April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and a time to increase community awareness for child abuse prevention while highlighting the successes of families, children and community professionals. During 2009, nearly 643 children were served by Highland County Children Services. Some of these children were placed in agency foster care for a variety of issues, including physical abuse, neglect of care, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and substance abuse.

Three Ohio State Highway Patrol officials have accused Gov. Ted Strickland's administration of blocking an undercover operation at the governor's mansion in January to protect Strickland from political embarrassment, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.

Following an executive session, commissioners Gary Heaton, Tom Horst and Shane Wilkin met with a number of county department administrators regarding items stored in the West Main Street building that is under consideration for sale to Fite.

Following an executive session, commissioners Gary Heaton, Tom Horst and Shane Wilkin met with a number of county department administrators regarding items stored in the West Main Street building that is under consideration for sale to Fite.

With Hillsboro Fire and Rescue now fully moved into their new station, the city is left to decide what will happen to the old fire station on North High Street. The finance committee and property maintenance and restoration committee of the Hillsboro City Council discussed the possibility of leasing the building despite its current condition of disrepair. The committee reviewed the appraisal of the building, conducted by Southern Ohio Appraisers, which placed the value of the structure at $110,000.

The Hillsboro Tea Party Group announces that plans are under way for a Tax Day Rally on April 15 at the Highland County Courthouse at 5 p.m.

The Southern Ohio Power Boat Association members took four top honors at the American Power Boat Association and Region 6 Spring 2009 season awards banquet held at the Holiday Inn French Quarters in Perrysburg.

With the spring season officially under way, crews with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will turn their attention from clearing ice and snow to clearing litter along Ohio's roadways and ridges.

'It is with deep sadness that I learned today of the passing of former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Frank Celebrezze. During his 14 years on the Ohio Supreme Court, Chief Justice Celebrezze brought to the court a high degree of compassion for Ohioans of all walks of life, as well as effective leadership for his fellow justices.'

With an unemployment rate that exceeds 19 percent, the people of Highland County are facing trying times. Area individuals and families are coping with massive job loss, area government is functioning on diminished dollars, and everyone is trying to do more with less. According to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward, his office is no exception. A review of the department's 2009 year to date statistics shows the crime that most often resulted in criminal arrest was domestic violence, with 118 incidents. The second highest was theft, with 57 incidents, followed by assault at 50 incidents.