Congressman Mike Turner was joined today by a bipartisan group of House lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Commerce John Bryson to express their concerns regarding recent scope ruling requests with the U.S. Department of Commerce that could undermine the antidumping duty order on petroleum wax candles from China.

The Hillsboro Uptown Business Association (HUBA) will host their first barbecue contest in conjunction with the 2012 Festival of the Bells. The contest will take place at Holtfield Station's parking lot on South High Street, where participants will set up their grills and accessories to compete for the title of "Top Butt Cooker."

Hunters checked 17,647 wild turkeys during Ohio's four-week statewide spring turkey hunting season that ended May 20, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The preliminary total represents a three percent decrease over last year's harvest number of 18,162.

Taxpayers spent an extra $3.3 million over the last four years to pay for ODOT’s mandated use of biodiesel fuel in its vehicles, according to a performance audit interim report released by Auditor of State Dave Yost.

A culvert replacement project on state Route 124 near Hillsboro has been completed, and the route is now open to traffic. Crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highland County Highway Maintenance Facility closed S.R. 124 on Monday, May 21, to replace a deteriorated pipe located at the 8.67-mile marker, between Township Road 278 (Fenner Road) and Maple Run Drive near the Hillsboro corporation limit.

With Hillsboro Fire Chief Jerry Powell's retirement effective May 28, the administration of the city of Hillsboro is considering its "short- and long-term options" in finding his replacement.

Financial services firm Edward Jones has been named the Advisory Solutions Firm of the Year by the Money Management Institute as the firm that most exemplified overall excellence and contributed to the long-term success and sustainability of the wealth management industry, according to John Knechtly and Eric Deaton in Hillsboro.

Homes sales activity throughout Ohio continued to make gains in April, helping the marketplace post 10 consecutive months of positive sales, according to statistics provided by the state’s Multiple Listing Services. Sales of new and existing homes posted a 11.3 percent jump during the first four months of 2012 compared to the same period a year ago, reaching 30,609 sales compared to the 2011 result of 27,491.

The finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council has voted to recommend council reject the offer of a three year contract at $30 per person for EMS/fire coverage to Liberty, Jackson, New Market and Washington Townships.

    The committee met Monday evening at the Hillsboro fire station, and lasted less than two minutes. The session had been called for the purpose of discussing the proposal on EMS/fire contracts submitted to the city by area townships last Wednesday, and to review the the city's financial position.

The finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council has voted to recommend council reject the offer of a three year contract at $30 per person for EMS/fire coverage to Liberty, Jackson, New Market and Washington Townships.

    The committee met Monday evening at the Hillsboro fire station, and lasted less than two minutes. The session had been called for the purpose of discussing the proposal on EMS/fire contracts submitted to the city by area townships last Wednesday, and to review the the city's financial position.

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that Todd Shelton will assume the role of Southeast District Representative on his team. Shelton will take over responsibilities for Kent Moore, who is retiring after serving as the Senator’s Southeast District Representative since February of 2011.

The finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council meeting will meet Monday, May 21 at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposal on EMS/fire contracts submitted to the city by area townships, and the city's financial position.

As a bridge replacement project on County Road 11 in Highland County nears completion, operations for the second phase of the project will start today, May 21, on County Road 48.