ROCKFORD - Some folks might call Lloyd Gause a strawberry expert for his work prepping the sweet fruit for berry lovers 41 years running.

But the 9

Celina utility customers may see an 8 percent increase in water rates and a 2 percent increase in wastewater rates - as soon as July 1.
  The city's

The city of Celina may harvest the algae in Grand Lake to create methane gas and carbon dioxide if a proposed pilot study at the water treatment plant is authorized and found viable. [More]

One Grand Lake advocate says the Ohio Senate's proposal to permit drilling for oil and gas in state parks for the financial benefit of the parks is not a sustainable, dependable source of funding.

OSGOOD - A blaring radio roused a sleeping family after lightning struck their home and sparked a disastrous fire early Tuesday morning.

Now Shawn [More]

A public hearing is set for 9 a.m. June 23 to hear an objection to a proposed 1-mile, $138,000 ditch project in a watershed in Washington Township.

MINSTER - Local councilors took the initial step toward a much-needed facelift for the Miami and Erie Canal on Tuesday night, giving first reading to an ordinance authorizing the mayor to petition the Auglaize County Commissioners for improvements. [More]

The new owners expect return visitors to be amazed at the new look of the bar they have taken over near Montezuma.

Michele Homan of New Bremen and

Available from lake or roadway, the new Zuma Bait and Stuff is selling a wide variety of live and frozen bait and fishing equipment.

Chris Clark and Rick Holsinger own the bait shop at 6600 Bruce Road, off state Route 219 between Montezuma and Windy Point. It is across from the new Shockers bar.

It will be a state final-type game played in the state semifinals.

The top two teams in the state Division III coaches poll will square off on Thur

Once again there will be a large contingent of area athletes competing at the state track meet at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus this weekend.

The

When Tony Stewart purchased Eldora Speedway in the fall of 2004, many fans were hoping the Rushville, Ind., native would add another big race or two to the Eldora schedule.

Eldora Speedway once again becomes the center of the racing world this week with the fifth annual Prelude to the Dream.

The high-banked, one-half mile clay oval was once voted by fans the second-most popular race track in the country, behind only the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Schedule of events for local athletes at the 2009 State Track and Field Championships in Columbus (Local individuals and relays, with heat, lane or flight assignment listed in parenthees).