Increasing income tax collections indicate area businesses are adding to their payrolls through hiring or higher wages.

"It means people are working - and working within the county," said Jared Ebbing, Mercer County's economic development director. [More]

By KATHY THOMPSON
and WILLIAM KINCAID
newsdept@dailystandard.com

CELINA - The Mercer County Sheriff's Office captured one of its most wanted fugitives as he left a Celina restaurant Wednesday afternoon.

ST. MARYS - More than 100 residents and students turned out Wednesday night for the rehiring of former head varsity football coach Doug Frye.

School board members voted four to one to rehire the former coach. Board member Bob Valentine voted against the decision.

WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County Administrator Mike Hensley tendered his resignation to commissioners Tuesday without prior notice.

Commissioner John Bergman said Hensley submitted his resignation at 9 a.m. Tuesday and left the job.

ST. MARYS - A St. Marys native is the new director of the city's chamber of commerce.

Tim Dicke took over the position last week, replacing Rebecca Macwhinney, who resigned in October to accept a position with the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen.

NEW BREMEN - Village council members on Tuesday night passed first reading of an ordinance to enter into a contract with DP&L for the construction of a remote substation switching unit at an estimated cost of $175,000.

Speculation has pumped through barber shops, card clubs and morning "coffee meetings" throughout St. Marys for the past couple of weeks and on Wednes [More]

After opening the Western Buckeye League slate against three teams that were considered preseason contenders for the league championship, Celina appears to have a break in the schedule on Friday night when Wapakoneta visits the Fieldhouse.

The Midwest Athletic Conference matchup between St. Henry and Marion Local is always interesting, regardless of records, and the Redskins and Flyers will face off again on Friday night at The Hangar.

NEW BREMEN - New Bremen High School hosted a community meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the lack of participation in some of their extra-curricular activities, with the main focus on the football program.

The Celina Athletic Hall of Fame will be adding four new members during the 21st annual induction ceremony being held between the jayvee and varsity boys basketball games against Linden McKinley on Saturday night at the Fieldhouse.