Tuesday, November 24th, 2020
Official cause of explosion undetermined
By Sydney Albert
CELINA - The cause of an Oct. 11 explosion that leveled a house and left a woman dead has been listed as "undetermined" by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
However, propane gas had likely been released into and accumulated inside the structure. The investigation into the explosion at 3741 County Road 716A in October has officially been closed, with investigator Scott R. Gelbaugh writing in his final report that no criminal activity had been uncovered. [More]
By Sydney Albert
ST. MARYS - With the future of the St. Marys Armory building uncertain, city officials have agreed to move a monument dedicated to past National Guard members from the property to Memorial Park.
A monument dedicated to Sgts. Melvin E. Wisecup and Wayne C. Wingate, members of the 837th Engineer Co. who lost their lives on Lake Erie in 1988, will be relocated across the street. [More]
Obituaries on November 24th, 2020
Sandra Broyles, 77, of Saint Marys, died 12:30 A.M. Sunday, November 22, 2020, at Vancrest of Saint Marys Nursing Home. [More]
Charles Verlin Buchanan, age 85, died of natural causes with his family by his side on November 22, 2020, in Muncie, Indiana. [More]
Eugene Herman Buschur, age 95, of Coldwater, Ohio died peacefully early Monday morning, November 23, 2020 at his daughter's home in St. Henry. [More]
John D. "Big John" Leistner, 66, of Rockford, Ohio passed away Friday, November 20, 2020, as a result of an accident. [More]
Yvonne Nichols, age 66, of Celina, Ohio, passed away at 12:17 pm on Friday, November 20, 2020 at Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima. [More]
Dolores A. "Tootie" Wuebker, age 92, of Carthagena, died on Friday, November 20, 2020 at the Gardens at Celina. [More]
Patty S. Enyart, age 72, of Portland, Indiana, passed away Saturday November 21, 2020 at her residence. [More]
Milton Davidson, 89, Celina, died on Nov. 23, 2020, at Celina Manor.
Arrangem [More]
Larry Dieringer, 89, of Saint Marys, died 12:31 P.M. Saturday, November 21, 2020, at Vancrest of Saint Marys. [More]
Local pictures on November 24th, 2020
Subscriber stories on November 24th, 2020
ST. HENRY - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the village a little more than $238,000 in a low-interest loan to design upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.
CELINA - City council members on Monday approved new three-year contracts with some city unions.
Additionally, they passed legislation allowing for the purchase of new security cameras in the Bryson Park District and Westview Park.
WAPAKONETA - Three new deaths from and 59 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Auglaize County over the weekend, raising the totals to 23 and 1,894, respectively.
NEW BREMEN - Village council members on Monday appointed a new member to fill the seat previously held by Brent Richter, who resigned his position on Oct. 26 and was recently hired as village administrator.
COLDWATER - Council members on Monday passed resolutions to allocate money from the village's coronavirus relief funds.
Members suspended the three
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina bowling teams swept a match with Lincolnview on Monday at Olympic Lanes in Van Wert.
The Bulldog girls
2020 Division VI Football State Champions
Season Results (12-0):
REGULAR SEASON
St. Henry  W, 21-0
Minster  W, 49-14
Fort Recovery  W, 51-37
New Bremen  W, 24-7
St. John's  W, 57-13
Anna  W,
CELINA - As the Celina swim and dive team prepare for a new campaign, swim coach Paige Bader will have to fill some spots.
Seniors Claire Gass and
COLDWATER - Coldwater got a swimming crew to compete at state lat season and now Matt May's group wants to keep up the momentum.
The Cavaliers return all four swimmers who qualified in two relays last season and Canton and will look to increase the numbers.
FORT RECOVERY - Last year, the Fort Recovery girls swimming team came in 18th in the district tournament. Five Indians qualified for districts as individuals.
MARIA STEIN - The number of swimmers at Marion Local has dropped a bit, but first-year head coach Danielle Hartke is focusing more on quality than quantity.
MINSTER - With her numbers on the increase and plenty of strong talent returning from a season ago, Minster head swim coach Dawn Schwieterman has plenty of reasons for her excitement heading into the 2020 season.
NEW BREMEN - Beginning her 18th season coaching the New Bremen swim teams, Cresta Ritter has returning experience on both her boys and girls rosters.
ST. MARYS - With a roster dotted with 15 girls and 16 boys, and nine returning letterwinners, second-year St. Marys swim coach Hannah Pfeifer is eagerly awaiting the opening horn of the 2020 winter swim season.
CELINA - After having one of its most successful seasons in years, the Celina wrestling team is geared up for another run.
The Bulldogs finished as runner-up in the Western Buckeye League last season, the highest finish for the program since finishing as co-champions in 2008.
COLDWATER - After finishing third at the Division III sectional last season, Coldwater's wrestling team will look to build on to the program this season.
ROCKFORD The 2019-20 season was a season of momentum for the Parkway wrestling team.
Under new coach Jeremy Joseph, the Panthers placed fourth at the Division III Lima sectional tournament.
ST. MARYS - After winning their first-ever outright Western Buckeye League title and first title overall in 43 years, St. Marys gets ready for another wrestling season.
CELINA - The Celina bowling teams return this season with experience after solid showings in the 2019-20 season.
Boys coach Kieth Kiefer return si
COLDWATER - The 2019-20 bowling was another banner one for Coldwater. The boys team won the Division II state title and the girls were Division II state runner-up.
FORT RECOVERY - While the Fort Recovery boys bowling team look to rebuild after a strong showing last season, the girls team will look to a group of young veterans to move up the standings.
MARIA STEIN - The Marion Local bowling teams will look to improve on last season's efforts.
The Flyer boys have two letterwinners back in Kurtis Billerman and Zach Bruggeman. Billerman earned an individual district tournament berth as a freshman.
MINSTER - After missing a trip to district by less than 50 pins last season, the Minster boys team will look to contend this season.
Coach Brian Schmiesing has four starters back from the 2019-20 squad.
NEW BREMEN - Coach Brian Alig has a veteran group of bowlers back for New Bremen this season.
The boys team were sectional runner-up and were less than 50 pins out of the fourth-and-final qualifying spot for the Division II state tournament.
ROCKFORD - Both the Parkway boys and girls bowling teams will look to improve this season.
The boys team's numbers are up after not fielding a full team for the postseason. The Panthers will have to fill the spot vacated by district qualifier Thomas Etzler.
ST. HENRY - After missing the state tournament as a team for the first time since 2017, the St. Henry boys bowling team will look to get back into the swing of things this season.
ST. MARYS - After sweeping Western Buckeye League titles last season and both the boys and girls teams qualifying for state, St. Marys returns veterans to make another run.