The Hillsboro Police Department is investigating a recent escalation in the circulation of counterfeit money being passed through businesses in the Hillsboro and Highland County areas.
 According to Chief Nick Thompson of the HPD, the department has been taking reports from individuals, and "We have also been contacted by a local bank which identified counterfeit money in business deposits."

No injuries were reported during a structure fire in the Buford area Tuesday morning.
 According to Chief Lisa Reeves of the Mt. Orab Fire Department, approximately 20 firefighters responded to the fire on Sicily Road around noon Tuesday. Firefighters from Sardinia also responded with tanker trucks.

The Cincinnati Enquirer has reported that "DHL Express has agreed to pay an $80,000 fine to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for violating its wastewater permit in 2007 and 2008 at its former hub in Wilmington."

Wesley Coonrod has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was found guilty Monday on two counts of involuntary manslaughter, felonies of the first degree, in the deaths of his sons Thomas and Stephen.
  He was immediately sentenced to 20 years in prison by Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, who told Coonrod that the court has not seen him take responsibility for the deaths of his sons.
 "Not only did you not die, trying to save your children, you didn't even try," Coss said. "It appears to the court you did nothing ... You failed to protect your children. You say your children were your life ... There was also a lot of beer in your life."

A juror was excused Monday morning and replaced with the first alternate juror in the Wesley Coonrod trial. Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss ordered that deliberations are to begin "from scratch."

Representative Rosenberger and Senator Daniels will be on hand to answer any questions concerning state government and the region, as well as discuss any personal matters regarding state agencies.

A hazardous weather advisory has been posted for parts of the Ohio Valley for Monday, Jan. 31 through Wednesday, Feb. 2.

A Hillsboro man has been arrested in connection with the Jan. 17 armed robbery at the Beechwood Food Mart in Paint Township.
 According to the Highland County Sheriff's Office, Larry W. Smith, 41, of Carr Road, was arrested Saturday at approximately 2 p.m. after the department received a tip from an area resident.

Ohio U.S. Senator Rob Portman said this weekend he hopes Minnesota Republican and former governor Tim Pawlenty enters the race for president in 2012.

Once again, many area schools have delayed the start of classes. The Friday morning snow showers have caused delays for Hillsboro City Schools, Fairfield Local, Bright Local, Lynchburg-Clay, Eastern Brown, Adams County/Ohio Valley and Hillsboro Christian Academy. (Check our Delays and Closings link for the latest information.)

The Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) will hold its annual county caucus reorganization meeting for Highland County on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioners Office of the Administration Building.

A fire investigator for the defense testified Thursday that a liquid accelerant was not used and that it cannot be ruled out that a juvenile fire-setter started the March 7 fire on Lafayette Street in Greenfield that killed Thomas and Stephen Coonrod.