Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

King, McKirnan and Lambert claim victories

By Amy Kronenberger
Two new faces and an incumbent will fill clerk of court and recorder positions in Mercer and Auglaize counties.
In Mercer County, recorder Tammy Barger, a Democrat, was ousted by newcomer Angie King, a Republican. Barger, of Celina, has held the post for 12 years.
King took 60.56 percent or 12,404 votes to Barger's 39.44 percent or 8,077 votes.
"I'm truly honored by the victory," King said early this morning. "Thank you, Mercer County. I look forward to serving as county recorder."
Her focus is to increase communication, accessibility and transparency in the office, she said. She officially begins her four-year term Jan. 7.
King, of Celina, is a licensed real estate agent and owner of King Properties and Investments LLC, Celina. She is a Celina City Council member but plans to resign. The remaining year of her term will be filled with a member of her ward via appointment by the Republican Party.
Republican Kevin McKirnan of Celina won the position of Mercer County Clerk of Courts over rival Angie Fair, a Democrat from Celina. McKirnan, who earned 11,139 votes (56.21 percent) over Fair's 8,679 votes, will begin his four-year term Jan. 7.
Current clerk of courts James Highley, a Democrat, served nine four-year terms but chose not to seek re-election.
McKirnan said he looks forward to the challenge.
"I hope to continue the good work that Mr. Highley has done over the years," he said, adding his goal is to "get the job done."
McKirnan said he realizes a lot of work lies ahead to "get up to speed" and he intends to do everything he can to serve the interests of the public.
McKirnan, a licensed attorney, held the post of Celina city law director for 34 years before losing at the polls one year ago.
Fair has worked for more than 20 years in the clerk of courts office and is the chief deputy of the legal and title division.
Auglaize County Recorder Chris Lambert, a Republican, captured a decisive win with 15,870 votes. Challenger and newcomer Anne Hamilton, Democrat, received 5,033 votes.
Lambert, a Wapakoneta native, worked as a deputy recorder for 30 years before being appointed recorder in August 2011, when former recorder Ann Billings retired.
Additional online stories on this date
CELINA - School district residents overwhelmingly denied a bond issue that would have built a new elementary school.
Nearly 68 percent of voters - or 5,806 people - living in the Celina school district voted against the levy, and about 32 percent - or 2,789 people - voted for it. [More]
A Fort Recovery High School teacher was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a sex-related charge involving a former student.
Christopher Alan Summers, 32, 671 Woodlawn Ave., St. Henry, faces one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. He remains in the Mercer County Detention Facility. [More]
Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties came out in droves to participate in the presidential election, either casting early absentee ballots or going to the polls Tuesday. [More]
ST. HENRY - Village officials this morning axed the idea for a new swimming pool and will look elsewhere for needed operating funds after voters nixed a permanent 1/2 percent income tax increase. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Mercer County fire departments will see an increase in funding after all fire protection levies passed in Tuesday's election.
Fire departments gaining funding include Rockford, Mendon, Chattanooga, Celina, Chickasaw, Osgood and North Star.
Republican incumbents representing the Grand Lake area were victorious in their bids for re-election on Tuesday.
Ohio Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, and state Rep. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, both scored huge victories over their opponents.
A 38-year-old Montezuma man, who formerly served as a part-time police officer in St. Henry, faces four counts of endangering children after he allegedly shocked them and touched them inappropriately.
Republican U.S. Congressmen Bob Latta and Jim Jordan each secured another two-year term on Tuesday after easily defeating their rivals. Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown also held onto his seat, beating out Republican Josh Mandel.
The fate of a proposed replacement tax levy in Mendon is still too close to call.
The tally unofficially was 130 to 127 in favor of the five-year,
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Tuesday chose a Celina company and its exceptionally low bid to repair the storm-damaged grandstand at the fairgrounds.
WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County could see new businesses in the automotive and food processing industries through the work of the county economic development coalition.
MINSTER - Village administrator Don Harrod predicts 2013 will be quieter than the past 12 months in terms of large-scale projects.
Harrod told the
Superstorm Sandy had postponed eighth-grade event
COLDWATER - Coldwater school board members on Tuesday approved an amended contract with K&K Tours to reschedule the eighth-grade Washington, D.C., trip for Nov. 25.
MINSTER - With the new wastewater treatment plant online, demolition of old structures off First Street may start this winter.
Village administrator Don Harrod told council members Tuesday night the goal is to have everything done by spring to allow resurfacing of driveways and grass planting.
Council approves zoning change on Bridge Street for store
ROCKFORD - Residents likely will see a new Dollar General store in town by the end of 2013.
Council members on Tuesday approved changing the zoning of a portion of a vacant lot at 19 1/2 W. Bridge St. from residential to business to allow for construction of the discount store.
CELINA - Celina Merchant Association members on Tuesday discussed future downtown special events, including possible changes to the Celina Lake Festival.
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