By Erin Gardner
ROCKFORD - Following action taken after executive session during the Jan. 20 council meeting, Rockford's council president clarified the village is looking at its options to demolish the old north water tower that is no longer in operation.
The issue arose because the village does not have access to the land the tower sits on, which is surrounded by privately owned property. At the Jan. 20 meeting, the council decided to go ahead with investigating how the use of eminent domain would work. [More]
Third quarter helps St. Henry get past New Bremen
By Joe Schatz
ST. HENRY - Not every game can be a shootout, especially when the teams shoot 13-of-45 in the first half. But with a big third quarter, St. Henry pulled away from New Bremen 44-34 and picked up a big home Midwest Athletic Conference win at Redskin Gymnasium. [More]
Obituaries on February 4th, 2026
M. Jacob Miller, 31, of St. Marys, OH died 11:45 p.m. Friday January 30, 2026 at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, OH. [More]
Local pictures on February 4th, 2026
Subscriber stories on February 4th, 2026
Local vet speaks at Pork Congress in Lima
LIMA - Ohio, like the rest of the country, continues to battle the spread of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a local veterinarian said at a swine health panel Tuesday at the Ohio Pork Congress in Lima.
CELINA - Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart's office has made the final payment on $4 million in loans taken out to help finance the construction of an $8.6 million engineering facility along Mud Pike, west of Celina, freeing up roughly $400,000 in road and bridge funds annually for local projects.
MINSTER - Councilors learned Tuesday night that last week's snowstorm and the current cold snap have kept village crews busy clearing streets and responding to utility emergencies.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
St. Henry used a big second quarter to get out to a comfortable lead and never looked back to improve to 17-0 on the season with a 54-40 win at St. Marys in girls basketball action at Grand Lake Health System Court.
TOLEDO (AP) - Delrecco Gillespie led Kent State with 25 points and Cian Medley made a key 3-pointer with 42 seconds left as the Golden Flashes defeated Toledo 75-72 on Tuesday night.
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Today In History
Elections is first county office to take AI plunge
By William Kincaid
CELINA - The Mercer County Board of Elections appears to be the first county department to have adopted an artificial intelligence policy to govern the usage of the increasingly ubiquitous technology in the workplace.
Board members gave their bles [More]
From staff reports
  BOTKINS - The staff of the Auglaize and Mercer County Farm Bureaus attended the American Farm Bureau annual meeting in Anaheim, California, Jan. 9-14. The counties were selected as recipients of the American Farm Bureau Federation County Activities of Excellence award, which celebrates unique, local, volunteer-driven programs that serve as models of innovation in local program development. [More]
Obituaries on February 3rd, 2026
Barbara Osterloh age 89, of Minster, Ohio died on Sunday, February 1, 2026 in Vancrest, St. Marys. [More]
Dennis Edward Elliott, age 77, of St. Marys, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026, at Vancrest of St. Marys. [More]
Betty Meyers, age 90, of Celina, Ohio and former Portland resident passed away Thursday January 29, 2026 in Heritage Manor in Minster, Ohio. [More]
Local pictures on February 3rd, 2026
Subscriber stories on February 3rd, 2026
ST. MARYS - Members of St. Marys' solid waste committee further discussed a pending increase to the city's monthly trash fees and took suggestions from the public at their regular meeting this week.
CELINA - The state asked a visiting judge this week to reconsider whether or not a Columbus man convicted of rape in Mercer County in July can ask for a new trial.
FORT RECOVERY - Fort Recovery officials applied for a state water pollution loan to help fund the ongoing design phase of their wastewater system study and plan.
MENDON - No one was injured in a residential fire in Mendon Saturday evening, although some pets are believed to have died in the blaze.
At about 8 p.m., Mendon firefighters were dispatched to a house fire on the 200 block of North Main Street, Mendon fire chief Darrell Etgen said Monday.
COLUMBUS - The Darke County Sheriff's Office is receiving funding to start a new body-worn camera program for deputies as part of a round of state grants announced Monday. The Village of Fort Recovery will also receive a grant to enhance its existing program for law enforcement officers.
Celina picks up the win over Fort Recovery
FORT RECOVERY - When you have a star, sometimes you have to let them shine.
Rachel Rammel was the star for Celina Monday, as the Bulldogs picked up a key 47-26 road win over Fort Recovery behind her 19 points.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina girls bowling team wrapped up the Western Buckeye League dual match season at 9-0 heading into this weeke
By Joe Schatz
ST. HENRY - On a night where St. Henry celebrated its 1995 State Championship Football team, it was only fitting that defense led the Redskins' boys basketball effort in their 60-35 win over Celina Saturday night at Redskin gymnasium.
The game [More]
Obituaries on February 2nd, 2026
Thomas R. "Chooch" Everman, age 71, of Burkettsville, died peacefully with his wife by his side, on Friday, January 30, 2026, at The Gardens at St. Henry. [More]
Bruce Combs, 90, of, St Marys, Ohio, passed away Friday January 30, at St. Rita [More]
Bruce David "Wheat" Bernhold, age 67, of Minster, Ohio, unexpectedly passed awa [More]
Martha Jean Zahn, 86, of Celina, Ohio was called back to Heaven to be with her [More]
Local pictures on February 2nd, 2026
Subscriber stories on February 2nd, 2026
ODNR turn to citizens to tally area's bald eagle
CELINA- A recent midwinter citizen survey of Ohio's bald eagles counted more than 700 eagles statewide, with 15 of them logged in Mercer County, and another five seen in Auglaize County, information from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources states.
Marion Local uses foul line to beat Celina in overtime
MARIA STEIN - Saturday's Celina-Marion Local girls basketball game had a style that felt more appropriate for Booster Stadium than the Hangar.
The
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The St. Marys boys swimming team collected six victories to earn a second-place finish at the Western Buckeye League swimming and diving championships held at the Lima YMCA.
DQ set to make return to St. Marys
By Abigail Miller
ST. MARYS - After years of being just a treat shop under its previous ownership, Dairy Queen is coming back to St. Marys in a big way next month, as a full-service Grill & Chill restaurant.
Father and son Bobby and Meet Patel, along with lifelong friend turned business partner Andy Patel, will soon open up the new spot as local, independent franchisees. A fourth business partner, Jay Patel, will oversee the restaurant's day-to-day operations. [More]
By Gary R. Rasberry
COLDWATER - The home buckets were kind for Coldwater on Friday night.
The Cavaliers hit eight of their 11 3-pointers in the first half to build a lead against Parkway and snap a two-game losing skid with a 61-48 win over the Panthers in Midwest Athletic Conference play at the Palace. [More]
Local pictures on January 31st, 2026
Subscriber stories on January 31st, 2026
CELINA - State Rep. Angie King is championing legislation that could expand athletic offerings for area schools.
Introduced to the House by Republi
In anticipation of NASA's upcoming Artemis II mission, the Armstrong Air and Space Museum is set to host special events celebrating humanity's return to the moon and the first crewed deep-space mission in more than 50 years, a museum news release states.
Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, Friday announced he has secured $1 million in federal funding for the YWCA of Van Wert for the construction of a new facility with a Community Care Clinic.
COLUMBUS - Gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton announced Friday her campaign raised more than $5.3 million in 2025. That's more money at this point in the calendar than any Democratic challenger for governor in the state's history, her campaign said in a news release.
MARIA STEIN - With five minutes left in the first quarter, St. Henry held a 4-3 lead over Marion Local and it looked as though the Redskins would be competitive throughout the game.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Celina outscored Elida 15-9 in the fourth quarter to rally for the 45-41 win in a battle of Western Buckeye League Bulldogs on Friday night at the Elida Fieldhouse.
MINSTER - The Route 66 Rivalry featured a packed Wildcat Gymnasium and an electric atmosphere, but New Bremen couldn't find a spark.
After jumping
NEW KNOXVILLE - Fort Recovery coach Bob Leverette described New Knoxville as a blue-collar basketball team following Friday's game.
The Rangers made the Indians work overtime for a victory.
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