GREENVILLE - An evidentiary hearing for a 22-year-old firefighter accused of killing his employer and setting her rural Ansonia home on fire in April was closed to the public Friday following a last minute request from the state.

MINSTER - A local pharmacy opened a new location this month inside a grocery store in Minster, eliminating what was once a pharmacy desert in southwestern Auglaize County.

TROY - The office of Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has secured a court order transferring ownership of a historic African American cemetery in Miami County's Springcreek Township to a nonprofit that plans to restore and preserve the long-neglected site.

By GRAND LAKE REGIONAL ESC

CELINA - The Grand Lake Regional Educational Service Center Business Advisory Council recently facilitated their annua

WAYNESFIELD - With Fort Recovery traveling on Halloween eve, the Indians were looking for a big Division VII postseason win over Waynesfield-Goshen. While the pass-heavy Tigers pulled some tricks to keep the score close in the second quarter, Fort Recovery traveled home with the treat, a 48-14 win.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Coldwater stopped a two-point conversion in the final minute to escape Genoa with a 27-26 victory in the opening round of the Division V football playoffs on Friday night in Ottawa County.

NEW BREMEN - The Ridgemont Golden Gophers came to New Bremen riding high from last week's running clock upset victory over Waynesfield-Goshen which p

St. Henry running back Drew Langenkamp and Marion Local linebacker Seth Heitkamp were named the top offensive and defensive players in the Midwest Athletic Conference as the conference coaches released its postseason football honors.

CELINA - As Tuesday's general election nears, Ohioans continue to vote early in large numbers.

Statewide, more than 1.57 million voters had either requested absentee mail-in ballots or voted early in person as of Thursday, per data from the Ohio secretary of the state.

TOLEDO - A St. Marys manufacturer has agreed to pay over $3 million in fines for allegedly providing false information to obtain loans from a federal support program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ELIDA - Celina dominated every phase of the first half except the scoreboard, which read 0-0 after 40 minutes.

All that changed just four minutes i

Good day everyone. I hope all have been enjoying this beautiful picture perfect fall weather. It's like Bob Ross is creating beautiful canvas days. Lot of happy little trees just happening anywhere you like them, there are no rules.

WAPAKONETA - If tournaments are supposed to get harder the further you go, someone forgot to remind Parkway. After battling to get past New Bremen on

Compiled by JOE SCHATZ

St. Henry defended its D-VI district title crown in sweeping Ashland Crestview 25-13, 25-15, 25-5 in Norwalk.

Addy Homan

COLDWATER - Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater has been awarded a one-time investment of $1.37 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program, Mercer Health CEO Jon Dingledine revealed at Wednesday night's regular hospital board of governors meeting.

WAPAKONETA - A 35-year-old St. Marys man was indicted on charges of sex with a minor last week in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court.

Chrystyan S. Kline was indicted Oct. 22 on five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony.

CELINA - A 41-year-old Maria Stein woman that passed a bad check for over $130,000 was given a suspended jail sentence this week in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

More than 25 years ago, then-Mercer County Historical Society director Joyce Alig invited a Toledo-area museum archivist to give a talk about the sho

DELPHOS - If offense wins games and defense wins championships, Wednesday's D-III boys soccer district semifinal doubleheader showed plenty of champi

  For Coldwater, Fort Recovery, New Bremen, St. Henry and St. Marys, it's another week of football action.

For Celina, Marion Local and Minster, it's a week to patch the bones and rest up for what they hope is a long playoff campaign.

Impact Players

Offense

Will Speck, RB, St. Henry

10 carries for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the Redskins' 53-0 win at Delphos St. John's.

  Fort Recovery makes its third straight playoff appearance and second under coach Wes Wenning with a road trip to Waynesfield-Goshen.

It will be the first time since 2013 that the two teams have faced off, with the Indians returning from eastern Auglaize County with a 54-0 win 13 years ago.

CELINA - On an October night, dozens of people gathered in a dark hall to celebrate the father of the macabre and the pioneer of gothic horror - Edgar Allan Poe.

CELINA - The Grand Lake St. Marys Lake Facilities Authority on Tuesday morning approved an agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for a $143,493.60 Section 319 grant for the design of the $1.1 million Harmon Preservation treatment wetland project.

CELINA - A 44-year-old Celina man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday for two drug cases out of Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Cory D. Gr

MENDON - Mendon councilors on Tuesday learned village solicitor Ross Finke and zoning compliance officer Lanny Hammit recently checked in on several properties that have been identified as being in violation for illegal parking and excess trash.

CELINA - A Fort Recovery teen accused of vandalizing multiple Fort Recovery Local Schools properties was arrested over the weekend on multiple felonies after turning himself in.

A 33-year-old Wapakoneta man was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison Friday for child sexual abuse materials charges, a news release from the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio states.

ST. MARYS - St. Marys city councilors this week approved an emergency resolution giving officials the go ahead to move forward with phase 4 of the Spring Street reconstruction project.

WAPAKONETA - It was an all-MAC battle for survival Tuesday evening in a pair of Division VI district semifinals at Wapakoneta High School.

Both New

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Favian Caiola's second goal of the night, coming with 3:10 remaining in the first overtime period, lifted New Knoxville to a 2-1 victory over Fort Jennings in the Division V boys soccer district semifinals on Tuesday night at Shawnee Stadium in Shawnee Township.

The District 8 Volleyball Coaches Association announced its postseason honors, with a number of area players receiving accolades.

Coldwater's Campb