ST. MARYS - School board members on Wednesday approved a 2 percent raise for superintendent Shawn Brown in a five-year renewal contract.

The contract, effective Aug. 1 through July 31, 2020, raises Brown's salary for the 2014-15 school year to $97,920.

SIDNEY - A St. Marys man was arrested Wednesday and charged with starting a fire in an apartment that killed a 50-year-old man and injured a dozen others early Sunday.

CELINA - A hearing is set Jan. 2 for the manager of a construction and demolition debris business who has allegedly defied a court order to clean up the facility.

When New Bremen center Mark Ouwerkerk was crowned as the Midwest Athletic Conference's Player of the Year in 1978 his head coach, Burt Fiser, left no

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

University of Cincinnati offensive tackle Eric Lefeld was named to the first team of the All-American Athletic Conference football team on Wednesday.

CELINA - A group formed to promote the arts locally is planning its first event to encourage junior and senior high school students to develop their artistic talents.

VAN WERT - Longtime married couple Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. plan on rekindling the magic of The 5th Dimension and celebrating the Christmas spirit on Dec. 19 at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.