CELINA - Five more abandoned doodles were picked up near the intersection of Tama and Wabash Roads on Friday afternoon after 15 doodles were abandoned earlier this week.

CELINA - A little over a year ago, Sue Markins' phone rang. The caller said she was calling on behalf of her birth family in Japan. Markins, a Walmart pharmacy technician, was flummoxed by the call from an overseas stranger. [More]

MERCER COUNTY - Nine residential and commercial properties in Mercer County will be demolished in order to clear the way for new economic development, according to a news release from Gov. Mike DeWine's office.

WAPAKONETA - Suspended Wapakoneta mayor Tom Stinebaugh disputed allegations of public corruption during the fifth day of a nearly weeklong trial.

Stinebaugh faces five counts of unlawful interest in a public contract, five counts of conflict of interest and one count of theft in office.

The following trick-or-treat and Halloween events will be held throughout the local area.
Mendon

Oct. 29: Trick-or-treat, 4-6 p.m.; chili supper, 4-7 p.m. at the firehouse with costume judging to follow.

As temperatures climbed to mid-summer warmth the third week of October, bicycle traffic thickened along the lake on West Bank Road where I live. Out of curiosity, I decided to find out when the first bicycle was invented.

MINSTER - Minster used a dominant first-half performance to grab an early 36-8 lead on Fort Recovery, then matched the Indians in the second half to secure a 50-22 victory in the opening round of the Division VII football playoffs on Friday night at Memorial Field in Minster. [More]

BELLBROOK - A pair of special teams plays and a long drive after halftime kept Celina close into the fourth quarter, but its defense couldn't stop Bellbrook and an ill-timed turnover buried the Bulldogs.

FORT LORAMIE - St. Henry brought the fight Friday night.

However, self-inflicted wounds and Fort Loramie's offensive weaponry made it a one-sided battle.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Marion Local continued its dominance this season by posting its eighth shutout of the season in defeating Anna 45-0 in the opening round of the Division VI football tournament on Friday night at Booster Stadium in Maria Stein.

NEW BREMEN - After a loss to end the regular season, New Bremen opened the postseason in style a 49-7 victory over the Cedarville Friday night at Cardinal Stadium.