CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Thursday approved more than $60,000 in upgrades for Central Dispatch and a new phone system for the sheriff's office and jail.

Most area farmers will have a good batch of crops this growing season.

That sounds like positive news, except that a few weeks ago farmers were anticipating having some of their best crops in years, local ag officials said.

CELINA - Bids opened Thursday for roadwork at the site of a new plumbing supply distribution center were much lower than officials estimated.

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FORT RECOVERY - Renovation of the high school is 85 percent complete, and Muhlenkamp Building Corporation is expected to begin work today on a new parking area near the front entrance of the building.

MINSTER - Retired physician Dr. Gregory Bergman will serve as grand marshal for the 39th Minster Oktoberfest Parade.

Festivities honoring the community's German heritage take place Oct. 4-6.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - The U.S. and Canada should crack down on sources of phosphorus runoff blamed for a rash of harmful algae blooms on Lake Erie, an advisory agency said Thursday. The algae produce harmful toxins and contribute to oxygen-deprived "dead zones" where fish cannot survive.

Nine Catholic families in Auglaize and Mercer counties have been honored for passing down their faith and their farms to the next generation for more than 100 years.

CELINA - After dominating the first game of Thursday's Western Buckeye League opener, Celina's volleyball team needed to rally twice in the final two games to sweep Bath in three games - 25-15, 27-25 and 25-15.

ROCKFORD - Coldwater's volleyball team started strong and continually got better as the Cavaliers remain unbeaten after winning their Midwest Athletic Conference opener with a three-game sweep over Parkway on Thursday night at Panther Gymnasium.

Compiled by Ryan Hines and Gary R. Rasberry

It was a busy Thursday at Arrowhead Golf Course as three Midwest Athletic Conference golf matches took place.

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - Keith Wenning passed for three touchdowns and ran for two and Ball State defeated Illinois State 51-28 in the season opener for both teams.