Good morning, Lancaster.

Lancaster’s Independence Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. July 4 at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on North Columbus Street and follow a loop through downtown to return to the starting point, with fairgrounds activities opening at 12:30 p.m. and fireworks set for 10 p.m. (police will manage traffic).

Six local high school athletes are nominated for the Eagle-Gazette Female Athlete of the Year award, and fans have been casting votes since 6 a.m. Tuesday while voting will continue until 5 p.m. Friday (winner announced soon).

County officials completed their annual tax incentive reviews on June 25 to check agreements boosting business growth in areas including Lancaster & Canal Winchester, and they recommended continuing existing incentives pending local legislative votes within 60 days.

Today, a dangerous heat wave in Ohio is straining the power grid and may lead to outages, so Lancaster residents are urged to check provider outage maps (for real-time updates), keep homes cool, and gather emergency supplies.

With heat advisory conditions continuing from yesterday's forecast, pet owners in Lancaster are urged to keep dogs and cats cool by providing shade, fresh water, and limiting exercise.

Officials recommend not leaving pets in parked cars or on hot asphalt to reduce the risk of heat stroke.

Six local high school athletes are nominated for the Eagle-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year.

Fans can vote online until 5 p.m. Friday to choose the top performer.

Covered Bridge Concert

8 p.m. — Wendel Concert Stage — Ticket info available — Enjoy an evening of live music in beautiful Lancaster, Ohio.