Special Weather Statement issued March 22 at 7:46PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

At 746 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Rockford, moving east at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Hail may cause minor damage to vegetation.
Locations impacted include... Wapakoneta, Fort Shawnee, Cridersville, Rockford, Mendon, Buckland, Uniopolis, Neptune, Kossuth, State Route 116 at State Route 197, and Tama.
This includes I-75 in Ohio between mile markers 114 and 118.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 22 at 5:43PM EDT until March 23 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 73 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
FAYETTE UNION WAYNE
IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
DEARBORN FRANKLIN OHIO RIPLEY SWITZERLAND
IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE CAMPBELL KENTON
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 32 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL OHIO
DELAWARE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE FRANKLIN HOCKING LICKING MADISON PICKAWAY UNION
IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO
ADAMS HIGHLAND PIKE ROSS SCIOTO
IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
BROWN BUTLER CLERMONT CLINTON HAMILTON WARREN
IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO
AUGLAIZE CHAMPAIGN CLARK DARKE GREENE HARDIN LOGAN MERCER MIAMI MONTGOMERY PREBLE SHELBY
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ADA, ALEXANDRIA, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, CELINA, CHILLICOTHE, CIRCLEVILLE, COLDWATER, CONNERSVILLE, COVINGTON, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DILLSBORO, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, EATON, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENDALE, GREENFIELD, GREENVILLE, HAMILTON, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TROY, URBANA, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued March 22 at 8:00PM EDT until March 22 at 8:30PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

At 759 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Spencerville In Allen County, moving east at 65 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include... Wapakoneta, Fort Shawnee, Cridersville, Waynesfield, Buckland, Uniopolis, Kossuth, and State Route 116 at State Route 197.
This includes I-75 in Ohio between mile markers 114 and 118.

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006

Area residents arrested in Auglaize drug bust

By Margie Wuebker

Ninteen people face a combined total of 82 drug-related charges in the wake of an undercover investigation by the Auglaize/Mercer County Grand Lake Drug Task Force.

Among those arrested in the sweep that began at 5:30 a.m. Friday were the following area residents:

• Larissa Jenkins, 26, St. Marys

• Timothy J. Hagen, 21, Celina

• Robert Lowe III, 32, Celina

• Damian King, 27, Celina

• Karen J. Fox, 39, New Bremen

• Thomas Ray Charles Henline, 27, St. Marys

• Daniel Street, 19, St. Marys.

The remainder of those arrested come from Wapakoneta, Lima and Cridersville.

The charges deal with trafficking in drugs and the sale of drugs including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and LSD, according to Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon.

Solomon told The Daily Standard the majority of the charges dealt with trafficking in drugs and the sale of dangerous drugs. He did not have a list of charges each suspect faces or addresses of those arrested.

"We will never be able to totally eliminate drugs in Auglaize County," he said. "But we can put a dent in their activities and slow down drug traffic. I believe we accomplished this."

With the latest arrests and a January roundup that netted 15 arrests, the task force has arrested 34 people on various drug charges.

Solomon warns additional sweeps will be held in the future to continue sending a clear message to drug dealers. He hopes the message that drugs are not wanted in the area will come through loud and clear.

"This was once again a joint effort by all law enforcement to combat drug problems in Auglaize and Mercer counties," he said. "The task force is designed to do exactly what we are doing."

The sheriff expects additional arrests in th wake of the investigation.

In addition to sheriff's deputies from Auglaize, Mercer and Allen counties, others assisting include the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and police departments from St. Marys, Wapakoneta, Cridersville, New Bremen, Buckland, Minster, Celina, Coldwater and Spencerville.

Archive of August 22nd, 2006

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Additional online stories on this date

Fee hike may get revision

Members of Celina City Council's utilities committee plan to recommend drastic changes to a proposed ordinance to increase water rates.

Under terms [More]

Sheet of fog results in vehicles piling into each other

Heavy fog in a 200-foot section of state Route 119 resulted in multiple accidents that quickly turned the busy highway into a parking lot.

The Mer [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Customer usage impacts revenue

Budget-minded consumers make it difficult for government officials to determine the effect utility rate increases will have on public coffers.

The city of Celina, for example, is now seeking to raise water rates by about 21 percent by April 1, 2007.

Ex-director's suit claims illegal activities taken by Auglaize County, state

A former director of the Auglaize County elections board, has filed a $500,000 civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Toledo against county officials and current and former election board members.

Protocol needed for dealing with pollution complaints

Members of the Lake Restoration Committee during their Monday night meeting urged the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District to develop a protocol on dealing with possible pollution complaints.

Driving time too short to make class safely

ST. HENRY - A group of concerned parents complained to the board of education Monday night that their children did not have adequate time to drive to Tri Star classes in St. Marys.

Minster athletes kick off student sobriety program

Other schools across nation already using similar programs

MINSTER - Athletes in the Minster Local School District will kick off a new program that officials expect other student organizations and groups to embrace.

Village considering utility rate hike for first time in 13 years

FORT RECOVERY - For the first time in 13 years the village is considering a utility rate increase.

Village Administrator Randy Diller proposed a $2 per month raise in the base price for water and a $1 per month raise in the base price for sewer.

Minster finalizes plans for levies in November

MINSTER - The Minster Local Schools Board of Education finalized plans to seek an income tax levy and renewal of a permanent improvement levy in November.

Board OKs raises for superintendent, treasurer

Pay increases mirror teachers' raises

Celina board of education members approved two-year salary contracts for both the superintendent and the district treasurer that mirror salary increases contained in the teachers' new contract.

Fort council updated on other village matters

FORT RECOVERY - Village Council met Monday night, reviewing options for utility rate increases and other topics including:

• Heard Union Township did not use $8,300 of Community Development Block Grant funds, which were allocated to the village for the Buck ditch project.

Auglaize SWCD planning 60th annual banquet

Supervisor elections will be held; ABN broadcaster Dale Minyo to provide evening's entertainment

The Auglaize County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its 60th annual meeting on Aug. 29 at the St. Joseph Parish Center, 107 E. Pearl St., Wapakoneta, a news release from the SWCD office states.

Celina tennis off to perfect start on road

Local Sports Roundup

The Celina girls tennis team has opened the season at 2-0 following wins over Wapakoneta and Greenville on the road.

The Bulldogs defeated Wapakoneta 5-0 in the Western Buckeye League opener on Monday.