Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is expected to make a campaign stop in Chillicothe on Tuesday, Aug. 14, the Chillicothe Gazette reports.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has certified that petitioners seeking to place a redistricting reform constitutional amendment on the November ballot collected an additional 151,889 valid signatures.

Chairman Peter Pence has announced that Hillsboro City Council's Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. at the Fire Department meeting room, 204 North East Street.

Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Stan W. Heffner has resigned. In a letter (copy below) to Debe Terhar, president of the State Board of Education, Heffner said his resignation is effective Aug. 10.

It was announced Saturday that Deputy Law Director Laura Curliss has resigned her position with the City of Hillsboro.

The "Help Wanted" sign is on at the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Trooper and OSHP Recruiter Rick Hughes told The Highland County Press this week the patrol is looking for as many as 200 new recruits in Ohio.

The Hillsboro Police Department is investigating a possible meth-making operation in the 700 block of North West Street. A news release from the HPD said officers were led to the area of North West Street and Springlake Avenue on an investigation at approximately 1:32 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3.

Following confirmation of variant influenza in exhibitors from the Butler County Fair, the Ohio Department of Agriculture ordered two pigs to be sent home from the Ohio State Fair after both tested positive for H3N2 variant influenza. Increased monitoring of hog health will continue through the end of the Ohio State Fair on Sunday.

Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard informed the Highland County Board of Commissioners of a series of recent thefts of sewer covers in the Rocky Fork Lake area. During a recess in the Wednesday board meeting, Mustard identified three areas of recent thefts and expressed concern for safety, as well as the need to report the criminal activity.

Possible budget cuts by the city of Hillsboro could put the future of both Richard Shaffer Park and Liberty Park in jeopardy. Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Rick Giroux told The Highland County Press this week, "Based on the substantial deficit the city will experience next year, the park system will more than likely be a casualty of the staggering cuts that will have to be made in order to have a balanced 2013 budget."

Highland County Commission President Shane Wilkin reads a proclamation in recognition of former Highland County Press managing editor Brandy Chandler during Wednesday’s board meeting. 

A Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District firefighter's helmet fell from a truck during a July 26 run to North Shore Drive. The helmet may have fallen between Station 2 near the Rocky Fork Truck Stop and the run to North Shore Drive.

Former Ohio Congressman Bob McEwen will be in Hillsboro Thursday with Second District Congressional candidate Lt. Col. Dr. Brad Wenstrup. McEwen represented Highland County in Ohio's Sixth Congressional District for six terms and also served in the Ohio General Assembly. Wenstrup defeated Republican incumbent Jean Schmidt in the March primary race for Ohio's Second Congressional District.