Independent candidate John Levo filed petitions April 19 with the Highland County Board of Elections to officially enter the race for Hillsboro mayor. Levo, a former member of the Hillsboro City Council, will face the winner of the May 3 Republican Primary between Rod Daniels, Drew Hastings and Terry Mikkelsen. Levo is shown, left, with board of elections office employees Debbie Craycraft and Samantha Matthews.

The city of Hillsboro has filed a motion asking the Highland County Common Pleas Court to dismiss a suit filed by Parker Hotel owner Jack Hope which sought to have the city pay him damages in the amount of $2.6 million.
 The city alleges that Hope has not followed the city's administrative appeals process and that his claim for relief against the city and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt for "undue aggravation is not a cause of action recognized under Ohio law."

Today marks 100 days since Gov. John R. Kasich and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor were sworn into office. By emphasizing teamwork, communication and a change in the way the state does business, Gov. Kasich and his Cabinet directors have implemented significant policy changes that are already positively impacting Ohio.

The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) will present a free workshop and performance Saturday, April 30, in the Edward K. Daniels Auditorium on Southern State Community College’s Central Campus, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro. The workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the performance will begin at 3 p.m. Both events, sponsored by SSCC, are free and open to the public.

Highland County Common Pleas Court has urged the owner of the Parker Hotel to follow procedures set forth in the city of Hillsboro's ordinance regarding "dangerous buildings."
 Hope filed suit against the city and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt on April 14 seeking $2.6 million in damages, after the city sent a notice March 15 stating that Hope had 30 days to make repairs to the structures at 137 W. Main Street, or the city would seek to have them removed.

CHILLICOTHE – The Adena Health System Board of Trustees held its annual meeting Sunday, April 17, in the PACCAR Medical Education Center, which included presentations from top executives about the state of the system.
  The yearly event began on a somber note as board members honored the memory of Cathy Evanoff, a former board member who died recently. She served on the board from 1982 to 1990 and was a past board chair.

Highland County Farmers have until June 1 to enroll their farms into the 2011 Direct and Counter Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) according to Jim Patton, director of the Highland County Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Secretary of State Jon Husted has released an official roster of cities and villages throughout the state following a review of the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau Report. In total, Ohio will have 247 cities and 691 villages. Among the changes following the 2010 census, Greenfield will be reclassified as a village, the secretary's office said.

The following is the Hillsboro Police Report for April 15-17, 2011.

The city of Hillsboro has given notice to Jack Hope, owner of the Parker Hotel in Hillsboro, that the building will be demolished if specific repairs are not made to the structure. Hope has filed a civil suit in Highland County Common Pleas Court to prevent the city from following through and has asked the court grant him damages in the amount of $2.6 million.
  The actions are similar to previous attempts the city has made to have the building demolished, and Hope has made similar court filings to prevent the city's actions.

Wearing the same dress that she wore as she was sworn into office 25 years ago, Paulette Donley celebrated her last day as Highland County Clerk of Courts on Friday. 

The clerk's staff threw her a retirement party at the Highland County Courthouse, which was attended by current and former courthouse staff members, county elected officials, attorneys and community members. 

Wearing the same dress that she wore as she was sworn into office 25 years ago, Paulette Donley celebrated her last day as Highland County Clerk of Courts on Friday. 

The clerk's staff threw her a retirement party at the Highland County Courthouse, which was attended by current and former courthouse staff members, county elected officials, attorneys and community members.