This morning just before 9am, the county commissioners unanimously passed a motion to begin the transition of the dog warden's office to the sheriff's office effective July 1.

Assistant dog warden's last day will be May 31 and dog warden Georgia Dyson's last day will be June 30. The commissioners had no comment other than they will issue a press release later today.

At about 10:30 a.m., the commissioners released the following information:

"The Paulding County Commissioners met in regular session Wednesday, May 1, 2013, and made the decision to transfer the authority and jurisdiction of the Paulding County Dog Warden and Kennel operations to the Sheriff's Office effective July 1, 2013. The Commissioners are confident this change will promote efficiency and provide 24/7 service to the county residents."

Some other Ohio counties have addressed similar situations. For more information, follow the links to read these articles:

Local officials against consolidation proposal published in the Zanesville Times Recorder April 3, 2013

Licking County commissioners now support animal control officer published in the Newark Advocate April 3, 2013

Guernsey County EMA now controlled by sheriff from WHIZ TV April 15, 2013

By DENISE GEBERS • Progress Staff Writer

PAULDING - Improvements continue to be made to the buildings on the Paulding County Fairgrounds, and community support has been key.

Currently, five major renovation projects are under way: revamping the restrooms at the block building, replumbing those at the grandstand, reroofing the Grange Hall, putting ceilings in the food pavilions at Midway Café and the Lions ice cream shop and poultry barn upgrades.

By JIM LANGHAM • Feature Writer

If the Paulding County Jail were to reopen at some point, it could cause a domino effect in housing prisoners in northwest Ohio. Putnam County Jail, where Paulding County prisoners are now held, could be looking for more prisoners elsewhere. Other counties may need facilities such as Putnam or Paulding to house their inmates.

By JIM LANGHAM • Feature Writer

PAULDING – No two seasons are ever the same and that has never been demonstrated more vividly than the contrasting springs of 2012 and 2013, says Ohio State University Agriculture Agent Jim Lopshire.

By NANCY WHITAKER • Progress Staff Writer

FORT BROWN – The Jacob Stemple Chapter of the Ohio Society of the Daughters of the War of 1812 are planning a bicentennial ceremony for Fort Brown.

The event is set for June 29 at the historic site of the former Fort Brown.

By MELINDA KRICK • Progress Editor

GROVER HILL – On Monday evening, Paulding County sheriff’s deputies found the third meth lab in four weeks, which resulted in the arrest of two Grover Hill men.