CELINA - Bryant Rhoades - one of two men implicated in the November 2011 murders of Robert and Colleen Grube of Fort Recovery - on Tuesday backed out of a negotiated plea deal that could have spared him the death penalty. [More]

The recently established Lake Facilities Authority is seeking funds for a new treatment train at Beaver Creek.

LFA members met in a special meeting Tuesday to start the application process and heard backlash from a grassroots organization opposing state spending for Grand Lake.

WAPAKONETA - The Auglaize County Board of Health on Tuesday hired an Allen County sanitarian as the new health commissioner.

Oliver Fisher, 32, will fill the post when current health commissioner Charlotte Parsons retires Aug. 29 after heading up the department for 16 years.

WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County health officials Tuesday reported a recent increase in sexually transmitted diseases they believe is tied to the area's growing heroin problem.

AUGLAIZE COUNTY - Area law enforcement on Tuesday arrested 17 area people on drug charges - mainly heroin trafficking - following a drug sting by undercover officers.

NEW BREMEN - Auglaize County voters in November will decide the fate of a .6-mill levy to fund the Heritage Trails Park District as a result of action taken Tuesday afternoon by the board of commissioners.

MINSTER - Two lots in the village's West Industrial Park have prospective buyers, according to reports presented Tuesday night to village council.

Staff Reports

ROCKFORD - A July 10 traffic stop led to the arrest of a woman wanted in connection with a four-year-old fraudulent check case.

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CHICKASAW - The Chickasaw Community Mutual Fire Company has received a $23,437 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program.

ARCHBOLD - For the second straight game, Coldwater jumped out early and never looked back as the Cavaliers kept their ACME season going with a 12-2 win over Bath in an elimination game at the state ACME tournament on Tuesday in Archbold. [More]

From Staff and Wire Reports

Minster High School graduate Ben Hogenkamp had one of his best rounds of golf on Tuesday. That round propelled him up the leaderboard and allowed him to qualify for match play at the United States Amateur Public Links Championship at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan.