MARIA STEIN - An overwhelming community response has resulted in Marion Local teacher Julia Sommer's being named one of 25 finalists for the "Best Teacher in America" award. [More]

NEW BREMEN - A long-time New Bremen resident and business owner was honored Tuesday as the third recipient of New Bremen Community Improvement Corporation's Excellence in Business Award.

GRAND LAKE - The Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance has until Aug. 30 to spend about $83,000 in grant funds for best management practices designed to keep nutrients out of Grand Lake.

CELINA - Mayor Jeff Hazel told Celina downtown merchants: "Things are moving forward."

Hazel reported during a Celina Merchants Association meeting

MINSTER - No comments were made at a public hearing Tuesday for a street vacation request by Precision Strip.

Only one person attended the hearing held by the village council.

ROCKFORD - The new junk inspector will be paid a higher wage despite objections from council members.

Mayor Amy Joseph set the pay for the new position at Tuesday's council meeting.

A 52-year-old Arcanum-area youth pastor was killed when another driver failed to yield at a stop sign at the intersection of U.S. 127 and Hollansburg-Arcanum Road at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday in Darke County.

CELINA - Two brothers this week opened Schott's Bargain Center in Paul's Mini Mall to sell household products and electronics.

Owners Tom and Matt

ST. MARYS - A Lima-based financial institution soon will join Kohl's, Buffalo Wild Wings and the other establishments at the Shoppes at St. Marys plaza.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Two events, two national titles for Josh Fleagle.

The Auglaize-Mercer Family YMCA Waves' standout swimmer won his

CELINA - Walks haunted Celina's baseball team on Tuesday night in the Western Buckeye League opener against Elida at Montgomery Field.

Three of the six walks issued to Elida's batters came around to score, which was enough to hold off Celina for a 5-2 win in a battle of Bulldogs. [More]

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

St. Marys opened the Western Buckeye League portion of its schedule by beating Van Wert for the second time in a week as the Roughriders slipped past the Cougars 5-3 on Tuesday at K.C. Geiger Park. The Roughriders also beat the Cougars in a nonleague game last week.

COLDWATER - The Coldwater softball team used small ball in scoring all five of their runs and then survived a late Lima Central Catholic T-Bird rally for a 5-4 win on Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Park.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

The Wright State University-Lake Campus' baseball team improved to 3-1 in Ohio Regional College Conference play after splitting a doubleheader on the road against Miami University-Hamilton on Tuesday in Hamilton.