Ohio Auditor of State Mary Taylor has released the special audit investigation of the village of Ripley, identifying $952,618 in findings for recovery against former utilities clerk Katherine Lang for utility payments that were collected but not deposited into a village account.

In looking at ways to balance what may be a $10 billion budget deficit, some Ohio lawmakers are taking a look at the salaries, wages and benefits of Ohio's public employees.

The staff of The Highland County Press - Angie Matticks, Lisa Wharton, Stephen Forsha, Caitlin Ryan, Rosemary Ryan, Brandy Chandler and Rory Ryan - wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

While many Ohioans have grown accustomed to hearing about a pending $8 billion deficit in the state budget, one Ohio lawmaker is predicting it could be worse. A lot worse.

Ohio's Fourth District Court of Appeals has upheld the convictions of an area man convicted of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
 According to the decision published online Dec. 23, the court considered the appeal of Jeremy D. Lansing.

The case of a Hillsboro man charged with shooting another man in the face has been bound over for consideration by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
 Jimmie Jacobs, 64, was charged with second-degree felony felonious assault following the Dec. 15 shooting at J and J automotive, which left 28-year-old Jonanathan Harris, of Hillsboro, in critical condition.

“We are pleased to extend special recognition to Gary Heaton on his outstanding service as a member of the Highland County Board of Commissioners. He is truly deserving of high praise, for he has combined civic concern and dedication with selfless initiative to become a dynamic leader in the Highland County area."

The jobless rate in Highland County fell slightly for the month of November, ranking Highland County with the third highest unemployment rate of Ohio's 88 counties.
 For more of 2010 Highland County and Clinton County were ranked either first or second in jobless numbers. According to Novembers numbers, provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Highland County's rate was at 14.2 percent, down from 14.4 percent.

The city of Greenfield will not be able to issue any checks in 2011 unless legislation is passed at an emergency session, scheduled for next week, after the city failed to pass an ordinance establishing permanent appropriations for 2011.
 During its regular session Tuesday, council voted 3-1 to suspend the three-reading rules to consider passage of the emergency permanent appropriations ordinance. Council member Harvey Everhart voted against suspending the rules over what he called "glaring errors" in the legislation.

Workers broke ground Tuesday for the installation of the first Met tower at the Greenfield Industrial Park.
 Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop said that while this is not the first step in bringing green industry to Greenfield, it is a big step. The tower will be used for data collection regarding the wind speeds in the Greenfield area. The results of the data collection could determine how development in wind energy enterprise progresses in the city.

The Ohio Senate has rejected 78 appointments made by Gov. Ted Strickland this year, including an appointment to the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees.
 According to a report from the Senate's standing committee on rules, among the 78 rejected appointments was "Judith A. Craig, Democrat, from Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio, as a member of the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees for a term beginning Aug. 25, 2010 and ending at the close of business May 11, 2016."

The city of Hillsboro has received a $150,000 grant to go toward the rehabilitation of the Bell's Opera House.
 The Ohio Department of Development announced Monday that $1.3 million in grants from the Development Block Grant Comprehensive Downtown Revitalization Program, administered by the Department's Office of Housing and Community Partnerships within the Community Development Division, had been awarded to five Ohio cities for the improvement of their downtowns.

U.S. Bank donated $1,000 to the Highland County Family YMCA on Monday to go toward the Y's annual Kids Who Count campaign. Terry Mull, YMCA director, said that they set out to raise $30,000 for the program, which provides scholarships to children for YMCA memberships. "The YMCA will never turn a child away for membership," Mull said. Kids who qualify need  a recommendation from a teacher, pastor, social worker or any other involved adult who can express the child's need. Mull said that the Y has raised approximately $26,000 toward their goal. Pictured are Mull, center, and Nicole Cory (left) and Vicki Rhude of U.S. Bank in Hillsboro.

No injuries were reported in an early morning fire that destroyed the home of a local family.
 According to Capt. Jeff Martin of Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, the department was dispatched at approximately 5:54 a.m. Monday to a reported structure fire in the 9000 block of Rock Lick Road.
 When crews arrived on scene they discovered two mobile homes that "had been placed together to fashion a double-wide home," Martin said.

Members of Cincinnati City Council are considering a proposal to merge city police patrols within the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, according to a report in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Council members Roxanne Qualls, Wendell Young and Jeff Berding proposed the idea to help offset a $60 million budget deficit.