Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley was one of the guest speakers at the Highland County Board of Realtors' luncheon Nov. 18 at the Ponderosa banquet center in Hillsboro. Fawley discussed tax values of local real estate, the sales ratio reports from the Ohio Department of Taxation, the CAUV (Current Agricultural Use Value) assessments and other issues with the Realtors and affiliates.

Extension of the FOP and IAFF contracts and township fire contracts are on council's agenda.

The following is the Hillsboro Police Report for Nov. 18-21.

The Ohio Valley is in for a significant change in weather this week. After reaching a high near 70 degrees on Monday, southern Ohio residents can expect temperatures in the low 20s by week's end, according to the National Weather Service.

The Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals has dismissed an appeal from a Highland County man convicted on weapons charges.
 According to the court's opinion published online Friday, Robert Gibson appealed his conviction for having weapons under disability.

Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Gary Heaton met with Heather Gibson on the proposed budget for the Help Me Grow program during the commission's Nov. 17 meeting. Gibson said she is anticipating a budget that closely resembles the current budget for the coming fiscal year. “I’m projecting the same budget, pending any changes in April (2011),” she said.

The finance committee of the Greenfield City Council will recommend a 30-day acceptance of a proposed health insurance plan, a move council members say will buy them some time to seek alternatives.
 During a Greenfield City Council meeting held this week, it was reported that the city was facing a potential increase in its premiums of 44 percent.

The following are the holiday hours for the Highland County. Board of Elections office.

An economic development initiative based out of Ross County is working on job creation and expansion that could be beneficial to the residents of Highland County.
       During a meeting Wednesday with the Highland County Commissioners, Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop introduced Chris Manegold of the Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio.

The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education has voted to accept three-year contracts for the teachers and employees unions, with no increases. However, the district has agreed to a one-time lump sum payment of 2 percent.
 The board discussed the matter for nearly an hour in executive session Wednesday during their regular monthly meeting, and later voted 5-0 to accept the contract, with no discussion in open session.