2009 OBIT: An interactive looking at prominent people who died in 2009.

LIMA — The Police Department saw a 12 percent drop in major crimes in 2009, and came in 14 percent under budget, Maj. Tony Swygart said Monday.

The results of our reader poll of the Best of the Region.

Interact with the salary lists from The Lima News' 17th annual salary review project. See the salaries of more than 3,800 government employees in Allen, Auglaize, Putnam and Van Wert counties, including the entire list for 15 of the 23 government bodies surveyed in our annual salary report. Find out how different positions compare among government bodies. Break down the lists with any combination of counties, wage ranges, last names and more.

See the number of foreclosures in each of Ohio's 88 counties over the last five years.

LIMA — Conventional wisdom says high unemployment and a struggling economy should send crime skyrocketing.

LIMA — The number of people obtaining licenses to carry a concealed handgun exploded in 2009 up as high as 500 percent in the region.

Since mid-summer, fall sports athletes have been training and competing with this week in mind as the postseason begins.

NOTE: Capsule information was supplied by coaches. Any teams not listed did not send information into the Lima News.

Predicted order of finish in the Northwest Central Conference:

Predicted order of finish in the Midwest Athletic Conference:

Predicted order of finish in the Northwest Conference:

Predicted order of finish in the Western Buckeye League:

Note: Capsule information was supplied by the coaches. Teams not listed did not send back their information by the deadline.

Bath

The fashion world is sending in a space-age warrior to do battle this fall with the dismal economy. The designer collections are heavy on a tough look, with strong shoulders, stiff fabrics and tarnished metallic details. Interactive view of trends.