CELINA - Sixty-eight percent of high school seniors in Mercer County used alcohol at least once in the last 30 days, up from 55 percent in 2011, according to a Mercer Country Prevention Coalition and Foundations Behavioral Health Services survey.

Opinions about the federal government shutdown among local senators and U.S. congressmen were split down party lines.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio

CELINA - Beth Gehret, her daughter Josie and a group of Josie's friends sat in Brew Nation on Saturday morning, chatting happily as each painted her own ceramic bowl. [More]

During the government shutdown, local government branches will be impacted differently.

Mercer County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Michelle Stahl said the office will be closed, which will impact the office's nine employees.

COLDWATER - A Coldwater teenager suffered possible injuries in a two-vehicle accident this morning.

Coldwater Police Chief Jason Miller told the newspaper Xavier Feltz, 17, Coldwater, was attempting to turn left onto Main Street from Woodview Avenue.

MINSTER - When Minster trailed Ottoville 47-40 with 4:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, it was time for the Wildcats to get the ball to their go-to player.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Minster gave the top-ranked boys' basketball team in Division IV all it could handle for 36 minutes, but Fort Loramie was able to stay unbeaten with the 52-51 overtime win in Shelby County on Saturday night.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

St. Marys maintained top spots in both boys' and girls' standings of the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference af