLDWATER - A terrible odor emitting from the high school office and spreading to nearby hallways and classrooms has been unpleasant for students and staff.
ST. MARYS - School district Treasurer Tom Sommers reported at a Wednesday school board meeting that bond sales for the school construction project sparked overwhelming interest, including local investors.
FORT RECOVERY - The school district spent $218,298 during the 2006-2007 school year to transport students to school. That equates to $299 for each of its 729 pupil riders - the lowest such cost in both Mercer and Auglaize counties.
The cause of death for two teens found in a home in Waynesfield in February appears to have been an accidental drug overdose - reportedly a rising problem across Ohio.
FORT RECOVERY - Recess will no longer be a time just for games and tomfoolery at Fort Recovery Elementary School.
Elementary Principal Shelly Vaughn has initiated a program, Mileage Club, where students in grade 1-5 have the opportunity to walk or run laps around the track during recess times.
And other snippets from long ago
Easter is early this year. In fact, it's hasn't been this early since 1913 when it was also on March 23 - next earliest was March 24, 1940.
But, wh