An Ohio Senate committee has OK'd legislation to allow Ohio residents with a state concealed carry license to carry guns into bars and restaurants – with the stipulation that they do not consume alcoholic beverages.

The following is the Hillsboro Police Report for April 10, 2011.

Former Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Francis Edward Sweeney Sr., 77, author of the first DeRolph v. State school funding decision, died Sunday evening. Justice Sweeney served two terms on the Supreme Court from 1993 to 2004.

The following is the Hillsboro Police Report for April 6-10, 2011.

The following is the Greenfield Police Report for April 1-10, 2011.

The Leesburg Lions Club will host Bud and Esther Brown of Vandalia, volunteer puppy raisers for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), at their monthly meeting to be held on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Leesburg United Methodist Church.

Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) and passed unanimously by both the Ohio House and Senate, requires performance audits of state agencies and creates the Leverage for Efficiency, Accountability and Performance Fund (L.E.A.P. Fund); a $1.5 million fund to advance costs of a performance audit to state agencies and local governments that might otherwise not be able to afford to have one conducted.

A judge has said students who may be asked to testify during a hearing regarding an administrative appeal on disciplinary action from the Lynchburg-Clay Local Schools need to be informed of the possible criminal ramifications of their testimony. The judge advised they speak to criminal attorneys. ..."At least part of the case was presented to the prosecutor," Judge Crawford said. "There are some allegations ... that (would be) a felony of the first degree."

“Strike it big!” is the rallying cry for South Central Ohio Big Brothers Big Sisters’ 2011 Bowl for Kids’ Sake. The bowl-a-thon, slated for May 1 at Highland Lanes in Hillsboro, is one of two main fund-raising events the agency conducts each year.There are currently 18 Highland County children waiting for a Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple.

An advertisement in the April 9 print edition of The Highland County Press has an inadvertent typographical err

On April 6, the Alternatives to Violence Center staff met with Highland County Commissioners, who signed a proclamation declaring the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The Ohio House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday that aims to create thousands of local jobs in southern Ohio and invigorate the state economy. House Concurrent Resolution 4 urges President Barack Obama to direct the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) to grant a loan to USEC Inc. to ensure the continuation of the uranium enrichment project in Piketon.

The following are the Greenfield Police Reports for March 22-31.

Highland County resident Jim Bishop was a speaker at this year’s XV International Seminar on Mining Safety in Lima, Peru.

The following is the Hillsboro Police Report for March 28-April 3, 2011.