CELINA - The first wave of absentee ballots left the Mercer County Board of Elections office on Monday in accordance with recently enacted state legislation that, among other provisions, extends absentee voting-by-mail for the primary election due to the coronavirus pandemic. [More]

CELINA - Ohioans who didn't get to cast a ballot in the presidential primary election on March 17 because the polls were ordered closed can do so via an absentee ballot that can be delivered or mailed to the board of elections.

In light of extended voting opportunities, Mercer County elections officials gave a rundown of how to request and fill out an absentee ballot, particularly for people accustomed to voting in-person at their polling location on Election Day. [More]

Parkway senior forward Caleb Kinney has piqued the interest of college basketball programs, but he has yet to commit. 

His final high school season was more important.

"He was really trying to focus on making his senior year a memorable one and winning as many games as he could," explained Parkway coach Doug Hughes last week. [More]

Teachers, parents and students are cooperating as schools have students learn from home.

Schools have been closed since Gov. Mike DeWine ordered that all public, community and private K-12 schools close at the end of the school day March 16 and remain closed through at least April 3. The order stipulated that during the closure, teachers should educate through alternative means. [More]

CELINA - The world may seem like it's been brought to a standstill, but the Mercer County Board for Developmental Disabilities is still working to provide services and bring a little cheer to locals with disabilities.

Many staff members are working remotely as they continue helping families get supplies or information, while direct-care providers continue to provide hands-on service. [More]

WAPAKONETA - An Auglaize County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, according to an Auglaize County Health Department news release, the first for that county.

Health commissioner Oliver Fisher said the department received the positive test result from an Ohio Department of Health lab at 4:25 p.m. Friday. The person is a 65-year-old female, who is being treated at a local hospital. [More]

CELINA - A second person has tested positive for COVID-19 in Mercer County, according to a Mercer County Health District news release issued Thursday evening.

The district received results around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, district administrator Jason Menchhofer said. Testing was reportedly completed at an Ohio Department of Health testing lab. [More]

Bears have been popping up all over the area, peeking out of windows and perching on porches, waiting to be discovered by families on the hunt.

Care Bears have invaded Brooke Wente's shop, Lather: A Hair Company for Him and Her in New Bremen, but for her and her three kids, Lucy, 6; Jack, 4; and Olive, 2, the hunt didn't end there. By Wednesday morning, her kids were excited to hit the sidewalks to see just how many bears they could find lurking in the community. [More]

The Ohio High School Athletic Association formally canceled the remaining winter sports tournaments on Thursday, as expected with schools remaining closed due to an order from Gov. Mike DeWine.

In a news release, OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass stated that the continued priority was the health of athletes and fans. [More]