Mendon resident Iain Bruce believes firefighting is a calling.

And Bruce's commitment on a volunteer basis makes his opinion all the more plausible [More]

CELINA - A 3-year-old Celina girl continues to show improvement at Children's Medical Center in Dayton following an incident at her home and her father remains incarcerated in connection with the child abuse case.

ST. MARYS - A former St. Marys businessman who swindled more than $300,000 from area investors - including two southern Mercer County men - was granted an early prison release by outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland. [More]

Former state representative Jim Buchy of Greenville is expected to be appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives today to fill the seat of former representative Jim Zehringer, R-Fort Recovery, who is now the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

GRAND LAKE - Members of the Lake Restoration Commission (LRC) will meet privately Friday with new state government officials to discuss the master plan to restore Grand Lake.

ST. HENRY - If funds are available, new facilities could be in order for South Park in time for the village's 175th birthday celebration in 2012.

C

COLDWATER - Village income taxes are up, and that makes village officials happy.

"We had a really good year last year," finance director Clyde Bell

CELINA - City council members on Monday night passed first reading of an ordinance to renew $1.1 million of debt on its Rotary Walkway project.

Cou

MARIA STEIN - The search for a new superintendent is nearing the interview phase, according to reports presented when the Marion Local Schools board of education met Monday night.

ST. MARYS - City council passed final reading of the 2011 budget in emergency Monday with total appropriations set at $47.2 million.

Auditor Doug Riesen presented final numbers with $40.4 million in revenue and total carryover at $21.5 million.

Compiled by Ryan Hines
and Gary R. Rasberry

The Augalize-Mercer YMCA Swim Team competed over the weekend at the Tigershark Winter Invitational held on the campus of Miami University.