As expected, Hillsboro City Council voted to accept a proposed ordinance from the Hillsboro Fire Department that mandates as of Jan. 1, 2010, there will be an annual fire inspection performed on every commercial business and multiple family dwelling in the city of Hillsboro. Council voted to waive the fire department's proposed fees at its Monday meeting. 

Just following last weekend's dose of winter weather, another storm has moved into the area, and Ohio Department of Transportation - District 9 crews are at it again. A steady snowfall since approximately 1 a.m. has left routes throughout the area snow covered, and ODOT District 9 crews have been plowing and treating the state highway system since the storm began.

Area students returned to the classroom on Monday, but not for long. A snowstorm that arrived a few hours earlier than anticipated has caused numerous school closings, including Hillsboro City Schools, Bright Local Schools, Highland County Christian School, Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Southern State Community College, Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools and others.

Marine Corps Pvt. Joshua S. Thomas, son of Phyllis and Paul Kneipp of Hillsboro, Ohio, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S. C. designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

The Southern Ohio Procurement Outreach Center is presenting a workshop on government contracting:  "Government Marketing 101: An Introduction to Government Procurement."

The following area schools have announced delays for Monday, Feb. 8:

Darla (Snoddy) Moore, a teacher at West Liberty-Salem Schools, has been elected by the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (OCTELA) to speak at the organization's State conference in March.  OCTELA was founded in 1957 as a professional organization promoting English Language Arts prekindergarten through college.  OCTELA is the only Ohio affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

More than $31,000 was pledged for local charities this year by the employees of ABX Air, Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services (AMES), and ABX Equipment and Facility Services.

With as much as 17 inches of snow having fallen over the past 24 hours on highways in parts of Ohio, crews with the Ohio Department of Transportation are working through the weekend to keep road and bridges safe and passable. Throughout the weekend, nearly 1,300 ODOT snowplows and vehicles have been combating ice and snow across the state - targeting interstates, U.S. and state routes, ramps and bridges.

While routes on the state highway system are open and passable, they are completely snow covered in the northern region of the district - such as in Highland, Ross, Pike and Jackson counties - where they have they have received a much greater accumulation of snow.

ODOT District 9 crews will continue battling tonight's winter storm; however, motorists are advised of the need for extreme caution.

Former Fairfield High School girls basketball coach Kevin Fouch died at age 55 Friday, February 5, 2010 at his residence.

Highland County Treasurer Vickie L. Warnock has announced that the first-half due date for Highland County real estate and mobile home taxes has been extended to Friday, March 12, 2010.

The Village of Lynchburg partnered with the Lynchburg Area Recreational Committee, in 2009, to apply for a nature works grant that would allow the community to receive funding for a playground. Lynchburg was awarded the ODNR grant in the amount of $23,515. The proposed site has been prepared for excavation and the Playground Equipment is on its way. The proposed completion is April, and the project is on schedule.

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss updated commissioners Wednesday on a recent security report on the Highland County Courthouse.