CELINA - A couple of restaurants and a franchise chain have shown interest in expanding to Celina at the Chief Plaza site, according to city engineering assistant Karen Seibert.

The winter of 2011-2012 finally has reared its ugly head.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Mercer and Auglaize counties effective 1 p.m. today until 11 a.m. Saturday.

MONTEZUMA - Two Franklin Township residents may be the first in Mercer County to enroll in a 10-year program that protects their farmland from non-agricultural development. [More]

Sales of spirituous liquor broke records locally and across Ohio in 2011 as the economy inched out of a three-year recession.

Total sales in Mercer

ST. MARYS - Local prosecutor Ed Pierce wants a St. Marys optometrist - convicted last fall of sexual assault - to remain in prison while his case is reviewed by a higher court.

For the third consecutive year, services at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park will be discounted to draw visitors to the lake after three summers of algae blooms and water advisories. [More]

CELINA - A 280-foot AT&T communication tower likely will be erected on the eastern edge of the city this year.

City planning commission members on

Deputies are continuing the search for suspects in a burglary that took place early Thursday morning at a business in downtown Buckland.

Auglaize C

WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County Commissioners must resolve a shortfall in the treasurer's budget after they denied money to cover raises already given.

MINSTER - A strong defensive effort helped Minster give Fort Recovery its first Midwest Athletic Conference loss of the season as the Wildcats built a double-digit lead before settling for a 46-40 triumph. [More]

MARIA STEIN - The Marion Local Flyers rebounded from a tough loss on Tuesday night by using a dominating defensive effort to defeat the St. John's Blue Jays 47-21 in Midwest Athletic Conference action on Thursday night at Marion Local High School.

CELINA - Relentless defense and a balanced scoring attack have been the ingredients that have led the Celina girls' basketball team to a successful season thus far.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

St. Henry put together a furious rally in the fourth quarter and came from behind to beat New Bremen 44-33 for the Redskins' first Midwest Athletic Conference win of the season.