VAN WERT - A Willshire man and former Parkway Local Schools teacher has pleaded not guilty to first-degree felony rape and four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery allegedly involving a student while he was employed by the school.

Local educators are among those scrambling to deal with the governor's order to close all kindergarten through 12th-grade schools in Ohio for three weeks due to the ongoing novel coronavirus crisis. [More]

CELINA - The Mercer County jail on State Route 29 has been closed to the public except for health professionals, attorneys, delivery people and citizens seeking concealed-cary permits.

COLUMBUS (AP) - Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday ordered Ohio schools closed for three weeks beginning at the end of the day Monday to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. [More]

CELINA - Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District administrator and education specialist Nikki Hawk submitted her resignation at Thursday's board of supervisors meeting.

CELINA - Mercer County officials will seek a $250,000 state grant to help a woman get her downtown Celina building up to code.

County commissioners

By COLIN FOSTER and GARY R. RASBERRY
sports@dailystandard.com

Following the lead of professional sports leagues suspending their seasons and the NCAA calling off March Madness, the Ohio High School Athletic Association postponed indefinitely the remaining winter sports tournaments on Thursday. [More]

KETTERING - She can run the point, defend the post and play the wing.

Versatility makes Madeline "Maddy" Westbeld elite.

"It's not everyday you g