After approximately nine hours of deliberations, a jury of seven women and five men returned a not guilty verdict for a Hillsboro man who was charged with one count of second-degree felony endangering children.
 Gregory Kiley, 34, was tried over the course of two days in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
 As Clerk of Courts, Ike Hodson, read the verdict aloud Thursday morning, family members of the victim and defendant began crying.

A new Ohio law that modifies the sentencing structure for felony convictions and aims to reduce the number of low- to moderate-level offenders in the state prison system may save the state of Ohio close to $50 million. However, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said that aspects of the law may bog down areas of the judicial system and will most likely have an impact on daily court operations.

The Highland County Board of Commissioners discussed the options and process of conducting a performance audit with representatives of the Auditor's Office of the State of Ohio. 

 

Ohio Governor John Kasich has announced an appointment to the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees.
 Larry Anderson, of Adams County, has been appointed to fill one of two vacancies on the board.
 Anderson's term will begin today and will end May 11, 2014.

More than $6,600 in merchandise was stolen from an area business, according to the Hillsboro Police Department.
 According to a report from the HPD, Ohio Valley Truss reported to the department Aug. 5 that someone broke into their shop on West Main Street and stole several Truss manufacturing items.

A trial began Tuesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court for a Hillsboro man charged with one count of second-degree felony child endangering.

Gregory Kiley, 34, was indicted on the charge in February, stemming from an  incident that allegedly occurred on April 24, 2010 at the park at the old school in Belfast.  

As contract negotiations continue between the city of Hillsboro and union representatives for Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, one particular portion of the contract has become a point of contention for city administrators.
  Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis says that a new section of the pending contract that requires a minimum of 12 union firefighter/paramedics on staff - even if there is a decline in responses - takes away management power, which in turn could prevent the city from acting fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.