Several residents spoke out Wednesday night in favor of maintaining the former Hillsboro High School/Middle School building on West Main Street; but in the end, no amount of public debate could change the building’s fate.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Department of Development Interim Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel joined other state and Dayton-area leaders this week to announce the creation of the first Ohio Hub of Innovation and Opportunity.

Air Force Airman Andrew B. Fithen graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

It is hard to believe that another edition of the Highland County Fair is concluding this weekend. A year’s worth of work and planning by countless volunteers is about to conclude. Junior fair members and their families have worked hard on their projects. I’m sure these efforts have resulted in a typically outstanding Highland County fair that the community will be proud of.

As Ohio finalizes its federal application for stimulus funding for the 3C “Quick Start” Passenger Rail Plan, Amtrak is announcing early stimulus-funded investments along it current long-distance routes through northern Ohio.

The Highlands Nature Sanctuary, largest of 12 southern Ohio nature preserves managed by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, will be offering one free pass for each child accompanied by a paying guardian on weekends throughout September and October. The free child pass is available to all families living in the five county Arc of Appalachia region of Highland, Ross, Pike, Adams, and Scioto counties.

Lately there’s been a lot of tension between my husband and me about our finances. How can we get past this?

During the recent grand opening of Southern State Community College’s new Fayette Campus expansion, President Sherry Stout announced that along with the physical growth of campus facilities, the college is also experiencing an unprecedented growth in enrollment.

The Highland County Democratic Party welcomes Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as guest speaker at their fall dinner on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Ponderosa Banquet Center on South High Street in Hillsboro.

Highland County will see benefits beginning this week from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s contracts across the state for projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as work begins on the next stimulus-funded project in District 9.

Local farm owner John Hagan’s second book, “A Long Farewell,” will be
published this week by Goose River Press.

I find it hard to believe that August has ended. This is an indicator of several different things: school is back in session, daylight hours are getting shorter, football season is nearing, and the Highland County Fair is here. Where has summer gone?

A HELPING HAND

Chatfield College in St. Martin will hold a juried art show on Oct. 10 as part of the inaugural activities scheduled for the installation of its fifth president, John P. Tafaro.

The Highland County Board of Elections has certified the following candidates and issues for the Nov. 3  general election: