EDITOR'S NOTE: In recognition of Emergency Medical Services Week, the newspaper is publishing a multipart series on local EMS providers over the next few days.

MERCER COUNTY - Heart ailments account for nearly 40 percent of the roughly 2,500 calls which Mercer County EMS personnel field annually.

EMS crews strive to quickly diagnosis cardiac medical emergencies and to transport the afflicted as quickly as possible to nearby hospitals.

MINSTER - The civil case filed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati and St. Augustine Catholic Church of Minster against a former religious education director and her husband has been settled. [More]

CELINA - Longtime local weather forecaster Dennis Howick and his wife, Theresa, received a comparative observer award on Thursday from the National Weather Service.

FORT RECOVERY - Sixty-one members of the Fort Recovery class of 2016 will graduate at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Fort Site Fieldhouse.

This years's valedictorian is Caitlyn Huelskamp and the co-salutatorians are Rachel Kaup and Corinne Stone.

ROCKFORD - Parkway High School will graduate 73 members of the class of 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the high school gymnasium.

This year's valedictorian is Samantha Wehe and the salutatorian is Tanner Matthews.

WAPAKONETA - Loud county music, louder exhaust, dirt, trucks and horsepower will be the featured attractions today and Saturday at the annual Wapak Tug Fest at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds.

CELINA - Celina Middle School student Keaton McMurray on Thursday won the Mercer County Bar Association's Law Day essay contest.

The theme was "Mir

ELIDA - Liberty-Benton coach Scott Arnold knew all about the damage Coldwater could inflict at the plate ahead of Thursday's Division III district semifinal game.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

The Minster track and field team hit the ground running as both the boys and girls jumped out to the lead after the first day of the Division III district meet at Charles D. Moeller Track in Spencerville.

It's not often that a conscious decision you make as a youngster has a profound effect on the rest of your life, but Celina track and field fans were pleased with Dawn Hickman decision. [More]

Wapakoneta's Megan Fisher was named the Western Buckeye League Softball Player of the Year by the league coaches in the all-league honors released on Thursday.