Former Delaware County Commissioner Todd Hanks pled guilty today in Delaware County Municipal Court to Ethics Law violations. Bradford Tammaro, of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigation Commission, and Paul Nick, Executive Director of the Ohio Ethics Commission, were appointed as Special Prosecutors in the case.

Steps have been taken to address several areas of deficiency or noncompliance in Highland County government identified by the Ohio Auditor of State's Office for the year ending in December 2010, including a personnel issue, inconsistencies regarding purchase orders and expenditure approval, the timelines in which minutes are prepared, a management system regarding disbursement of grant funds, and a situation in which the county borrowed and later repaid money from a private citizen.

An adult male suspect is in custody after a high-speed chase early Sunday morning. The Hillsboro Police Department did not immediately identify the suspect, who was observed driving erratically at 3:35 a.m. Nov. 20 on North High Street and Springlake Avenue. An HPD spokesperson indicated he was a local resident.

Attorney General Mike DeWine and 34 other attorneys general, along with the San Francisco city attorney, have filed comments responding to the Federal Trade Commission's proposed settlement with Phusion Projects, LLC regarding its deceptive marketing of the flavored malt beverage "Four Loko" in super-sized 12 percent alcohol/23.5-ounce cans.

A Highland County woman has filed a case in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against a local judge, local attorney, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, regarding the legal guardianship of an elderly area resident. 

"A Balanced Budget Amendment added to our Constitution would require that the President and Congress enact a budget which doesn't spend more than we take in each year ­ except in time of war or national emergency. It's a basic approach which the majority of hard-working American families adhere to. If you don't have the money, you shouldn't be spending it.

After days of helping city employees and area residents deal with the ice storm damage, Mayor Zink said that he got a call from the emergency shelter at the old Hillsboro High School cafeteria. “Christmas morning, they were starting to run out of food at the shelter. I called Ed Bayless out at Great Scot. I said, ‘Ed, they’re running out of food, can you help us?’ This is Christmas morning, now. He said, ‘Meet me at the store, and he and his daughter filled the trunk of my car with food. (The ice storm) was probably one of the worst things that has happened here.”

After days of helping city employees and area residents deal with the ice storm damage, Mayor Zink said that he got a call from the emergency shelter at the old Hillsboro High School cafeteria. “Christmas morning, they were starting to run out of food at the shelter. I called Ed Bayless out at Great Scot. I said, ‘Ed, they’re running out of food, can you help us?’ This is Christmas morning, now. He said, ‘Meet me at the store, and he and his daughter filled the trunk of my car with food. (The ice storm) was probably one of the worst things that has happened here.”

Sharon Fulkerson, owner of Margaret’s Memories, a yarn shop located at 220 West Beech St. in Hillsboro, will host an open house Friday, Nov. 25 from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

CHILLICOTHE - The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio announced this week that it will represent the family of a Unioto High School student who was attacked allegedly because of his sexual orientation. The incident occurred on Oct. 17 in a school classroom, and was recorded on a cell phone camera by another student. The victim suffered physical injuries as a result. The video of the incident was posted on youtube and received with more than 1.3 million views.