The public has been advised to avoid all contact with water at the four public beaches on Grand Lake after tests detected unsafe algal toxins, according to notices released by the Ohio Department of Health.

Recreational Public Health Advisories due to algal bloom/toxin were issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on Thursday afternoon for the main west, main east, state park campground and Windy Point beaches. [More]

CELINA - Mercer County commissioners on Thursday voted to deny a proposed amendment that would have restricted short-term rentals of dwellings in East Jefferson Township.

However, they indicated the issue needs to be addressed in the zoning code and said they plan to pursue their own set of text amendments "as expeditiously as possible with a target adoption date yet this fall," according to a news release signed by commissioners Jerry Laffin, Rick Muhlenkamp and Greg Homan. [More]

ST. HENRY - St. Henry's Nolan Schmitz tied his own school record with 16 strikeouts and allowed just one ball out of the infield in a 2-0 victory over Marion Local in the Division IV sectional final Thursday at the Wally Post Athletic Complex. [More]