Tuesday, August 18th, 2026
Special Olympics athletes show off horse skills at the fair
By Abigail Miller
CELINA - Despite gray skies and rain showers outside, Special Olympics athletes shined bright Monday at the Mercer County Fair Special Olympics Western Show in the Grand Event Center.
For the third year, 14 of the Mercer County Special Olympics equestrian athletes showcased their skills in a range of events at the fair: trail, showmanship, barrels and equitation. [More]
Local pictures on August 18th, 2026
Subscriber stories on August 18th, 2026
CELINA - The Mercer County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating reports of missing 65-year-old Celina man Timothy Ray Anderson.
Search effort
MARIA STEIN - While the district remains in a strong financial position, Marion Local treasurer Ryan Goldschmidt cautioned school board members Monday night of a need to keep a close watch on expenditures as state funding is expected to decline.
FORT RECOVERY - School board members at Monday's regular meeting approved authorizing the superintendent to enter into a design contract with Garmann Miller for facility upgrades at Barrenbrugge Athletic Park.
WAPAKONETA - A 38-year-old Celina woman was arraigned on several drug charges in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court Monday after her arrest last week
While the Mercer County Fair is still going strong this week, several other area fairs are ramping up to get started in the weeks ahead. The Darke an
Minster opens volleyball season with win over Houston
MINSTER - With most area teams waiting until the weekend to start play, Minster's volleyball opener against Houston had all the attention. After some early struggles, Minster cruised to a 25-18, 25-9, 25-15 sweep in a battle of the Wildcats Monday night.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Celina had one of its best efforts this season, but Wapakoneta used two sub-par rounds to pick up the 149-173 win in Western Buckeye League boys golf competition at Celina Lynx on Monday.
CELINA - After sweeping the Western Buckeye League cross country titles last season, Celina coach Jason Andrew has a solid core of runners that will look to repeat.
COLDWATER - The 2026 Coldwater cross country program will have differing levels of improving. The Cavalier girls got close to the league title last season while the boys will try and move up the ladder after a tough fall in 2025.
FORT RECOVERY - With Fort Recovery returning a lot of production on both teams this season, coach Christy Diller hopes 2026 can be a banner year for both the boys and girls programs.
MARIA STEIN - It's a tale of two teams for coach Elle Sutter and the Marion Local Flyers. While the boys team lost a large senior class and look to rebuild, the girls return the entire varsity roster and hope to have a historic year.
MINSTER - With plenty of returning runners both the Minster boys and girls cross country teams are poised for successful seasons.
BOYS
Under veter
NEW BREMEN - Building on the progress achieved last season is key for New Bremen boys and girls cross country coach Jason Barhorst.
"Last year, we
NEW KNOXVILLE - Link Noykos' message in his first year as New Knoxville's cross country coach is simple:
His message in year 1? Keep the momentum going.
ROCKFORD - Coach Ann Vian hopes that 2026 can be a year of growth for the Panthers as both programs find themselves on different footing with returning production.
ST. HENRY - After a top-10 finish at the state cross country meet last season, the St. Henry boys cross country team will look to move up the ladder as they strive to return to Fortress Obetz.
ST. MARYS - A handful of runners from St. Marys competed at the 2025 OHSAA Division II Regional Meet.
This fall, the Roughriders intend to bring both squads along for the trip.
CELINA - It's upward and onward for the Celina boys golf team this season.
After finishing 10th in the Western Buckeye League last season, coach J
CELINA - The Celina girls golf team had one of its strongest seasons, finishing third in a competitive Western Buckeye League.
Head coach Steven Axe has three letterwinners back from last season and will look to blend those three with a good mix of newcomers.
COLDWATER - After finishing sixth in the Midwest Athletic Conference last season, the Coldwater boys golf team will be looking to move up the ladder and win the program's first conference title since winning the first league championship in 1994.
FORT RECOVERY - Last year Fort Recovery's golf program put together solid seasons and sent golfers to sectionals. For 2026, the excitement continues to grow as both teams look to turn that growth into results.
MARIA STEIN - Marion Local looks toward its depth on the course in 2026, as both the boys and girls teams bring exciting talent back to the rosters.
MINSTER - Some new faces and new places highlight the Minster golf schedule this fall. The Wildcat girls will be transitioning from the Northwest to the Southwest District for post-season play, while the boys look to re-supply a roster that was hit by graduation.
NEW BREMEN - Experience abounds for the New Bremen boys and girls golf teams heading into the 2026 season.

GIRLS
Under sixth-year coach Mackenzi
NEW KNOXVILLE - New Knoxville had a rough experience in 2025.
But coach Kevin Werst is banking on that experience leading to better results this fall.
ROCKFORD - A youth intake has Parkway's coaches excited for the new season, as both the boys and girls golf teams strive to improve upon their 2025 marks.
ST. HENRY - Both the boys and girls golf teams at St. Henry had close calls in the postseason. The boys were a stroke away from reaching district while the girls were four strokes away from reaching state as a team.
ST. MARYS - Overall, St. Marys was a top-tier program in the Western Buckeye League last season.
There shouldn't be too much drop-off this year either.
CELINA - After winning the program's seventh Western Buckeye League boys soccer title and first since 2023, the Celina Bulldogs are loaded for bear for another title run after going 12-4-3 and 7-0-1 in the league.
CELINA - After reaching the district final last season, the Celina girls are looking to go a bit further this season as well as win the program's first Western Buckeye League title since 2013.
COLDWATER - After winning 13 games, second most in program history, and finishing second in the Western Ohio Soccer League, the Coldwater girls soccer team will have the challenge to stay on their game with some new players in the starting lineup.
NEW KNOXVILLE - New Knoxville proved it belonged among the upper echelon of the Western Ohio Soccer League last year, finishing runner-up in the league at 5-0-2 and finishing over .500 with a 9-8-1 record.
ST. MARYS - The St. Marys boys soccer team had a tremendous 2025 season.
But first-year head coach Josh Slusher hopes 2026 turns out even better.
ST. MARYS - St. Marys finished last season on a high note with a deep tournament run.
Entering this season, first-year coach and former Roughrider Lilly Ankerman would like to see that success sustained throughout the regular season.
CELINA - Graduation this past spring will make for some changes to the Celina girls tennis team this season.
The Bulldogs went 6-3 in the Western
ST. MARYS - St. Marys coach Mariah Krugh wants to see gradual improvement from her tennis team this season.
She is hoping that leads to improved results as well.